Singer Shalmali Kholgade, known for her breakout hit "Pareshaan" from the 2012 film Ishaqzaade, recently performed a private concert in Bengaluru. In an exclusive interview with Bangalore Times, she expressed her love for performing live and her preference for the stage over the studio. She mentioned that music is a collaborative and evolving process that involves talented individuals. Shalmali also shared her approach to social media, emphasizing the importance of maintaining personal boundaries and avoiding oversharing. She credited Amit Trivedi for offering her opportunities in Bollywood that helped launch her playback singing career, particularly with the song "Pareshaan."The credit for my original music means a lot to me, as it is like my own creation. Before focusing solely on my music, I was engaged in various activities, including playing in my college band and local clubs, as well as being involved in a Latvian cabaret. I juggled performing in shows while also recording commercial jingles. Music has always been my passion, and I aim to continue pursuing it. I truly feel like I am living my best life, and I attribute a lot of what I have learned to the wise words of my father, whom I affectionately call "baba." He often emphasized that education through life experiences stems from traveling extensively, engaging with diverse people, asking questions, and nurturing curiosity. I feel fortunate to be able to follow his advice and pursue music, as it is a fulfilling journey. My interest in music transcends just singing; I thrive on being involved in every aspect of the creative process and seeing it through to completion. This approach resonates with me as it is an integral part of expressing myself through music. The recent release of my collaboration with Nikhil D'Souza titled "Tu Hai" brought an unexpected experience. I discovered a track titled "Tu Hi Tu Hai" the following day, with my name listed as the female singer, despite never having recorded such a song. I suspect it was an artificially generated song, possibly uploaded with the intention of diverting attention and streams from my own work – a perplexing and somewhat unsettling occurrence.