In an exclusive conversation with The Pioneer, celebrated singer Shilpa Rao delves deep into the emotional landscape of her new track Khudaya Ishq from the film Abir Gulal. Known for her soul-stirring vocals and poetic sensibility, she opens up about surrendering to love, singing with vulnerability, and trusting the music to guide her. Rao also reflects on the legacy of honest music, the invisible role of pain in art, and how staying emotionally true is the key to timeless resonance
“It’s always interesting to sing a romantic song because even in love, there are so many different shades and emotions you can show. With every new romantic track, we explore a new phase of love.” — Shilpa Rao
Tejal Sinha
Some voices are heard. Shilpa Rao’s is felt. It doesn’t merely glide over a melody—it pierces through the noise of the world, anchors itself in your soul, and stays long after the music ends. With Khudaya Ishq, her latest track from the evocative film Abir Gulal, Shilpa doesn’t just sing about love—she dissolves into it. It’s not the flutter of first crushes or the fireworks of infatuation—it’s love in its rawest, most sacred form: aching, grown, surrendered. The kind that leaves you breathless, not because it’s perfect, but because it’s true. In this deeply personal reflection, Shilpa opens up about creating from a place of emotional honesty, why heartbreak often holds the key to her most haunting performances, and how music—when it’s real—has the power to become a prayer.
In an exclusive conversation with The Pioneer, the celebrated singer opens up about her newest track Khudaya Ishq, how she taps into emotions while recording, and what makes her music timelessly relevant.
Reflecting on her journey through romantic music, Shilpa shares, “It’s always interesting to sing a romantic song because even in love, there are so many different shades and emotions you can show. With every new romantic track, we explore a new phase of love.” She describes Khudaya Ishq as a song that stands apart—not young or playful, but deeply mature. “But love is still love,” she says, “You are fully involved with the other person. That’s what this song is about.”
Khudaya Ishq has an almost prayer-like quality to it, one that evokes longing and surrender. For Shilpa, such a song is deeply personal. “The lyrics and the composition inspire you, and your experiences of love come into play too,” she explains. “Being in love is a blessing, and when you draw from your emotions while singing, it feels like you’re reliving those moments.”
She adds that she hopes everyone, in their own way, gets to experience a love that mirrors the soul of this song.
When asked whether pain helps bring out the best in a singer, Shilpa turns to the core emotion of the track—love. “The strongest feeling in this track was the emotion of falling in love. And when that happens, you don’t hold back—you just go all in,” she shares. That’s exactly what she did while recording Khudaya Ishq: “I didn’t let doubts or complicated thoughts come in; I just sang it with pure love.”The song’s lyrical theme revolves around surrender in love, something Shilpa believes music helps us confront. “That’s the power of art,” she affirms. “When you’re feeling something deeply but don’t know how to express it, art gives you the words and the space to let it out. Khudaya Ishq helps people express that kind of love.”
Her first emotional response upon hearing the composition confirmed this instinctive connection. “Occasionally, it’s rare to find lyrics and music that blend so well together. I fell in love with the song the first time I heard it—and that’s the feeling I carried while singing it.”
On capturing the ache and longing that defines Khudaya Ishq, Shilpa kept her approach simple and organic. “The only thing I did was stay fully focused. No overthinking, no fear—just love.”
She also touches upon the haunting Sufi undertone that subtly emerges through the track. Rather than planning it consciously, she allowed herself to surrender to the flow. “We don’t really plan or compartmentalise while singing. It’s best to just feel the moment and go with the flow. Some parts were more rhythmic, and I simply followed what felt natural without overthinking it.”
Though the film Abir Gulal is visually rich and emotionally layered, Shilpa reveals she wasn’t aware of the film’s involvement when she initially recorded the song. “Usually, we don’t know. We only ask about the character’s emotion or situation,” she says. However, once she learned about the context, it all made perfect sense. “It felt like the song and the film were a perfect match—like they were made for each other.”
Despite her massive fan base, especially among younger audiences, Shilpa doesn’t feel the pressure of expectations. “I don’t think of it as a burden. The goal is always to be honest and sincere in what you sing. If you’re true to the song and your feelings, that’s what matters most.”
She believes that honesty in music leads to timelessness. “If you’re musically honest, you’ll stay relevant—not just today but in the future too. Many great composers and writers made music not just for their time but for generations. Music is a legacy. The ragas, the notes—they’ve lasted for centuries, and we’re just carrying them forward.”
Looking ahead, Shilpa shares her excitement for a few upcoming releases. “There are some really cool songs coming up for Jewel Thief. I hope people enjoy that song too. I also have a few indie collaborations releasing this year. I’m excited to share them one by one.”
