Natasha Kundi 
We sat down with Simran Choudhary for a deep dive into the roots of her artistry — from growing up surrounded by music and training in Hindustani classical since the age of three, to experimenting with genre and language in her latest release, “Saiyyan Na Maane”. Simran reflects on the role her parents played in nurturing her talent, the connection she feels to legends like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and why she believes music should never be confined to a single form.
Question: You’ve been listening to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan since you were in your mother’s womb — you’ve grown up with his music. Tell us a little about yourself.
Answer: I was born listening to Nusrat Saab. I’ve always felt like we had a connection even before I was born. No one in my family sings or has learned music professionally, but they’ve always had a deep love for it. That passion for music meant my parents and family supported my training from the start. They made sure I stayed disciplined—my father would even scold me if I didn’t practice. I’m also incredibly grateful to my Guruji, who taught me everything about music. To be trained by such a great teacher, and to have found him so early in life, is something I’m truly thankful for.
Question: You’ve inherited your love for music from your father – I’m sure your father sees himself in you!
Answer: You know they say that fathers live their dreams come true through their children. My story is a bit like that. My father always wanted to learn how to sing, however family circumstances didn’t allow for it. But when I was about two and a half, whenever music came on TV or the radio, I’d start humming it immediately. He saw that as a blessing from God — that I had a gift. I’ve always been grateful that my parents recognised this gift early on. They understood its value and felt a responsibility to nurture it. If God gives you something so special, it’s important to polish it through training. That’s why, when I was just three years old, my father took me to my Guruji to start learning Hindustani classical music.
Question: Your new song is in Punjabi, but it blends in elements of pop — I think it’ll really appeal to younger listeners. How did this track come together?
Answer: Saiyyan Na Maane was an experiment for me. All my Punjabi songs so far have been sung in Punjabi because that language is close to my heart. But for Saiyyan Na Maane, we tried to do something a little different. The lyrics are in Braj Bhasha, because when I was learning Hindustani classical music, a lot of compositions were influenced by Braj or Awadhi dialects. This song was an attempt to blend classical music with funk-pop. The singing style is also more Western. We tried to mix a lot of different elements. In fact, I made this song four years ago. People often say that songs find their own path — and that’s exactly what happened here. This song found its way, reached its destination, and now it’s reaching people.
Question: The classical influence in the song really makes it unique. How did you approach blending classical elements into it?
Answer: I always thank my Guruji, who’s taught me since I was three. He used to say a true artist should never be limited — art can’t be restricted. Once you’ve learned classical music, it’s like learning grammar in English. Once you know the grammar, you can write essays, letters, poems — anything. In the same way, he focused so much on my classical foundation. When he taught me compositions, he’d use Braj Bhasha and train me in Thumri, Dadra, Kajri, Chhota Khyal, and Bada Khyal. That diversity helped me understand the idea that music is all built from the same seven notes. I shouldn’t limit myself by genre or language.
Question: You’ve been inspired by legends like Surinder Kaur, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen, and Gurdas Maan. Tell us more about your musical inspirations.
Answer: Like I said, I’ve always felt a connection with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan — even before I was born — and that bond will always be there. With Surinder Kaur, I sang her songs constantly as I was growing up. And Gurdas Maan — I’ve said this so many times — it’s a dream of mine to collaborate with him one day.
You can stream Saiyyan Na Maane and more of Simran Chaudhary’s music on Spotify and Apple Music.
