# Rajnigandha Shekhawat

Rajnigandha Shekhawat is a singer from Rajasthan, India. She is known for singing Rajasthani folk, Bollywood, English and Rajasthani Marwari mashups, and vintage classics.

## Background and personal life

Belonging to the erstwhile Aristocratic Noble family of Malsisar thikana (riyasat) of Shekhawati , in the Jaipur state, Rajnigandha broke barriers of her class and caste to follow her passion. She became the first singer from the very traditional and conservative Rajput community of Rajasthan, and today she is one of the most renowned singers of the state.

## Career

Rajnigandha Shekhawat is the only singer who does mashups of Rajasthani folk with English music earning the title of "Maharani of Mashups" from the Rajasthani press. Her mashups of Cheap Thrills with Ghoomar shot her to fame. Many of her videos have become viral hits on Facebook videos, making her the most recognized face of fusion Rajasthani music. Her subsequent mashups of Shape of You and Single Ladies with Rajasthani folk songs have been very popular. Her ability to sing western music as well as authentic Rajasthani folk songs makes her one of a kind artist, leading to her unique identity of being more than just a folk singer.
Rajnigandha has done playbacks in 8 films, her biggest song is Badri ki dulhania . She is also the voice of the immensely popular Red FM anthem “Bajaate Raho (Hook ho gaya hoon tere sound pe)”. Having released 3 albums and various singles and jingles for ad films, she regularly performs live in concerts and has over 500 concerts worldwide under her belt, including in Sun City, South Africa and Global Village Dubai & Muscat. She has also given her voice in various popular jingles.
Bollywood Marketing & Publicity :
Shekhawat has parallelly also been a Bollywood marketing professional , having led the publicity team at Disney India for Hindi and Hollywood films , Brand Head at Times Music (Times of India group) and has been associated with Hindi Film actors like Shahid Kapoor, Chunky Panday, Adah Sharma and more in a Publicity & Marketing Managerial capacity.

## Education

* Schooling from Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls Public School, Jaipur (MGD School).
* Visharad in Hindustani Classical Music from Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Sangeet Vidyalaya, Jaipur
* Masters in Hindustani Classical Music for SNDT University, Mumbai (Batch of 2014)
Rajnigandha was nominated for Mirchi Award for Most Promising New Singer in 2017 for the film Shubh Mangal Savdhan. She was recently invited to participate in the reality singing show Rising Star and also performed at the Bigg Boss finale. Rajnigandha's voice was also heard in a season of So You Think You Can Dance .
Trained in Hindustani Classical singing for over 20 years, she currently divides her time between touring for concerts, Bollywood playback songs, recording and shooting and her independent songs and their music video

## Discography - Movies Playback

| Year | Song | Film / album |
| 2013 | "Tattoo" | Monsoon Shootout |
| 2014 | "Aai's Aalaap" | Margarita with a Straw |
| 2017 | "Badri Ki Dulhania (Title Track)" | Badrinath Ki Dulhania |
| 2017 | "Kankad" | Shubh Mangal Saavdhan |
| 2021 | "Aankh Mare" | Simmba |
| 2021 | "Laalam Laal" | Kaagaz |
| 2021 | "Shor Sharaba" | 14 Phere |
| 2021 | "Aag Ka Dariya" | 14 Phere |
| 2022 | "Badhaai Do Title Track" | Badhaai Do |
| | Satra juga mai - Ramdev ji | Laalji Kalandar |
| | Charkho Mharo | Laalji Kalandar |

## Independent Songs

| Year | Song | Album / Single |
| 2007 | Kevdo (Traditional) | Soul of the desert |
| 2007 | Kevdo (Hindi) | Soul of the desert |
| 2007 | Gudd Baanto | Soul of the desert |
| 2007 | Ghumar | Soul of the desert |
| 2007 | Moriya | Soul of the desert |
| 2007 | Ek Baar | Soul of the desert |
| 2007 | Mumal | Soul of the desert |
| 2007 | Kevdo (Hindi Remix) | Soul of the desert |
| 2011 | Banna Re | Banna Re |
| 2011 | Moriya | Banna Re |
| 2011 | Mangetar | Banna Re |
| 2011 | Levta Jajo ji Hivdo | Banna Re |
| 2011 | Chirmi | Banna Re |
| 2011 | Digipuri Ka Raja | Banna Re |
| 2011 | Kesaria Baalam | Banna Re |
| 2014 | Rangi Saari Gulabi | Gulabi |
| 2014 | Chhaap Tilak | Gulabi |
| 2014 | Piya Ghar Aya | Gulabi |
| 2014 | Zihaal E Miskin | Gulabi |
| 2014 | Whirling Ghoomar | Gulabi /Soul of the Desert |
| 2014 | Colour Kesaria | Gulabi /Soul of the Desert |
| 2016 | Gone Gone Song | TVS Tripling |
| 2018 | Bajaate Raho | Red FM song |
| 2018 | Garba superhits | Single |
| 2018 | Mehendi | Single |
| 2018 | Jawai Pavna | Single |
| 2018 | Bajudar Bangadi | Single |
| 2021 | Rajasthani Folk Medley | Single |
| 2021 | Gangaur | Single |
| 2021 | Mehala | |
| 2023 | Shri Krishna Govind | |

## Mashups - Rajasthani with English or Hindi

| Year | Mashup song name |
| 2017 | Cheap Thrils & Ghumar |
| 2017 | Jag Ghumiya & Ghudlo |
| 2017 | Single Ladies & Laal Peeli Ankhiyan |
| 2017 | Game of thrones Indian Classical version |
| 2017 | Despacito & Mai toh bhuli o alija |
| 2018 | Shape of you & Hichki |
| 2019 | Girls Like You & Leheriyo |
| 2019 | Paradise & Kurjaa |
| 2022 | Kesariya tera & Baisa re beera |
| 2022 | Rataa Lambiyan & Mor Bole Re |

## Advertisements, TV, Jingles

| Year | Ad song | Composer |
| 2011 | Fanta - Naughty Bubble | Amit Trivedi |
| 2011 | Chyavanprash - Dhoni | Amar Mangrulkar |
| 2013 | Ek Nayi Pehchan Promo | Micu Patel |
| 2015 | Rajasthan Tourism Logo Reveal | Rajat Dholakia,SamirUddin |
| 2016 | Jabong - Silent Diwali | Shubhojit |
| 2016 | Gone Gone Song - TVS Tripling | Amar Mangrulkar |
| 2017 | Vidai Promo - Ye rishta kya kehlata hai | Rajeev Bhalla |
| 2017 | Anmol Biscuits - Utterly Butterlyfull | Rajeev Bhalla |
| 2017 | Bajaj Platina | Abhishek Arora |
| 2018 | Red FM Bajaate Raho / Hook ho gaya | Tanishk Vayu |
| 2018 | Lenovo - Rewari to Mars | Shubhojit |
| 2018 | Mausam Music Ka - Indian Idol | Abhishek Arora |

## Awards

* Nominated for Upcoming Female Vocalist at Mirchi Awards year 2017 for her song Kankad in the film Shubh Mangal Savdhan
* Best Female – Artist Aloud Award 2011
* Rajasthan Sangeet Ratna
* DNA Woman of Substance, Rajasthan
* Best Fusion Song award in the Non Film Music category at the Jaipur Music Festival awards 2017