Shilpa Rao

Shilpa Rao (born Apeksha Rao; 11 April 1984) is an Indian playback singer known for her work in Hindi cinema. She rose to prominence with songs such as “Ek Lau,” “Khuda Jaane,” “Malang,” and “Meherbaan,” and is regarded as one of the leading contemporary female voices in Bollywood music.

Shilpa Rao
Born	Apeksha Rao 11 April 1984 Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India
Other names	Apeksha Rao
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Playback singer
Years active	2007–present
Spouse	Ritesh Krishnan

Early Life and Education

Shilpa Rao was born in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India. Her father, Venkat Rao (also referred to as S. V. Rao), who held a degree in music, introduced her to classical music at an early age.

She completed her schooling at Little Flower School and Loyola School in Jamshedpur. She later moved to Mumbai and pursued a postgraduate degree in Applied Statistics from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.

Before entering films, she worked as a jingle singer for approximately three years, which helped her develop studio experience and industry connections.

Career

Debut and Early Success

Shilpa Rao made her Bollywood debut in 2007 with the song “Tose Naina” from the film Anwar. The song became widely popular and marked a strong entry into the industry.

The same year, she sang “Woh Ajnabi” from The Train. In 2008, she gained major recognition with “Khuda Jaane” from Bachna Ae Haseeno. The song became a commercial success and earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer.

Her song “Ek Lau” from the film Aamir also received critical appreciation and was widely noted during media coverage of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Collaborations and Notable Songs

Shilpa Rao has collaborated with several leading composers:

• Ilaiyaraaja – “Mudi Mudi Ittefaq Se” (Paa, 2009)
• A. R. Rahman – “Ishq Shava” (Jab Tak Hai Jaan)
• Pritam – “Malang” (Dhoom 3, 2013)
• Vishal–Shekhar – “Meherbaan” (Bang Bang!, 2014)

She continued to deliver popular songs across genres, establishing herself as a versatile playback singer.

Awards and Recognition

Shilpa Rao has received several nominations and awards during her career:

• Filmfare Award – Best Female Playback Singer (2020) for War
• Screen Award – Best Female Playback Singer (2009) for Bachna Ae Haseeno
• Global Indian Music Academy Award – Best Music Debut (2014) for Coke Studio
• Indian Television Academy Award – Best Singer (2011) for Navya..Naye Dhadkan Naye Sawaal

Personal Life

Shilpa Rao is married to Ritesh Krishnan. She maintains a relatively private personal life and continues to focus on her musical career.

Musical Style

Shilpa Rao is known for her expressive and soulful voice. Her singing blends contemporary styles with classical influences, allowing her to perform romantic ballads, soft melodies and high-energy tracks with equal ease.