Shilpa Rao

Playback singer

Indian Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India Aries

Quick Info

ProfessionPlayback singer
NationalityIndian
Date of Birth11/04/1984
Age42 years
BirthplaceJamshedpur, Jharkhand, India
Zodiac SignAries

Latest News about Shilpa Rao

08/03/2026

Shilpa Rao received the Best Impact Playback Singer honour at an awards ceremony in March 2026, recognising how her playback work stays with listeners long after release. Accepting the award, she credited the strength of Gulzar's lyrics as a key part of the winning work's emotional impact.

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Bio/Wiki

Full NameApeksha Rao
SummaryIndian playback singer known for a versatile vocal style rooted in Hindustani classical music. She records mainly in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil, and has also sung in Bengali and Malayalam.
DebutBollywood playback debut in 2007 with "Tose Naina" from the film Anwar, composed by Mithoon
BreakthroughRose to prominence with "Woh Ajnabee" from The Train (2007) and "Khuda Jaane" from Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008)

Educational Qualification(s)

PostgraduateApplied statistics, completed in Mumbai

Personal Life

ResidenceMumbai, Maharashtra
TrainingInitial classical training under her father, S. Venkat Rao, and Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan

Relationships & More

SpouseRitesh Krishnan (married 2021)
Collaborators

Family

FatherS. Venkat Rao
SpouseRitesh Krishnan

Career

Years Active2003 to present
Notable Songs
  • Javeda Zindagi (Anwar, 2007)
  • Woh Ajnabee (The Train, 2007)
  • Khuda Jaane (Bachna Ae Haseeno, 2008)
  • Bulleya (2016)
  • Projapoti Mon (2017)
  • Roz Roz (2020)
  • Chuttamalle (Devara: Part 1, 2024)
Awards and Nominations
  • Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer nomination, 2009, for Khuda Jaane
  • Indian Television Academy Award for Best Singer, 2011, for Bekaboo
  • IIFA Award for Best Female Playback Singer, 2020, for Ghungroo (War)
  • Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Telugu, 2024, for Chuttamalle (Devara: Part 1)
  • Best Impact Playback Singer honour, 2026
International WorkPerformed on Coke Studio Pakistan in 2016 with "Paar Chanaa De", the final Indian singer to appear on the show

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Began her musical path while studying in college, including years of recording jingles
2. Performed "Ek Lau" from the film Aamir, which became associated with the 2008 Mumbai attacks coverage

Also born on 11 April

Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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