Admirers To BFFs: Chhaila Singers Shreya Ghoshal, Sunidhi Chauhan On Their Evolving Equation

y are two of India’s widely loved playback singers and Sunidhi Chauhan and Shreya Ghoshal say y have come a long way from first crossing paths for a sound check to tring experiences as mors.

Chauhan, 41, and Ghoshal, 40, recently reunited for an independent song track “Chhaila”, composed by Salim-Sulaiman, with lyrics penned by Shrdha Pandit.

“Let’s just say that we are friends, best friends, BFFs, and everything that comes along with friends and besties,” Chauhan told PTI when asked about her current relationship with Ghoshal.

“She h a lovely, charming persona and of course, what a performer in studios and live shows,” Ghoshal said about Chauhan.

ir singing styles may be different but both were discovered by film industry through reality music shows. Chauhan became a household name after winning "Meri Awaz Suno", whereas Ghoshal gained prominence when she emerged victorious on "Sa Re Ga Ma".

Chauhan fondly remembers listening to Ghoshal sing "Paan Khaye Saiyan Hamaro" on "Sa Re Ga Ma".

“It was one of purest things that I saw on TV of such a little girl singing, I was also very little but still some things didn't make sense. Like way she was looking, re was beauty on face and in voice.

"It was such a beautiful combination that I saw on TV and that too coming from a 12 or 13-year-old girl or maybe younger,” said singer, who got her first break in films with "Ruki Ruki Si" from 1999 film “Mast”.

y soon went on a tour to US toger with vocalist Shaan.

Chauhan mitted her memory of that first meeting has fed with time, but recalled warmth with which Ghoshal greeted her.   “We spent a little time for first time on bus, going for sound check and coming back. It was wonderful meeting her. Her mor, she's very loving towards me and I love her. She's so beautiful, so it's just a great family.” Ghoshal, who entered music scene a few years after Chauhan when she sang for Sanjay Leenla Bhansali's "Devdas", shared that her family was alrey an ardent fan of Chauhan after watching “Meri Awaz Suno”.

“She was a household name very early on, and somehow when you see an artist (on a show), woh apna bann jata hai, you opt (her). So Sunidhi was that kind of a person where my family members, including me, mummy, and papa loved her even before meeting her,” she ded.

ir first proper meeting happened in one of recording studios when Chauhan was leaving after finishing a recording. Ghoshal vividly remembers that Chauhan wore hoop earrings and was dressed in a checkered shirt.

Over a period of time, Chauhan said y realised how similar y are to each or.

"We have immense love and respect for each or. We are just two girls or women, who like each or's vibe, and we like, to be honest with each or, re's honesty in us, in our music," she ded.

This comfort level between singers -- who have sung multiple film songs toger in past like "Imaan Ka Asar" from “Dor” and "Hum To Aise Hain Bhaiya" from “Laaga Chunari Mein Daag” -- proved instrumental in crafting vibrant track “Chhaila”.

"We did this song with pure honesty; we were open like a book,” Chauhan said.

Ghoshal ded, “(re were) no inhibitions or limitations. It was all easy to do. It doesn’t happen with everyone, it is not easy to be comfortable with anor artist, but this was unusually easy. In our case, we opened up with each or.” She teased about possibility of a ‘Chhaila 2.0’.

“It was very liberating. I'm sure we will do many more (such collaborations),” Chauhan ded.

Morhood has become anor talking point in ir friendship. As both singers navigate joys and challenges of raising children, ir conversations now include stories about parenting to completing school projects.

While Chauhan shares six-year-old son Tegh with music composer-husband Hitesh Sonik, Ghoshal and her entrepreneur husband Shilitya Mukhophyaya are parents to son Devyaan, three.

“Now, we both are mors so we have a lot of similar problems and happy moments that we share and we are like, ‘Did this happen to you?’ Tegh is two-three years older than Devyaan.

"So, conversations are like, ‘He is doing same, or this is what is happening in school, I’ve to do a project, I have to buy scissors and glue’. She is like, ‘I’m doing same’. So, we are having same kind of conversations, now similarities are more,” Ghoshal said.

After "Chhaila", y would love to collaborate on more songs.

"se three, Salim, Sulaiman and Shrdha know our styles and y let us have those moments for us to shine in song. It was like a journey, it was a bittersweet moment when song was released, and process was beautiful.

"I guess whenever song releases, we start missing it. What should we do now? Whatever you want to call next song, maybe ‘Chhaila 2.0’, please go ahe and do it," Ghoshal said. 

--PTI--