Musically yours, Anushka

Anushka Manchanda's spunk and zest for life has taken her on the road to success...

Her life has been a roller coaster ride. From being a Delhi teenager to member of the first Indian all-girl band 'Viva', a veejay and a playback singer, Anushka Manchanda has donned several hats.

Talent channel

Till a few years ago, she was amongst the many starry-eyed participants of Channel V's nationwide talent hunt contest. She was finally chosen as one of the five girls to form the band 'Viva' in 2002.

The all-girl band shot to fame quickly, but their meteoric rise was cut short due to in-fighting. After the band decided to split, Anushka got a break with her mentor channel as a VJ. "I was called in to audition and before I knew it, I was with the channel. I had a blast! I travelled! I partied! My work was like play," she says nostalgically.

Notes of a singer

After a short stint as a veejay, Anushka decided to pursue her singing career. She sang for South-Indian music composers like Harris Jayaraj (of Rehna Hai Terre Dil Mein fame) and Sandeep Chowta.

Soon, Bollywood beckoned her. "I was at the Chennai airport on my way back to Mumbai, after a recording, when Vishal Dadlani called me. He said 'There's this song that Shekhar and I think your voice will work for'. He asked me to hum out a couple of lines after him and then told me to drop in at their studio." The song was the hip-hop title track of Golmaal in 2006, which soon went on to become a chartbuster. What followed were hits from Zindaggi Rocks, Chak De and Cash. "I had the most fun recording a rap section for one of the songs on Cash. There was also this scream I had to do for Bad Bad Girls for Chak De." Apart from lending her voice for forthcoming films like De Taali, Dulha Mil Gaya and Alladin, the artiste is now working on her solo album. She describes music as an integral part of her life.

"I've always loved music. I grew up listening to Deep Purple, Santana and a lot of rock, since that was the kind of music that was played at home. My mum bought me a piano, my dad got me a guitar and my closest friends in school all sang. So it was inevitable."

Standing tall

The 23-year-old, who likes to lead life on her own terms, finds the film industry quite intriguing.

"There's a certain way you're expected to behave in the industry. Apparently, you can't afford to piss people off. Fortunately, I've worked with some really chilled out musicians, so I've never been in a difficult situation."

Any area that she would like to improvise as a singer and Anushka quips, "A lot of people are under the impression that my Hindi isn't very good. Well, I'm from Delhi, so my Hindi is full power! Maybe I need to sing and enunciate my words more clearly!!"