Richa Sharma: Indian playback singer
Hometown: Faridabad, Haryana
Father: Pandit Daya Shankar Upadhyaya
Mother: Manorma Devi
Debut film as playback singer: Salma Pe Dil Aa Gaya (1996)
Richa Sharma best known today in the film industry for her voice full of energy and spirit. Richa Sharma claims to fame with the song 'Mahi Ve' from film Kaante.
Richa Sharma born in Faridabad, Haryana. Her father Pandit Daya Shankar Upadhyaya was also a trained classical singer. Richa Sharma took her first musical lessons from father Daya Shankar and mother Manorma Devi. Richa learnt the art of singing Bhajans especially Mata Ke Jagran from her parents. Richa is youngest amongst six siblings.
Richa started singing from the early age of 8. She was used to invite to sing at the religious functions. Richa took training in Indian classical music from Pandit Aaskaran Sharma. She left her education in between to make big in music. In 1994, Richa Sharma moved to Mumbai to pursue career as singer.
Richa started her career by singing Bhajans and cover versions, while struggling to become a playback singer in Bollywood. Richa got her first break in Bollywood with Sawan Kumar's film 'Salma Pe Dil Aa Gaya' in 1996. Later she was discovered by the renowned music director AR Rahman, for whom she sung the song Kahin Aag Lage Lag Jaave for the film Taal.
Later on Richa Sharma went on to sing for many movies like Saathiya, Hera Pheri, Khakee, Kaante, Musaafir, Rudraksh, Baghban, Kal Ho Na Ho, Baabul, Saaawariya and many more. Some of her hit songs includes Maahi Ve (Kaante), Chalka Chalka Re (Saathiya), Kal Ho Na Ho sad song (Kal Ho Na Ho), Baabul bidayi song (Baabul), Kahin Aag Lage (Taal), Bitiya Na Kijo (Umrao Jaan) and the recent Daras Bina Nahi Chain from Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film Saawariya (2007).
As of now she has worked with most of the established music directors like AR Rahman, Jatin-Lalit, Aadesh Shrivastava, Vishal-Shekhar, Anand Raaj Anand, Sandesh Shandilya and Lalit Sen. Now she is not restricted to the rangy style only. So far she had sung filmy light songs, Punjabi, Rajasthani folk songs and ghazals as well.
All we can say is that a girl with no backing has really came a long way.