I'm still not used to being a celebrity: Shalmali

She had no plans of getting into Bollywood. In fact, singer Shalmali Kholgade was heading to the US for a course in vocal music when she was approached by Amit Trivedi.

Then Pareshaan happened. Shalmali, who is riding high on the success of her current hit Daru Desi, is still taking the fame and name all in and says, "I am too stunned with the pace at which my life is moving." She adds, "The fame and name is all good, but I'm not used to it. I'm very nervous and anxious. When it is actually time for you to celebrate, you're too busy thinking what all this means." But it sure is celebration time for this new voice of Bollywood.

Life surely has changed for her. She still feels the thrill when she looks at that juncture in retrospect. She says, "Life sans the tag of the Pareshaan singer would've been vastly different. The risk of staying in India and seeing how my Bollywood venture pans out, was a good choice. But I would still say, if my life weren't like this today, that other life would've been equally exciting as well. Maybe in a different way."

Born and brought up in a family with classical music around her, Shalmali always found herself more inclined towards western musical settings. And though she had heard little of Bollywood music, her songs hit the charts right away. She says, "Sometimes things just fit. I used what came naturally to me when I was asked to reproduce the melody." Sharing her Bollywood experience, Shalmali says, "I have met wonderful people here. I see Bollywood as a new and a challenging world, with lot of competition. A perfect setting for betterment."

Shalmali feels that Bollywood has a lot to offer in honing one's talent. And coming from a non-film background never really posed difficulties for her. She says, "I never felt like a new comer. I have been singing for a while now. Just that I'm also singing Hindi film songs." Shalmali who aspires to work with the likes of A R Rahman and Vishal Bharadwaj feels there is a lot to be explored as Bollywood offers a huge pool of variety. She says, "I can't say I've the ability to crack it in every style that Bollywood has to offer, at least not at this stage."

Shalmali,who already has her hands full with film offers, is gearing for her non-film album which she hopes to release soon.