Shreya Ghoshal’s Guru makes stunning revelation that brings up SRK’s iconic debut

Playback icon Shreya Ghoshal, 42, was left visibly surprised on the set of the reality series Indian Idol when her longtime mentor, Mahesh Chandra Sharma, shared an unexpected childhood anecdote that revealed a lighter, mischievous side of the celebrated singer.

Appearing as a special guest on the episode, Sharma, fondly referred to as Guruji, reminisced about Ghoshal’s early training days and narrated a memory that drew laughter and nostalgia among those present.

Childhood mischief revealed

Guruji recalled how, as a young student, Ghoshal would occasionally wander off during long practice sessions. While the family in his home watched popular television dramas of the time, she would quietly slip downstairs to join them.

He recounted the moment in detail, saying, “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.”

(Children are naturally a little mischievous. When she used to come to learn from me, our class would last for about two to two-and-a-half hours. In between, when I would go downstairs to drink water, the family downstairs would be watching shows like Fauji, Ramayan, or Mahabharat, and she would sit there for a while watching them. Then my wife would say, ‘Guru ji is waiting upstairs…’ But when it came to music, she was very sincere)

According to him, young Ghoshal would momentarily get absorbed in shows like ‘Fauji’, ‘Ramayan’ and ‘Mahabharat’ before being gently reminded that her music lesson was still underway.

Emotional moment on set

The episode took a heartfelt turn when host Aditya Narayan read aloud a childhood letter written by Ghoshal to her Guruji. The note, penned during her early years of musical training, moved the judges, contestants and audience alike. 

Both Ghoshal and Sharma appeared emotional as the letter highlighted the depth of their long-shared bond and her deep respect for his mentorship.

Nostalgia around ‘Fauji’ and SRK’s debut

Ghoshal’s Guru’s story also brought renewed attention to ‘Fauji’, the iconic series that marked the acting debut of Shah Rukh Khan. First aired in 1989, the show followed a group of army cadets in training. Khan’s portrayal of Abhimanyu Rai became an instant standout, laying the foundation for his rise as one of India’s most recognised stars.

(IANS)