Shibani Kashyap is a very popular Indian Bollybood Singer and Composer. She is best known for singing the songs “Sajna aa bhi jaa” and “Zinda hu main.” Shibani’s voice was instantly recognisable, thanks to the signature tune of the AIR FM channel of All India Radio (1996).
Wiki/Biography
Shibani Kashyap was born on Friday, 12 January 1979 (age 43 years; as of 2022) in Kashmir, India. She did her schooling at Delhi Public School, Delhi. She was born and brought up in Kashmir and graduated in English Literature at Lady Shri Ram College For Women, Delhi. Her father was in Armed Forces, and because of this, their family had to move to different cities or even states too. Shibani has lived in Banihal, Srinagar, Gulmarg, Dehradun, Pune, and Assam.
Shibani Kashyap’s childhood picture
The first time Shibani realised that she should pursue music was when she was still a young girl in school. She was a member of the school choir and was promoted to lead singer. She then started to represent her school at Inter-School vocal competitions. The exciting part was when Shibani was approached to participate in All India Sangam Kala Group, the Light Vocal Music National Competition, which also introduced versatile Indian singers like Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan. Shibani Kashyap won this competition thrice in a row under the junior category, sub-senior category, and senior category, respectively. The judge of the competition was the legend, Jagjeet Singh. It was he, who encouraged Shibani to pursue music as a career. She then participated in her first musical called Stepping Out. When she was in LSR, she participated in another musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, called ‘Cats’ for which she underwent training for 6 months. Shibani Kashyap has recorded various jingles for advertisements in popular Indian brands like Amul India and Subah Savere T.V. show. Thus, she was given the title of Jingle Queen. She is also a social worker, who composed songs promoting Save girl Child, Women’s empowerment, acid attack, and anti-terrorism during the attacks of 26/11. She also performed live on ‘Unplugged’ many times.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 4″
Weight (approx.): 70 kg
Hair Colour: Dark brown
Eye Colour: Light brown
Figure Measurements (approx.): 36-30-36
Family
Parents & Siblings
Her father has retired from Indian Armed Forces. Her mother’s name is Punam Kashyap, who is the Director of Education at the Delhi World Foundation. . In an interview, she said that she views her mother as a mentor. Shibani has a brother, named Ashish Kashyap.
Shibani Kashyap with her parents and brother in Mashobra, Shimla
Husband
In 2013, Shibani Kashyap tied knots with Rajiv Baldev Roda, who is a Bollywood actor.
Shibani Kashyap with Husband Rajiv Roda
Religious Views
Shibani is a follower of Nichiren Buddhism. In 2011, during an interview, while talking about her Religious views, Shibani said,
I practise Buddhism. I took up chanting two years ago. My faith teaches me that the “revolution” begins within oneself. When you change yourself, things around you change too. This philosophy has polished my life and given me a chance to be a better person.”
Signature/Autograph
Shibani Kashyap’s autograph
Career
Song
Shibani Kashyap was 11 years old when she auditioned in a musical called Stepping Out, for the first time and got selected to perform in a project, headed by music director Loy Mendonsa. Later, he and his team offered her to join similar projects once she is done with schooling. During college, she got training in Western Classical music from the School of Music. She then promoted her work to a record company, where she debuted as a singer in 1998, with her superhit album “Ho Gayi Hai Mohabbat Tumse (Reprise).” In 2003, she made her singing debut in the Bollywood music industry, with her song “Sajna Aa Bhi Ja.” She then composed the song “Zinda Hoon Main” in the movie Zinda (2006), starred by Sanjay Dutt and John Abraham. In 2012, Shibani Kashyap sang the Urdu title song for the Pakistani television series “Mohabbat Jaye Bhar Mein”, which became a huge hit both in India and Pakistan. She has sung and composed the song “Kashmakash” in the movie- Sunday (2007), directed by Rohit Shetty. She worked with Bappi Lahiri on the song ‘Zamaana Toh Hai Disco Ka.’ Shibani Kashyap has also collaborated with various popular singers. In 2014, she collaborated with Mika Singh and released the song’Soneya.’
Official poster of Shibani Kashyap and Mika Singh’s song ‘Sohneya’
In 2017, she sang and composed a song called ’24 Hours Irresponsible’ in collaboration with an American band called Big Mountain.
Shibani Kashyap in a music poster with American band Big Mountain
In 2000, she released a Sufi album called Nagmagee.
Shibani Kashyap in her third album Nagmagee
Film
Shibani has made her acting debut in the film ‘Ranviir – the Marshal,’ directed by Milind Ukey.
Shibani Kashyap and Rajesh Khattar in a still from the film Ranviir – The Martial
Television
The “Wanna Be Free” singer made a special appearance in the T.V show called “Ek Veer Ki Ardaas: Veera”, as Megha Kapoor, a music mentor, in 2018. In a T.V. show called Desi Beats, Shibani Kashyap was the host along with Chin2 Bhosle (Asha Bhosle‘s grandson).
Shibani Kashyap in a still from the T.V. show ‘Ek Veer Ki Ardaas Veera’
She was one of the judges on the Telugu T.V. show ‘Bathroom Singer’ along with Actor Ravi Kishan in 2007.
Shibani Kashyap along with Bappi Lahiri and actor Ravi Kishan
In 2019, she co-judged a T.V. show “Dil Ki Awaaz” with popular singer Bappi Lahiri, in Oman.
Shibani Kashyap with Indian singer Bappi Lahiri
Awards, Honours, Achievements
- Bharat Nirmaan Award (2000)
- Sahara Sangeet Award (2005)
- Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Award (2018)
- Rajiv Gandhi Global Excellence Award (2018)
- Pride of Nation Excellence Award (2019)
- Star Achiever Awards, New Delhi (2019)
- Women’s Achiever Award Match by Phulkari Women of Amritsar (2019)
Shibani Kashyap being honoured with the Women’s Achiever Award
- Bharat Ratna DR. A.P.J Abdul Kalam Awards 2020 for Voice of Soul (2020)
- Outstanding Contribution & Humanitarian Work & Support To Others during COVID 19 (2020)
- Women Of Excellence Award (2022)
Favourites
- Animal: Dogs
Shibani Kashyap with a dog named Kaju
- Drink: Chai
- Favourite street food: Gol gappe, Papri chaat, Butter chicken, Momos, and Samosa
- Favourite monument: Humayun’s Tomb
- Favourite places to shop from: Dilli Haat, Sarojini Nagar, and CP–I
Facts/Trivia
- Shibani Kashyap is a brand ambassador at an organization ‘ Roundtable India,’ of the north region, that provides education to poor children and provide shelter to poverty-stricken people.
- She also endorses the brand called Yamaha Guitars.
- Once Shibani met a girl named Neetu, who is a 23-year-old acid attack survivor and dreams of being a singer. She was her fan and told her that she considers Shibani as her inspiration. Now, Neetu runs a small cafe in Agra, called “Neetu’s Tea House”, for which Shibani Kashyap had collected funds (online).
- Shibani Kashyap also campaigned against the cause of Drinking and Driving.
- On 1 July 2022, she had her debut concert in Metaverse. While talking about it in an interview, she said,
Metaverse holds the key to the future of entertainment. From being the first artist on Hungama ArtistAloud, to now being a part of their first concert in Metaverse, I feel truly blessed to be associated with the ever-evolving Hungama Digital.”
- Shibani likes to do yoga, in her leisure time.
Shibani Kashyap doing Virabhadrasana
- On 7 August, she received an invitation to participate in the 11th India Day Parade held in the United States as the guest of honour, to celebrate the 75th Independence Day of India.
Shibani Kashyap in ‘India Day Parade’ held at Long Island, USA in 2022
- In 2022, Shibani also attended and performed at Delhi Times Fashion Week in Delhi.
Shibani Kashyap during her performance at Delhi Times Fashion Week
- In an interview, she said that she learnt how to play the guitar all by herself by spending 8-12 hours every day.
- Shibani Kashyap has done various gigs and performed live at shows and personal events. She has also performed at Worli Festival, Kala Ghoda Festival, LAVASA Festival, and Tarpa Festival held in Silvasa.
- In 2022, she was awarded the ‘Women Of Excellence Award’ for her contribution to music at Women Power -A global movement Award Function, by Kiran Bedi.
Shibani Kashyap being honored with the Women Of Excellence Award by Kiran Bedi at an award show (2002)
Shibani Kashyap with the Women Of Excellence Award
- Shibani Kashyap was good friends with late pop star Krishnakumar Kunnath, popularly known as KK. During an interview, Shibani told,
I spent my early childhood years in Delhi with the gang, which is KK. The whole gang used to do a lot of gigs. I used to sing a lot of jingles with him. And he used to come to pick me up on his bike and we used to go to the studio and record for Pradeep Sarkar and the whole gang. We have done so many shows together. He and I did a tour with Siddharth Basu. We have done live quiz shows where we would perform between the quiz. We did a lot of concerts together.”
Shibani Kashyap and late pop star KK with Siddharth Basu at a quiz show
- She was selected to represent India at the 1999 annual international music festival Azia Dauysy held in Kazakhstan.
- In 2018, she made a cameo appearance in the movie ‘Helicopter Eela’ which starred Kajol and Neha Dhupia.
- Among the 30 members of the Grand Jury in the T.V. show ” Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs,” Shibani Kashyap is recognised as an expert in the music industry.
- Shibani told, in an interview, that she was a part of a band in Delhi, called “Black slades” which is a city-based band, now called “JEREMIAH 29:11.”
- On 12th March 2015, she performed at the 45th Independence day of Mauritius, where the President of India was the guest of honour.
- In 2014, Shibani was invited to launch an online membership drive for Bhartiya Janta Party.
Very happy to join BJP #BJPmembershiponlinecampaign with my full support and faith @BJP4India @BJPRajnathSingh @narendramodi #BJP
— Shibani Kashyap (@shibanikashyap) July 6, 2014
