Singer Harshdeep Kaur has revealed how she became a part of Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh’s high-profile wedding thanks to ‘Ek Omkar’ from Rang De Basanti.
“For any singer, it’s a dream to meet AR Rahman,” said Harshdeep Kaur. But the playback singer didn’t just get a chance to meet the legendary composer – she also got a chance to sing for him in Aamir Khan-starrer Rang De Basanti. In a recent interaction, Harshdeep shared her journey of meeting Rahman for the first time, which happened during the auditions for the 2005 film Kisna.
Harshdeep recalled going to the auditions with four other singers competing for the same role. She was surprised that Rahman called her to audition first. “Rahman told me he was working on the background music for Kisna and he asked me to sing the chorus.
I thought, ‘This is my chance.’ I sang three songs for him. He was very patient,” she said on The Music Podcast. After auditioning, Harshdeep left the outcome to fate. Two to three months later, her stars shone when she received a call from Rahman, asking her to sing for Rang De Basanti.
“They wanted a voice to sing the prayer that is sung at the Golden Temple,” she revealed. Harshdeep prepared diligently for the occasion, learning “Ik Onkar” and even bringing a book that explained the meaning of the prayer so that Rahman could understand its depth. Sharing a glimpse of Rahman’s dedication, Harshdeep described an unforgettable moment.
Rahman had asked her to sing the prayer at exactly 4 am, the time it is traditionally sung. “We reached the studio at 8 pm and waited till the work was over. At 4 am, he looked at his watch and said, ‘It’s time. Sing the prayer.’ It was like amrit vela. He asked me to sing it two or three times, and encouraged me to continue without worrying about mistakes,” she said.
Harshdeep described the experience as extremely spiritual. “I felt like rab (God) was standing with me. I can’t forget that moment,” she said.
Harshdeep described “Ek Omkar” as a very important prayer in her life, not only because it marked her collaboration with Rahman, but also because it inspired her to perform at Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh’s wedding at Lake Como.
“Ranveer is a big fan of this prayer. He called me and said, ‘I listen to your voice every morning, and on the most important day of my life, I want you to be there, singing “Ek Omkar”.’”
