Fierce, fantastic and a fashion darling, she is a self-confessed “rock ‘n’ roll chick at heart”, brought up on a diet of rock ‘n’ roll music at home, thanks to her folks. As a far cry from the newbie singer who made the cut with the all-girls pop band Viva in 2002, the leggy Anushka Manchanda has made her mark through foot-tapping renditions in Dum Maaro Dum, Apna Har Din, Allah Duhai Hai…
“I have grown up listening to Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. My parents had a big collection of AC/DC, Iron Butterfly,” recalls Anushka with a smile. Cut to 2015. She has been working with ace music directors like Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Salim-Sulaiman. “It has been quite crazy since Viva was dissolved, actually. Initially I had no idea what I was doing, but, over the years, I learnt on the job. It is a very competitive industry, but I work hard and I feel like I am blessed. There is still so much to do. Singing with all the music directors whose work I have admired, loved and respected for so many years is an honour. And every song I do with them is a coup for me.”
She has been making news for her fashion-meet-grunge looks as much as for her songs she has video-blogged on her own YouTube channel. They have been setting the music charts on fire. “As a musician, it is always amazing to work with other musicians, no matter where they come from. I have jammed with musicians from all over the world and have already collaborated with a few. Singing for music directors for commercial films is also a collaboration. There is so much to learn from them. My focus now is on becoming a stronger commercial singer,” is her explanation. Anushka swears that there is more to her than singing and performing on stage, and that you will see soon! “My brother Shikhar and I have also wrapped up music for an advertisement recently. That’s another interesting avenue opening…
Shilpi Madan for Deccan Herald