Shreya Ghoshal’s Guru Recalls Singer Sneaking Away to Watch Shah Rukh Khan’s “Fauji” During Childhood Music Lessons
MUMBAI — Playback singer Shreya Ghoshal was surprised during a recent episode of the reality show “Indian Idol” when her childhood music teacher revealed a playful memory from her early training days.
Mahesh Chandra Sharma, Ghoshal’s guru, appeared on the show and shared stories about the singer’s childhood, recalling how she would occasionally slip away during long music lessons to watch television.
Speaking about those moments, Sharma said the young Ghoshal would sometimes leave the music session briefly when he stepped away.
“Shararti toh bachche thode se hote hi hain. Jaise mere saath seekhne aati thi, do-dhai ghante ki class hum lete the. Beech mein, main neeche paani peene jaate the, toh neeche Fauji serial ya Ramayan ya Mahabharat ghar wale dekhte rehte the, toh yeh bhi thodi der baith jaati thi. Phir hamari wife kehti thi, ‘Guru ji upar intezaar kar rahe hain…’ Lekin music mein bahut sincere thi,” Sharma said.
The anecdote revealed that Ghoshal would sometimes sit downstairs watching television shows like “Fauji,” “Ramayan,” or “Mahabharat” while Sharma’s family viewed them, before being reminded to return to her lesson.
Despite the occasional distraction, Sharma emphasized that Ghoshal remained extremely dedicated to learning music.
The episode also featured a touching moment when host Aditya Narayan read a heartfelt letter that Ghoshal had written to her guru during childhood, leaving the audience and those on set visibly emotional.
The television series “Fauji” holds a special place in Indian entertainment history because it marked the acting debut of Shah Rukh Khan.
First aired in 1989, the show followed the lives of young army cadets during their training and quickly gained popularity among viewers. Shah Rukh Khan’s portrayal of the character Abhimanyu Rai helped introduce him to audiences and played a key role in launching his career in Bollywood. (Source: IANS)
