Jamshedpur-born playback singer Shilpa Rao, who won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for Chaleya in the film Jawan, returned to Jharkhand on Tuesday and dedicated the honour to her home state.
At the 71st National Film Awards ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, the President of India presented the award to Rao, who wore a traditional black bandhgala outfit. She shared the stage with actor Shah Rukh Khan, who won the Best Actor award for the same film. Rao said the award was not just hers but belonged to Jharkhand, which she credited for shaping her and giving her the strength to pursue her dreams.
Arriving in Ranchi the following morning, she went directly to Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence on Kanke Road, where she was felicitated. The Chief Minister, accompanied by MLA Kalpana Soren, congratulated her and said her success would inspire the youth of the state. He described the achievement as a matter of pride for Jharkhand.
Rao recalled her memories of Jharkhand and said she missed its food, soil, and people. She said her roots remain her greatest strength and expressed her wish to spend some days in the state after nearly a year away. She also praised Shah Rukh Khan as a humble and approachable personality and hummed a few lines of Chaleya, the song that brought her national recognition.
Born in Jamshedpur in a Telugu family, Rao’s real name is Apeksha Rao. She received early training in music from her father, S. Venkat Rao, and later trained under playback singer Hariharan. She moved to Mumbai in 2001 and made her debut with Tose Naina Lage in the film Anwar. Over the years, she has sung for several major films, including Dhoom 3, Pathaan, and Jawan.
Reflecting on her career, Rao said focus and discipline are crucial in a world full of distractions like phones and social media. She also underlined the importance of supporting new talent, citing her collaborations with composer Amit Trivedi.
Messages of congratulations poured in on social media soon after news of her award. Residents of Jamshedpur and Ranchi expressed pride in her achievement, calling it a moment of honour for Jharkhand. Chief Minister Soren also extended wishes for her future, saying the award was as much Jharkhand’s as it was hers.