In an exclusive interview with Loudest.in Power People, Nikhita Gandhi shares her journey,from finding her voice and collaborating with A.R. Rahman to global dreams with The Hello Group, ShNIK’s rise, Avvaan Javaan, and her upcoming hip-hop EP.
Nikhita Gandhi is one of the most versatile voices in Indian music today. Trained in both Hindustani classical and Western music, she seamlessly blends genres, from soulful ballads to high-energy chartbusters. Her voice has powered hits like Raabta, Qaafirana, Aao Kabhi Haveli Pe, Burj Khalifa, and Jugnu, while her independent work highlights her individuality as an artist.
With collaborations spanning A.R. Rahman, Pritam, Vishal–Shekhar, Amit Trivedi, and global acts, Nikhita continues to redefine versatility. Known for her infectious energy and dynamic performances, she stands out as one of the most exciting voices shaping India’s music scene today.
In an exclusive interview with Loudest.in Power People, Nikhita Gandhi shares her journey,from finding her voice and collaborating with A.R. Rahman to global dreams with The Hello Group, ShNIK’s rise, Avvaan Javaan, and her upcoming hip-hop EP.
Here are edited excerpts:
Your voice has such a unique texture that stands out in Bollywood ,how did you discover and shape your signature sound?
I’ve never really overthought my voice,it’s just instinctive and natural. I’m grateful that others have found it unique and used it in some of the biggest songs out there. Honestly, it’s been about meeting the right people, being in the right rooms, and being discovered by some of the best in the industry.
From chartbusters like Qaafirana and Raabta to high-energy dance tracks, you’ve shown versatility. What’s your process to adapt to such different moods?
I feel the song itself usually guides you to where you need to be. For example, when I sang Qaafirana the instrumentation and composition naturally shaped how I sounded. Of course, it’s also the composer’s vision,they see different sides of an artist and bring out what they want to highlight. As artists, we all have multiple dimensions, and sometimes others hear something in us we may not. But most often, the melody and tune are so self-explanatory that they lead the way.
You’ve recently partnered with The Hello Group for international management—what excites you most about this new phase, and how do you see it shaping your global journey as an artist?
I started as a playback singer before moving into singles and my own music,almost in reverse. Most artists begin independently and then go mainstream, but I went from Bollywood to pop. The challenge has been finding a team that sees both sides of me as one artist.
When I connected with The Hello Group, it felt different,we spoke only about music and vision, not just shows or income. They align with how I think, and they’re building my journey around the music I want to release. We’re already writing, collaborating, and shaping this new chapter, where my pop journey and film work come together.
Your new single has just dropped, and at the same time you're launching the ShNik project with Shashwat Singh,how are you balancing these two very different creative journeys?
Schnik started during the lockdown, when Shashwat and I began writing together. Our first song, Kari, set the tone,it blended folk with hip-hop, something completely different from what either of us usually does. I’m known for pop and Bollywood, he’s known for his soulful playback voice, so this sound didn’t fit neatly into either of our individual identities.
But we were having so much fun creating it,it felt modern yet nostalgic, very Coke Studio-esque,so we decided it deserved its own space. That’s how Schnik was born, as a duo separate from our solo careers. Every song we release under Schnik will carry this unique blend that’s ours together.
With Avvaan Javaan from War 2 turning into such a huge success, what was your creative process like in bringing this song to life?
You know, this song,I’ve literally lived with it for more than a year.
It’s been such a journey, going through all the revisions, all the different lyrical options. And now that it’s finally out, it feels like such a relief, because the journey has been so rewarding and the fact that everyone is loving it makes it even more special.
It’s already in the Top 5 globally on the Billboard charts,I think it’s at number 11 or 12 right now, which is incredible. The last time something like this happened for my career was with Tere Pyaar Mein.
This song was one of the first to be worked on for the film, since they were shooting in Italy last year. So we had to finish it much earlier to give them time to plan and shoot around it. Honestly, the hardest part for me has been keeping it a secret.
I recorded it in the studio almost a year ago, and since then it’s just been playing in my head nonstop. It’s such an addictive melody, and as a singer, not being able to hum it or share it with anyone was so tough! But at the same time, that secrecy was exciting,knowing only a handful of us had heard it. And when the world finally gets to hear the song, it makes the wait so worth it.
Bollywood playback often demands a singer to match an actor’s persona on screen. How do you balance authenticity with performance demands?
I don’t really overthink it,I just focus on what the song needs and delivering the right performance. Usually, it aligns well because the voice casting is done accordingly. I do feel my voice suits a lot of A-listers, especially since they often have that modern, slightly glamorous vibe.
For example, I’ve sung three big songs for Kiara alone,Kya Baat Hai, Burj Khalifa, and now this one. It just naturally fits these glamorous, confident women on screen. In general, I think my voice carries that balance of being fresh yet sensuous, which works well for the kind of characters and stars these songs are picturized on.
As an independent artist as well, how do you navigate the balance between playback singing and carving out your own musical identity?
That’s the tricky part,finding a way to be both, and not end up being neither. Right now, I’m really focused on building a strong identity. But honestly, it’s not something I can do alone. It takes a team,my crew, my agency, and if there’s label support, then the labels too. Everyone has to share the same vision, and only then can a true pop artist be shaped. That’s the journey I’m on right now… and I guess the results will show soon.
What role has technology and social media played in shaping opportunities for playback singers today, compared to the past?
It definitely has leveled the playing field, right? Because now, everyone has access to social media and the ability to release music on online platforms. It’s incredibly easy to put your work out there,which is both a blessing and, in some ways, part of the problem.
Earlier, maybe five songs would release in a day, but now it’s closer to 50,000. That makes it harder to stand out, and the real challenge for every artist today is breaking through the clutter and making sure their music is actually heard.
This oversaturation also means that mediocrity often gets celebrated, simply because the audience is constantly bombarded with content. At the same time, I’ve also discovered some truly incredible artists who deserve more attention, but their work gets lost in the noise.
So yes, while we do have everything at our fingertips,social media, digital distribution, even the option to run ads,it all comes with new difficulties. The real task now is finding a way to cut through and rise above the chaos.
What’s your perspective on AI in music, and have you started using it in your own work?
The music industry has actually been using AI for years,decades, in fact. Artificial intelligence has long been a part of sound production and other aspects of music creation. It’s just that now AI has become a buzzword, so everyone is suddenly talking about it as if it’s brand new.
Personally, I use AI in different ways,not necessarily for making music, but for supporting everything around it. For example, creating artwork, building websites, or other tasks where it helps me get things done faster. Especially when you’re releasing independently, you really are your own team. So, the more tools you can use to manage things yourself, the more empowered you feel to release your music on your own terms.
I’ve always been hands-on,making my own creatives, editing my own videos—though I still prefer editing videos myself rather than using AI. But AI is present in so many different streams of our work that I definitely use it whenever it can help me be more efficient.
Which collaboration has been your favorite so far, and why?
I honestly don’t know how I could ever pick a favorite,that’s just too hard. So instead, let me answer differently. One of my most memorable projects was something very few people even know about, because it was actually banned in India.
It was a film called Muhammad: Messenger of God, directed by the Oscar-winning Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi, with music by A.R. Rahman. And I was literally the voice of that film. There was no traditional music score,my voice was the theme that carried the entire film.
For me, that collaboration was incredibly special, because I was working alongside absolute stalwarts,both Oscar-level artists,on a project of huge scale. Even though the film never screened in India due to the ban and the fatwa surrounding it, I did get to see it in the studio, and it remains one of the most powerful, awe-inspiring experiences of my career.
As an artist, I can say it was truly one of the coolest and most meaningful projects I’ve ever been part of.
Tell us about your bond with A.R. Rahman and how his mentorship, after discovering you, influenced your path?
I’ve had the privilege of working with Rahman Sir on a wide range of projects,commercial, international, and very niche ones too. From Muhammad: Messenger of God to Pele and many others, each collaboration has been a completely different learning experience.
Through these projects, I’ve learned so much about my craft, especially as a studio session artist. But beyond just singing into a mic, I developed a real curiosity for the production side of things,how sessions are put together, how songs are built, how instruments are layered, how the entire recording process comes alive.
Being surrounded by Rahman Sir and his students, who are always geeking out over the technical and artistic aspects of music, created an environment that constantly inspired me. I feel truly blessed to have experienced his presence in so many ways,it has shaped the artist I am today.
More than anything, it instilled in me the belief that curiosity is the most essential trait an artist can have. To always ask how something is created, why it works the way it does. And Rahman Sir embodies that spirit of curiosity,I love that about him, and I’m grateful I got to experience it firsthand.
Your journey spans classical training, indie collaborations, and Bollywood blockbusters. Looking back, what’s been your most defining moment so far?
I don’t think I can point to one singular, shining moment in my journey. There have been many defining ones. Most of them aren’t the public moments people see, but the deeply personal ones I’ve kept to myself.
For example, the first time I sang Raabta , it felt like just another day. I walked into the studio, recorded a scratch, and left without any expectations. I honestly didn’t think my voice would even be used, because it was already such a big song. But when the track released, I realized how important that seemingly small moment had been.
That’s the thing with this industry , sometimes you only understand the true weight of an experience much later. A piece of advice someone gave, or a chance moment in the studio, suddenly reveals its significance when everything falls into place.
So for me, the real defining moments are often the quiet, hidden ones. The world only sees the results, but as artists, we carry the stories of those private turning points within us.
What are the upcoming projects for Nikita Gandhi? What we can look forward to coming?
I’m currently working on my EP, which I’ll be dropping soon. It’s especially exciting because it features several artists I’ve collaborated with in the past on non-film releases , but this time, it’s going to be my project. I’m flipping the narrative, bringing in some incredible talent, and I can promise it’s going to be a really kick-ass record.
The sound will lean heavily towards hip-hop, since I’ve been deeply connected with the Indian hip-hop scene and have sung on some big tracks ,like O Sajna and many others. So this EP feels like a natural extension of that journey. I think in the next month or two, people will start hearing some of the songs roll out.
In fact, the first one has already dropped , Baliye Re with Badshah for Baaghi 4. I was part of Baaghi 3 too, where I sang Do You Love Me, so it feels great to return to the franchise. I’ve had the chance to work with Badshah multiple times, both in film and non-film, and he’s played such an important role in my journey.
This track is quite different though , it has a strong Punjabi vibe. Baliye Re was already a popular Punjabi song, and now with the OG artist on board as well, it’s got a fresh new energy. I’m just really excited to be a part of it, and even more excited for everyone to hear what’s coming next on the EP.