Lost Indian Idol, now Deepali Sahay is viral voice of Tere Paas Main | Interview
Singer Deepali Sahay spoke about landing Tere Paas Main with AR Rahman and revisiting Indian Idol. She said the song marks years of persistence and reflects her push to change views on Bhojpuri music.
While audiences have been discovering Deepali Sahay's voice through Tere Paas Main from Main Vaapas Aaunga, the singer sees the song as a result of years of patience and hard work rather than a delayed reward. In an exclusive chat with India Today, Deepali reflected on finding success, working with AR Rahman, why reality shows aren't career guarantees, and her mission to change perceptions around Bhojpuri music.
Reflecting on the response to one of the most emotional songs in the Imtiaz Ali film, Deepali said she feels it came to her at the right time, when she was mature enough to understand and portray its emotional depth. Drawing a parallel with love, she shared that life experiences have given her a deeper perspective, making her better equipped to take on the responsibility of the role.
The first sign that something extraordinary was about to happen came unexpectedly when AR Rahman started following her on Instagram. The story got even more surreal because the message arrived on a date that already held significance: her birthday, which she shares with the music maestro: "I got a message from his team that Rahman sir wants to record your voice for a song. I went to Chennai and recorded it, and then we followed it up with some tweaks in the following weeks. I was clueless whether the song would ultimately become mine because I've heard stories that singers are replaced overnight."
However, the night before the trailer launch, she was called back and asked to sing the song in a completely new scale. The song went on to become a chartbuster soon after its release and helped Deepali realise one of her biggest dreams.
As for when she first heard about the song, Deepali said she couldn't hold back her emotions. "I am a very highly emotional person. When I heard the story, when I heard where it is coming in the film, I started crying. And I remember Hiral, who is from Rahman sir's team, told me, 'You don't have to cry. You have to make people cry'," she said with a smile.
Here's the song from Main Vaapas Aaunga:
Watching the song unfold on the big screen also turned into an emotional experience. She shared how her husband captured the moment when she was in tears. Deepali added that she could not associate the voice with herself, as the narrative was so gripping that it felt like the character was singing. She also mentioned how fortunate she felt to receive a composition that perfectly complemented her voice and tonal quality. A longtime admirer of classic Hindi melodies by Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, she said the track resonated deeply with her musical tastes, making the opportunity even more special.
Another emotional moment arrived when AR Rahman mentioned her on Indian Idol, the very show that introduced her to audiences two decades ago. "I didn't know about it. My brother-in-law sent that video to me, and I cried for like half an hour," she said.
As for working with the music genius, Deepali Sahay said it reinforced everything she had heard about the Oscar-winning composer. "He is a face of perfection. And when Imtiaz sir and Irshad sir also come together, it's magical. I have always been a fan of Imtiaz Ali, and he keeps making such amazing films. After Chamkila, I thought, what could be better? And look what he's created now."
Despite the song's popularity, Sahay said work offers have not started pouring in yet. However, she has been encouraged by the appreciation coming her way, including support from Ayushmann Khurrana and Sonu Nigam, along with messages from lyricists such as Manoj Muntashir, Swanand Kirkire and Raj Shekhar.
Deepali's journey is also a reminder that reality show fame does not necessarily guarantee opportunities in the music industry. Looking back, she realised many reality show contestants misunderstand the purpose of these platforms. Deepali said that after Indian Idol, she believed her struggle was over since everyone knew her name. However, the reality was very different.
"No one will come to help; you have to create your own path. All the industry people who were on the show came and went back. You have no way to reach them, but you have to find a way to show them your work. That's when I started posting on social media and also ensured that I only sing live, so composers know my real voice," she said.
Beyond film music, Deepali has spent the last three years working to change perceptions around Bhojpuri music through her YouTube series, Bhojpuri Classics with Deepali Sahay. Starting with just three subscribers and now boasting over 80,000, the channel showcases the language's rich literary and melodic heritage.
"People think Bhojpuri is always commercial and vulgar, but it's not. My vision was to change this misconception. We have beautiful words, we have beautiful songs. Please come and listen, and make others listen to them too," she concluded with a smile.
While audiences have been discovering Deepali Sahay's voice through Tere Paas Main from Main Vaapas Aaunga, the singer sees the song as a result of years of patience and hard work rather than a delayed reward. In an exclusive chat with India Today, Deepali reflected on finding success, working with AR Rahman, why reality shows aren't career guarantees, and her mission to change perceptions around Bhojpuri music.
Reflecting on the response to one of the most emotional songs in the Imtiaz Ali film, Deepali said she feels it came to her at the right time, when she was mature enough to understand and portray its emotional depth. Drawing a parallel with love, she shared that life experiences have given her a deeper perspective, making her better equipped to take on the responsibility of the role.
The first sign that something extraordinary was about to happen came unexpectedly when AR Rahman started following her on Instagram. The story got even more surreal because the message arrived on a date that already held significance: her birthday, which she shares with the music maestro: "I got a message from his team that Rahman sir wants to record your voice for a song. I went to Chennai and recorded it, and then we followed it up with some tweaks in the following weeks. I was clueless whether the song would ultimately become mine because I've heard stories that singers are replaced overnight."
However, the night before the trailer launch, she was called back and asked to sing the song in a completely new scale. The song went on to become a chartbuster soon after its release and helped Deepali realise one of her biggest dreams.
As for when she first heard about the song, Deepali said she couldn't hold back her emotions. "I am a very highly emotional person. When I heard the story, when I heard where it is coming in the film, I started crying. And I remember Hiral, who is from Rahman sir's team, told me, 'You don't have to cry. You have to make people cry'," she said with a smile.
Here's the song from Main Vaapas Aaunga:
Watching the song unfold on the big screen also turned into an emotional experience. She shared how her husband captured the moment when she was in tears. Deepali added that she could not associate the voice with herself, as the narrative was so gripping that it felt like the character was singing. She also mentioned how fortunate she felt to receive a composition that perfectly complemented her voice and tonal quality. A longtime admirer of classic Hindi melodies by Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, she said the track resonated deeply with her musical tastes, making the opportunity even more special.
Another emotional moment arrived when AR Rahman mentioned her on Indian Idol, the very show that introduced her to audiences two decades ago. "I didn't know about it. My brother-in-law sent that video to me, and I cried for like half an hour," she said.
As for working with the music genius, Deepali Sahay said it reinforced everything she had heard about the Oscar-winning composer. "He is a face of perfection. And when Imtiaz sir and Irshad sir also come together, it's magical. I have always been a fan of Imtiaz Ali, and he keeps making such amazing films. After Chamkila, I thought, what could be better? And look what he's created now."
Despite the song's popularity, Sahay said work offers have not started pouring in yet. However, she has been encouraged by the appreciation coming her way, including support from Ayushmann Khurrana and Sonu Nigam, along with messages from lyricists such as Manoj Muntashir, Swanand Kirkire and Raj Shekhar.
Deepali's journey is also a reminder that reality show fame does not necessarily guarantee opportunities in the music industry. Looking back, she realised many reality show contestants misunderstand the purpose of these platforms. Deepali said that after Indian Idol, she believed her struggle was over since everyone knew her name. However, the reality was very different.
"No one will come to help; you have to create your own path. All the industry people who were on the show came and went back. You have no way to reach them, but you have to find a way to show them your work. That's when I started posting on social media and also ensured that I only sing live, so composers know my real voice," she said.
Beyond film music, Deepali has spent the last three years working to change perceptions around Bhojpuri music through her YouTube series, Bhojpuri Classics with Deepali Sahay. Starting with just three subscribers and now boasting over 80,000, the channel showcases the language's rich literary and melodic heritage.
"People think Bhojpuri is always commercial and vulgar, but it's not. My vision was to change this misconception. We have beautiful words, we have beautiful songs. Please come and listen, and make others listen to them too," she concluded with a smile.
