Sunidhi Chauhan

Who is Sunidhi Chauhan?

Sunidhi Chauhan (born 14 August 1983) is one of the most powerful, versatile and recognisable playback singers in Indian cinema. Famous for a bold, full-throated voice that can switch from sultry item numbers to tender ballads to hard rock, she has been a dominant female voice in Bollywood for more than two decades.

Child prodigy

Born in Delhi, she began performing at local gatherings at the age of four and was singing professionally as a child. She made her playback debut at just thirteen with the film Shastra (1996) and won the television singing competition Meri Awaz Suno, announcing an extraordinary natural talent.

Breakthrough and rise

Her real breakthrough came with "Ruki Ruki Si Zindagi" from Mast (1999), and from there she became the go-to voice for high-energy, attitude-driven numbers. The cabaret-style "Beedi" from Omkara showcased her range, and a string of blockbuster dance anthems followed.

Signature songs

Her catalogue includes some of the biggest dance and item songs in modern Hindi cinema — "Dhoom Machale", "Sheila Ki Jawani", "Crazy Kiya Re", "Desi Girl" and "Kamli" — alongside a deep well of romantic and rock-tinged tracks that prove she is far more than an item-song specialist. In 2026 she featured on the Cocktail 2 soundtrack, singing on Tujhko.

Beyond playback

One of India's most electric live performers, Sunidhi has also been a prominent television talent-show judge, mentoring a new generation of singers, and has recorded in numerous Indian languages beyond Hindi.

Awards and legacy

She has won multiple Filmfare Awards, including a Filmfare Award South, and is widely regarded as one of the defining female voices of 2000s and 2010s Bollywood — a benchmark for vocal power and versatility.