Guru Purnima is a significant religious festival that honors all spiritual and academic mentors. On this special occasion, Bollywood singers expressed their gratitude towards their musical mentors.

Jubin Nautiyal, Aditya Narayan, Shalmali Kholgade, Sagar Bhatia, and others shared valuable lessons they learned from their gurus that they cherish.

Jubin Nautiyal

According to a report by Hindustan Times, Jubin Nautiyal identified his musical mentor as the iconic A.R. Rahman. He reminisced about meeting the music legend at the age of 18, when Rahman advised him to wait until he turned 21 to allow his voice to mature naturally. “His humility in the face of such greatness taught me that the deeper you delve into your craft, the more grounded you become,” Jubin remarked.

Shalmali Kholgade

The singer of Lat Lag Gayi considers music producer Pritam to be her mentor. She recalls that in her early days, she was performing more live shows than necessary, and Pritam advised her against having a “make hay while the sun shines” mentality, encouraging her to view herself as a “Lambey race ka ghoda,” a piece of advice she holds dear.

Siddharth Mahadevan

Siddharth Mahadevan regards Ustad Zakir Hussain and Javed Akhtar as his mentors. Ustad Zakir Hussain instilled in him the values of discipline and technical proficiency, along with emotional expression, while Javed Akhtar’s work continues to inspire him both as a musician and as an individual.

Stebin Ben

Stebin Ben believes that if there is one artist who has quietly influenced his perspective on music, it is Arijit Singh. Stebin states that Arijit has helped him understand that people resonate with emotion rather than perfection.

Sagar Bhatia

For the past 15 years, the legendary singer Gurdas Maan Sahab has been Sagar Bhatia’s mentor. He reminisced about their first meeting, where Gurdas Maan embraced him, and tears streamed down his face as he expressed his gratitude towards the music maestro.

Aditya Narayan

Aditya Narayan considers his father, Udit Narayan, to be his mentor and his most significant lesson. In a conversation regarding his father, Aditya shared with Hindustan Times, “Observing him manage years of achievement with grace and steadfast commitment has shown me that while talent can create opportunities, it is character that ensures they remain accessible.”