Struggle is a word that I can totally relate to — the real meaning of which I understood when my father fell ill when I was young. Life was easy before that. My father was an assistant to the renowned music composer Hansraj Behl (Jahan Daal Daal Pe Sone Ki Chidiya Karti Hai Basera from Sikandar-e-Azam) and Mohd Rafi Saab was his guru. Back in my school and college days, I won a number of awards for singing. Even though music was in my blood, I wanted to take up a teacher’s job to be able to spend time with family and friends; until that life-changing phase.

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My father took ill and it took him seven long years to recover. While I still wanted to take up a regular job, I realised that people close to me expected me to take the legacy of music forward. One day, I overheard my mother telling my ailing dad, “Shahid will do it, he will earn his name and fame, for us.” I saw the smile on my father’s face. That moment will remain with me forever.

I decided that the family should move to Mumbai. My struggle started from day one. I realised that surviving in Mumbai was not easy. I had a friend Kumaar, who used to work with Pritamda and referred me to him. Pritamda told him that he will hear me one day, which came after two years when on Kumaar’s request, Pritamda asked me to sing. That is how I got my debut song — Rabba Mein Toh Mar Gaya from Pankaj Kapoor’s Mausam. This was followed by Ik kudi and Chitta Ve from Udta Punjab, Toh Dishoom (title track of Dishoom) and Radha from Jab Harry Met Sejal.

These 10 years included the process of walking up to and trying my luck with each and every production house, trying to source out contacts, any leads on who can hear me once. I have been rejected by many, while the others said they would revert but till today, I haven’t heard from them. The journey has not been an easy task. Shifting the entire family base to Mumbai was an impromptu decision, but when I looked into their eyes, a ray of hope kept me alive, never to give up, never to surrender.

My father told me that one day people will recognise my talent. I am glad he told me that because that kept me going, to earn a name for him for my family and for myself. Till today, when I look back, I have teary eyes, but that one moment of my mother’s conversation with my father who believed in me, clears my soul to sing and put my best foot forward.  

Where musicians voice their thoughts about matters close to their hearts