Aspiring singer Simran Raj, a student of class nine, on what it takes to balance studies and being a participant on a reality music show.
The first thing you notice about Simran Raj is her sweet smile. As she breaks into a song, ‘Jeete hain shaan se’ when someone asks her to sing her favourite song, you realise her real talent. A student of class nine – she’s studying at Guru Nanak Public School in Delhi’s Rajouri Garden – Simran is among the top eight contestants on ‘Dil Hai Hindustani’.
A singing reality show, ‘Dil Hai Hindustani’ airs on Star Plus and is being judged by a panel which comprises of music director Shekhar Ravjiani, filmmaker Karan Johar along with singers Shalmali Kholgade and Badshah.
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Photo By: Vikram Joy
“It’s like a dream come true. I am the first girl in my family who has appeared on Indian television,” said Simran as she addressed a room full of journalists at a press conference held in Chandigarh on Tuesday afternoon. Coming from a family of musicians, Simran admits she’s been singing since the age of four. “I would attentively listen to my grandfather giving music lessons to my brother. I love to sing and I am lucky to have got such a huge platform at a young age,” said the singer who has previously won a singing reality show on PTC Punjabi.
Considering her chock-a-block schedule and never-ending training sessions along with promotional tours, how does this student of class nine manage it all? “I have exams going on and it is not easy to focus on studies and be ambitious about a career in music. But discipline and following a schedule has helped me tremendously. I make sure I find time for everything and my teachers and school have been very helpful as well,” informs Simran.
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Photo By: Vikram Joy
Incidentally, she dreams of becoming a Bollywood playback singer. And while the journey’s just begun, Simran feels hard work and luck have an important role to play. It doesn’t help that her strongest competitor on the show happens to be her best friend, Ankita. “We really are good friends and I love her voice but there can be only one winner,” sums up Simran.
The show airs every Saturday and Sunday at 8 pm on Star Plus.
