Shilpa Rao

Full / Real Name: Apeksha Rao

Shilpa Rao (born Apeksha Rao on 11 April 1984) is an Indian playback singer celebrated for her versatile and unconventional vocal style, which is deeply rooted in Hindustani classical music. Raised in Jamshedpur, she completed postgraduate studies in applied statistics in Mumbai before pursuing a professional career in music. Rao received her initial training from her father, S. Venkat Rao, and later honed her classical techniques under the legendary Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, giving her a solid foundation that blends classical rigor with contemporary sensibility. She made her Bollywood debut in 2007 with the soulful track "Tose Naina" (also known as "Javeda Zindagi") from the film Anwar, composed by Mithoon. Rao rose to widespread prominence with the A.R. Rahman‑composed hit "Wo" from the 2011 film Rockstar, followed by memorable numbers such as "Saawali Si Raat" (Barfi!), "Mora Piya" (Raajneeti) and "Mann Ke Moti" (Mausam). Known for her clear soprano voice and emotive delivery, she has earned nominations at the Filmfare Awards and won a Mirchi Music Award for Best Female Playback Singer. Beyond playback, Rao frequently performs live concerts, collaborates with leading composers like Amit Trivedi, Pritam and Vishal–Shekhar, and continues to explore independent music projects, cementing her status as one of India's most dynamic vocal talents.