Shibani Kashyap on rejection, career uncertainty, and mental health: ‘Industry can give you applause one day…’

Shibani Kashyap on rejection, career uncertainty, and mental health: 'Industry can offer you applause one day.' The film industry teaches you that not everything happens when you want it to.

Key points

• 11 min read New Delhi Aug 26, 2026 06: 00 AM IST.
• From 1998 (Ho Gayi Hai Mohabbat.) to 2026, how has your musical journey been?
• What does the idea of The Joy of Discovery mean to you as an artist, and what are you looking forward to discovering through Season 3?
• Shibani Kashyap: When I began, highly few platforms created a direct bridge between independent artists and the individuals who could actually take their music forward.
• Shibani Kashyap: For me, discovery is the reason I am still excited regarding music after almost three decades.

For me, the voice is not just an instrument. It reflects how you live. Riyaaz is non-negotiable, notes the singer. (Photo: PR handout).

Shibani Kashyap has been in the music industry for almost 30 years, yet the singer notes she feels she is "only getting started." Best known for Bollywood songs like Sajna Aa Bhi Jaa and Zinda Hoon Main, Shibani is additionally an established independent artiste who was publicly praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for her performance of Dama Dam Mast Qalandar.

In an exclusive email interview, the well-known singer tells indianexpress.com regarding her journey, her music, why Bollywood is just an notable chapter in her career, and the secrets to a healthy voice.

Q. Soundscapes of India, with which you have been closely associated, is back with its third edition. What, in your view, is the need for a platform like this to discover and create opportunities for emerging artists?

Shibani Kashyap: When I began, highly few platforms created a direct bridge between independent artists and the individuals who could actually take their music forward. There was immense talent, but talent alone doesn't guarantee that you will be heard. That is why Soundscapes of India matters. It creates a space where artists can perform, be discovered, meet festival programmers, labels and touring professionals, and potentially take their music to audiences they may never have reached on their own.

For regional and independent musicians, this access can be transformative. Sometimes an artist doesn't need more talent; they simply need the right door to open. And platforms like SOI can be that door.

Q. What does the idea of The Joy of Discovery mean to you as an artist, and what are you looking forward to discovering through Season 3?

Shibani Kashyap: For me, discovery is the reason I am still excited regarding music after almost three decades. I still love hearing a sound I've never heard before, discovering an artist who completely surprises me, or listening to someone combine influences in a way I would never have imagined. You never really graduate from being a student of music. At Season 3, I want to be surprised. I want to hear voices from different parts of India, different traditions and different generations. Since the moment you stop discovering, you stop evolving.

Q. Soundscapes of India – an IPRS initiative – brings together artists from different genres, regions and musical traditions. What excites you most regarding putting such diverse voices in the same space?

Shibani Kashyap: Some of the most beautiful music happens when different worlds collide. My own journey has never belonged to just one genre. I've explored Sufi, pop, rock, Bollywood, independent music and live performance, so I naturally love artists who refuse to fit into one box. When different musicians come together, they don't just exchange music. They exchange perspectives. One artist can create another rethink a melody, a rhythm, a lyric or even the way they see their own art. And that's the beauty of India's music landscape. We don't have one sound. We have thousands of sounds waiting to be discovered.

View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Shibani.A.Kashyap (@shibanikashyap).

Q. From 1998 (Ho Gayi Hai Mohabbat.) to 2026, how has your musical journey been?

Shibani Kashyap: It's been almost three decades, but I don't look at it as one long career. I look at it as plenty of different chapters of a beautiful musical life. When I recorded Ho Gayi Hai Mohabbat, independent pop was still finding its place in India, in 1998. From there came Bollywood, jingles, live performances and my own independent music. There were highs, challenges, unexpected turns and moments I could never have planned. But one thing never changed: my curiosity.

Music didn't become my career. Music became my way of life. And even after all these years, I still feel like I'm only getting began.

Q. Your Bollywood songs- Sajna Aa Bhi Jaa, Zinda Hoon Main -were loved by fans, yet they didn't hear as much from you on the major screen as they might have liked. What kept you away?

Shibani Kashyap: I wouldn't really say I stayed away from Bollywood. I've always seen myself primarily as an independent artist who additionally worked in Bollywood, rather than someone whose entire identity was built around playback singing. I loved singing for films, but I additionally wanted to write, compose and perform my own music. Playback gives you the opportunity to interpret someone else's vision. Independent music gives you the freedom to say, "This is what I want to say, and this is how I want it to sound."

For me, Bollywood was an significant chapter, but it was never meant to be the entire book.

Q. What is the biggest career lesson you learnt from the film industry? Additionally, did you ever feel typecast?

Shibani Kashyap: Patience. The film industry teaches you that not everything happens when you want it to. You learn to distinguish between what you can control and what you simply have to allow to unfold. Yes, there were moments when I felt associated with a particular sound, especially after Sajna Aa Bhi Jaa connected with audiences.

But I didn't want one successful sound to become my identity. As an artist, I believe you should keep surprising individuals, but more importantly, you should keep surprising yourself. Since the moment you become comfortable being predictable, you stop discovering what else you are capable of.

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Q. Being a singer requires a lot of hard work. Your profession often requires you to follow a certain lifestyle or offer up specific habits. What rituals do you swear by?

Shibani Kashyap: For me, the voice is not just an instrument. It reflects how you live. Riyaaz is non-negotiable. I believe in warming up the voice, working on breath control, staying hydrated and giving the voice the respect it deserves. But vocal discipline is only one part. Yoga, breathing practices and mindfulness have additionally played an notable role in helping me stay centred. And I think the biggest ritual is consistency. You cannot suddenly become prepared on the day of a performance. Your voice remembers everything you do when nobody is watching.

Q. When was the last time you had ice cream, tangy things, or even drank chilled water?

Shibani Kashyap: I think singers sometimes become so obsessed with protecting the voice that we forget we're additionally human beings! I absolutely enjoy these things occasionally. For me, the key is balance, not deprivation. I don't believe in living in fear of food. I believe in understanding your body, knowing what works for your voice and being disciplined when you have significant performances. A healthy voice needs discipline, but a happy artist needs a little indulgence too.

Q. The industry is extremely unpredictable. Have challenging times ever affected your mental health?

Shibani Kashyap: Of course. Artists are human before they are artists. There have been uncertain phases, disappointments and moments when things didn't move the way I wanted them to. But I've learnt that you cannot measure your worth by how busy your calendar is. In practice, the industry can offer you applause one day and silence the next. If your sense of self depends entirely on that external validation, the journey becomes particularly challenging. I've learnt to come back to the music. When everything becomes uncertain, I ask myself one simple question: Do I still have something I want to create? If the answer is yes, I know the journey isn't over.

View this post on Instagram.

Q. Fitness and diet play a massive role in staying healthy. What is your daily routine like?

Shibani Kashyap: My routine revolves around discipline, movement, breath and music. I believe in staying physically active, practising yoga and breathing exercises, taking care of my nutrition, and, most importantly, giving myself enough space to mentally reset.

For a singer, breathing isn't just regarding fitness. Breath is the foundation of the voice. And I think consistency is far more significant than extremes. You don't need to transform your life overnight. You need to create small healthy choices every single day.

Q. How significant is it for singers to have a career outside the industry?

Shibani Kashyap: I think it can be extremely valuable, particularly since the music industry is unpredictable. There can be periods when everything is happening and periods when things become quiet. Having another skill, passion or source of work can offer you stability.

But there's another benefit. When you experience life outside the music industry, you bring those experiences back into your music. Teaching, composing, mentoring, working with young individuals or simply exploring another field can provide an artist new perspectives. And when you aren't creating purely since you need to survive, you have greater freedom to create as you have something to say.

Q. What is the first thing you do when you wake up every day?

Shibani Kashyap: I like to commence my day without immediately letting the outside world in. I take a moment to breathe, centre myself, and connect with my thoughts before getting into the rush of the day. For me, mornings are regarding setting the energy rather than reacting to it. Before I offer my voice to the world, I like to listen to myself first.

Q. If you obtained a chance to start over again, is there anything you would like to do differently?

Shibani Kashyap: Honestly, I don't think I would want to erase the tough parts. Every rejection, every wrong turn, every unexpected opportunity and every tough phase taught me something that success alone could never have taught me. Would I create different choices? Perhaps.

For now, shibani Kashyap on rejection, career uncertainty, and mental health: 'Industry can give remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.