Bela Shende

Bela Shende is an Indian playback singer. She performed several songs in Bollywood and regional films. "Mann Mohana" from the film "Jodhaa Akbar", "Su Che" from the film "What's Your Raashee?", "Wajle Ki Baara" and "Apsara Aali" from "Natarang" are some of her famous songs. In 2014 she was awarded the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Khurkhura" from the Marathi film "Tuhya Dharma Koncha".
Shende started her career with the music album "Kaisa Yeh Jadoo" which was well received by the masses and was critically acclaimed. Her career in Bollywood started with the film Tera Mera Saath Rahen where she voiced for a brief part. She again got a big break in the 2005 submission for Academy Award, Paheli, where she voiced Rani Mukerji. In 2008 she crooned a bhajan in the Ashutosh Gowariker directorial Jodhaa Akbar for an A. R. Rahman composition and got an IIFA Award for Best Female Playback nomination for the song.
She then crooned hits in Marathi, her mother tongue, and received several awards and nominations for her excellence. Her renditions of lavnis "Apsara Aali" and "Vajle Ki Baara" from the Marathi film Natarang were well received. She became the sole voice of Kangana Ranaut in the 2013 musical Rajjo. Bela is credited as a talented vocalist and has established a career in the Marathi film industry. Besides Hindi, she has also sung in Marathi, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.
Early life and career.
Bela Shende was born to Dr. Sanjeev Shende and Mrs Medha Shende. Her Grandmother, Smt. Kusum Shende, is a classical vocalist from the Kirana Gharana. Her sister Sawani Shende is a classical vocalist as well. Bela Shende won the Zee Saregama reality TV singing contest at the age of 16. Bela Shende has had her father and Grandmother as her Gurus. She is a graduate in commerce.
Bela has lent her voice for various music directors most notably Ilayaraja, A. R. Rahman, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Ajay-Atul, Yuvan shankar raja, Lalit Pandit, M. M. Keeravaani and Sohail Sen. She went on to receive the prestigious National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer, for rendering the song "Khurkhura", in the year 2014 at the 61st National Film Awards.
Bela's rendition of lavnis in the film Natarang won her widespread critical acclaim. Her renditions of "Apsara Aali" and "Vajle ki Bara" became cult songs over time. Initially she lent her voice to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the epic historical drama Jodhaa Akbar, directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. She then went ahead to lend her voice for Priyanka Chopra in the film What's Your Rashee?, another Ashutosh Gowariker directorial.
In 2013 she became the sole voice of Kangana Ranaut in the musical drama Rajjo. The same year she crooned "Khurkhura" for the film "Tuhya Dharma Koncha" which earned her the prestigious National Award. Bela Shende next crooned for A. R. Rahman in the Tamil film Kaaviya Thalaivan (2014 film), its Malayalam version Pradhinayagan and Telugu Version Premaalayam for three versions of two different songs respectively.
In 2016, she crooned the title song for the film Mohenjo Daro along with Arijit Singh, A.R. Rahman and Sanah Moidutty. The song was composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics penned by Javed Akhtar.
She sang the song "Marathi Breathless" from the album "Kanherichi Phule" which was composed and directed by Tejas Chavan. The album won the award for best music album at Chitra Padarpan Puraskar.