Getting work is not in our hands: Richa Sharma

A fter a hiatus of almost two years, versatile singer Richa Sharma known for her soulful voice is back in the film circuit with traditional holi song in Padmaavat.

She last play backed for Prakash Jha’s Jai Gangajal in March 2016.

On what kept her away so long, the Mahi Ve singer says, “Getting work (song) is not in our hands. There is now a sea of singers in the industry. One has to accept that there is a lot of talent around. Not everyone can get work all the time. Our work is just to sing and whenever I am called I go and sing from heart and soul.”

Her voice will be next heard in Kangna Ranaut starrer period film Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi.

“Its film’s title song and people will hear a ‘buland awaaz’ in the powerful score. It’s a solo but will have glimpses of Shankarji (Mahadevan) voice as well. The music is by ShankarEhsan-Loy. Interestingly, as a kid my father used to call me Jhansi Ki Rani and now I got to sing a song for her,” says the singer who was recently in Lucknow after her show in Kanpur.

In Padmaavat, she has sung Manganiyars and Langa’s folk song with Shail Hada.

Though she stayed away from films, live concerts kept her occupied.

Now I am active on social media and connect with my fans directly. ‘Ab main bhi smart ho gai hoon’ (I have become smarter) RICHA SHARMA SINGER

“Concerts keep me busy and recently I did an over a month long tour in which I did 18 shows in a row in the US and Canada. All were solo Richa Sharma Live in Concert and were packed shows. I feel blessed to be in the industry for 22 years and the love and blessings I have got,” she says.

Besides shows, since 2015, she is giving one or two singles every year.

“Currently, it’s not a revenue model but it could become one if taken seriously. It depends what you want from single. I do it for my fans, strengthens our concert and results in more shows which in turn is revenue. Film songs on the other hand, have wider reach and people know about it. For us a film, private or single — a song is a song. Unfortunately, people take film song as a benchmark to success,” she says.

Richa is also learning new age technologies to connect with the masses.

“I am not very tech savvy. I have started connecting through social media hardly a year-and-a-half back. I am just few months old on Twitter. But, now I am active and connect with my fans directly. Ab main bhi smart ho gai hoon (I have become smarter). I am enjoying it a lot. I have come to know that YouTubers are doing well and making money too…I am also learning the tricks of the trade,” she says.

What makes Tera Sajda and Baagbaan singer apart from everyone is her passion and power-packed voice.

“I sing less which maintains my exclusivity. It keeps the hunger alive for my audience. Singing is my passion and when I do it I don’t think left and right. Then I don’t bother how my face is looking. Like Arjun my focus is just on the bird’s eye — be is studio, stage, TV or home. Probably, that connects me to people. And, it’s God’s grace that results do come sooner or later,” she says on a signing off note. n deep.saxena@htlive.com

Richa Sharma shares a selfie clicked on Lucknow outskirts where she is seen savouring tea in a wineglass type kulladh (earthen glass).