Singer Shalmali Kholgade, known for her hit song "Pareshaan" from the 2012 film Ishaqzaade, recently performed at a private concert in Bengaluru. In an exclusive interview with Bangalore Times, she expressed her love for performing live and stated her preference for the stage over the studio. Kholgade shared insights on her music career and praised the collaborative nature of the industry, emphasizing the importance of talented individuals working together to create engaging shows. She also discussed her approach to social media, highlighting her decision to maintain privacy and focus on sharing music and art. Kholgade credited Amit Trivedi for launching her Bollywood playback singing career by offering her the opportunity to sing "Pareshaan," which led to her success in the industry.The credit for my independent music is like my baby. Before focusing solely on music, I was involved in a variety of activities, including playing with my college band and clubs, as well as performing in a Latvian cabaret. While doing shows, I was also recording jingles. Music has always been my passion and continues to be my main focus. My father, who I affectionately refer to as baba, once told me that most of life's education comes from traveling. He encouraged me to explore different places, engage with people, ask questions, and remain curious. I feel fortunate to be able to travel extensively, learn from these experiences, and pursue my love for music. I have always been drawn to every aspect of music, not just singing. I prefer to be involved in every stage of the process leading up to the final creation. This involvement feels like a natural extension of my music. Shalmali Kholgade has truly embraced this philosophy, stating, "I find AI to be extremely frightening." In a recent instance, I released a song called "Tu Hai," a collaboration with Nikhil D'Souza. Shortly after its release on a streaming platform, I noticed another track titled "Tu Hi Tu Hai" with my name listed as the female singer, even though I had never recorded such a song. It appeared to be an AI-generated track, possibly uploaded with the intention of diverting attention from my original song. This incident left me feeling unsettled and apprehensive about the power of artificial intelligence in the music industry.