The interview which appears below, was originally published on the Indian Express in April 2024. ©The rights to this material are reserved to the owner. If you have any concerns or comments, please send an email to info@rahmaniac.com.
Social media has become a launchpad for artistes, catapulting them into the limelight almost overnight. However, things were different for Yashika Sikka—who did not need such a platform to gain recognition— as Imtiaz Ali, the ‘magician’ himself, put his trust in her for the romantic ballad “Tu Kya Jaane” from Amar Singh Chamkila.
In this interview with indianexpress.com, Sikka—who took ten years to bag her hit solo—talks about working with A.R. Rahman and Imtiaz Ali and how Sunidhi Chauhan inspired her to be the artiste she is today. “They are the most chilled-out people on this planet. The most dedicated, the most committed, the most welcoming. They will not make you feel small even for a single second there. The pedestal that these guys work at and operate at is amazing,” she said.
The Studio Sessions for ‘Tu Kya Jaane’: Magic with A.R. Rahman
The singer did not stop here and opened up about the “encouraging” atmosphere at Rahman’s recording studio. “High level of artistes these guys are. They are so humble. It’s such a calm and encouraging atmosphere in the studio. I’m not saying this for the heck of it. Trust me, I felt it in every recording for a whole one and a half years,” she added.
However, working with such maestros does trigger anxious anticipation, Yashika Sikka agreed. Talking about her jitters, the singer said, “I was choking a little. It was a very hard song for me. And I didn’t get any time for preparation as such. He (A.R. Rahman) just made the melody in 15 minutes. And I was on the mic in the next 10 minutes or so. So I didn’t get any time. And at one point, I was like, ‘Sir, I’m sort of choking. I can’t make sense of things.’”
“He’s like, ‘Yashika ji, you’re doing amazing. Just keep singing. Okay, take your time. Should I go out of the room? Should someone else record you?’ He says all these things. And these are big things to do. Big things to say. Very big things. I’m literally a first-timer for them no matter how many years I’ve been here in the industry. But the respect that you get, mind-boggling. So much to learn from,” she added.
The Struggle and Breakthrough
Breaking into Bollywood and making a name for oneself can indeed be challenging, given the highly competitive nature of showbiz. Yashika Sikka—who looks up to Sunidhi Chauhan—highlighted her struggle in the last ten years, even after giving voice to several Bollywood songs, to finally taste success. “It’s a very long journey. It took 10 years. A lot of rejections. I think I’m one of those people who can very safely say that music chose me. I kept running away from it because it was so difficult to become a singer, to dedicate your whole life to music and, you know, keep at it,” Sikka said.
She further mentions how Amitabh Bachchan’s words encouraged her to seek opportunities actively. “I think Ranbir Kapoor was interviewing Amitabh Bachchan and he had asked him how did he got through his tough times when he didn’t have any work and all. And he said such a fantastic thing. He said, ‘If you were a salaried person and you were out of your job, would you not go out and interview? Then why as a freelancer, and especially from someone from the industry, why do you want to shy away? Just tell them, I don’t have work. This is what I earn out of. This is what I live for. I want work.’ And I did absolutely that. I lived by it,” she added.
Yashika Sikka also revealed that she recorded Sachin-Jigar’s “Kamariya” for Stree, which is picturised on Nora Fatehi. However, her voice was replaced by Aastha Gill. “I had sung that and suddenly I found out that my voice had been replaced. And it was a very different thing. Different kind of song from the usual songs that I sing. So I wanted that to happen,” she said.
A Love Affair with Music that’s Here to Stay
When asked about her biggest music influences, Sikka shared her love for Sunidhi Chauhan and how Diljit Dosanjh can be a “very big inspiration”. Sharing her admiration for Chauhan, Sikka said, “My first and forever love is Sunidhi Chauhan. I will keep repeating this until the day I die. She’s given me so much unknowingly and unconsciously. So Sunidhi Chauhan… hands down. And how she has revived herself. I mean, so to say revived. She was always very, very relevant. She just keeps proving I’m the most relevant person ever. Do whatever. But she’s going to be there and keep rocking it.”
“Diljit Dosanjh actually is a huge inspiration. Because his dream is so big, he has such big aims. Actually, after seeing him and I was watching a documentary of AP Dhillon. And I realised these guys dream so big. They directly dream of filling up stadiums and arenas. And that is exactly what I’m manifesting right now,” Sikka said.
Yashika Sikka lastly addressed the “maddening” love she has been receiving for Amar Singh Chamkila song “Tu Kya Jaane”. “It’s maddening. It’s very, very overwhelming. The only feeling right now I’m conscious of is that I’m very happy. I can just faintly feel that something amazing has happened,” she concluded.
Based on Punjabi singers Amar Singh Chamkila and his wife Amarjot’s life, Amar Singh Chamikla is helmed by Imtiaz Ali. The film was released on Netflix on April 12 and received rave reviews.
