Veteran Bollywood singer Sunidhi Chauhan has revealed that actress Tabassum was the pivotal figure who brought her to Mumbai and opened the door to her extraordinary career, sharing the story during an upcoming episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 18. Appearing alongside celebrated lyricist Prasoon Joshi, Sunidhi offered a rare, candid look at the struggles and serendipitous encounters that shaped one of India's most distinctive voices.

How Tabassum Changed Everything

Sunidhi recalled that her journey to Mumbai began at a local show where veteran actress Tabassum happened to hear her perform. 'Ek show mein Tabassum ji aayi thi, toh mujhe Tabassum ji ne suna. Unhone kaha tum Mumbai aajao,' she said — loosely translated: 'Tabassum ji had come to a show, where she heard me sing. She told me, You come to Mumbai.'

Tabassum then invited the young singer to her home, heard her sing once more, and used her close personal relationship with legendary composer duo Kalyanji-Anandji to arrange a crucial introduction. 'Bahut mushkil tha, woh thode kathin din the,' Sunidhi acknowledged, describing those early days as genuinely difficult.

Kalyanji Listened for Nearly 45 Minutes

What followed that introduction was a session that would seal Sunidhi's fate. Rather than hearing a single song — the customary audition format — Kalyanji listened patiently as she sang for close to 45 minutes. 'Kalyanji uncle ne ek gana nahi, aadha-pona ghanta mere bahut sare gane sune,' she said.

At the end of that session, Kalyanji told her she would not be returning to Delhi. 'Phir unhone kaha mujhse ab aap Delhi wapis nahi jayenge,' she recalled. That single remark effectively marked the start of her professional career in Mumbai's film music world.

A Passion That Began at Age Four

Sunidhi traced her love for music back even further, noting that singing had been a passion since she was four years old. 'Jab main char saal ki thi tabse sirf shauk tha, kab yeh profession mein badla iska pata hi nahi pada,' she said — describing how the transition from hobby to career happened almost imperceptibly.

Host Amitabh Bachchan, who welcomed her on the show as 'Bhartiya film jagat aur sangeet ka maan' (the pride of Indian cinema and music), visibly moved her — Sunidhi bent down to touch his feet, and Bachchan warmly lifted and embraced her.

A Musical Moment With Big B

The episode also featured an impromptu musical exchange when Sunidhi requested Bachchan to sing a few lines from the iconic 'Rang Barse' from the 1981 film Silsila. Bachchan obliged, and Sunidhi harmonised alongside him, turning the studio into what witnesses described as a festive celebration. Bachchan has lent his distinctive voice to several memorable numbers over the decades, including 'Mere Angne Mein' and 'Piddly Si Baatein' from Shamitabh.

The episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 18 featuring Sunidhi Chauhan and Prasoon Joshi is scheduled to air as a special segment; an exact broadcast date has not been officially confirmed yet.