Alisha Chinai
Background information
Birth name	Sujata Chinai
Also known as	Alisha, Alisha Chinoy
Born	(1965-03-18) 18 March 1965 (age 47) India
Genres	Indipop, playback singing
Occupations	Singer
Years active	1988–present

Alisha Chinai (Hindi: अलीशा चिनॉय; born 18 March 1965) is an Indian pop singer known for her albums as well as playback singing in Hindi cinema.^[1]

Career[link]

Alisha's initial albums include Jadoo, Baby Doll, Aaah Alisha and Made in India.^[1] Alisha was introduced to Hindi film music by the veteran music director and composer Bappi Lahiri. They had many disco hits together in many films in the 1980s including "Tarzan", Dance Dance, Commando, Guru, Love Love Love etc. When she started her career with him, she was doing playback singing for many actresses, such as Smita Patil, Mandakini, Sridevi, Juhi Chawla, Madhuri Dixit and Divya Bharati etc. In 1985, Alisha sang with Remo Fernandes in the album Old Goan Gold. She also recorded a song for Pankuj Parashar's film Jalwa (1987), composed by Anand-Milind. One of her biggest hits during the 80s was "Kaate Nahin Katte" (Mr. India) in 1987, which she recorded with Kishore Kumar under the music direction of Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Another successful track in 1989 was "Raat Bahr Jaam Se" from the film Tridev, which had music by Kalyanji-Anandji and Viju Shah.

In the 90s, she took on working in different films, collaborating with other music directors, such as Anu Malik, Anand-Milind, Rajesh Roshan and Nadeem-Shravan. Throughout these years, she had several Bollywood hit songs, including "Tere Ishq Mein Nachenge" (Raja Hindustani), "Chaa Raha Hain Pyaar Ka Nasha" (Chandramukhi), "Roundhe" (Pyar Tune Kya Kiya), "Sona Sona Roop Hai" (Bollywood/Hollywood), "Mouje Mein" (Karobaar), "De Diya" (Keemat), "Ruk Ruk Ruk" (Vijaypath) and the controversial "Sexy sexy sexy Mujhe Log Bole" (Khud-daar).

Simultaneously with playback singing, she has recorded many songs as a pop singer, with album releases. Chinai was noted for her 1995 hit single and album, titled Made in India, which was composed by Biddu. Made in India went on to become one of the highest selling pop albums of its time and Alisha became a household name. This album contains well-known songs like, "Aaja Mere Dil Mein", "Ek Baar Do Baar", "Sun O Meri Dhadkan", "Tu Kahan", "Ooh La La", "Tu Jo Mila", "Dhokha Diya Hai Re Tune Mere Dil" and "Lover Girl". With its success, Alisha announced her departure from playback singing and wanted to concentrate only on private pop albums. However, her follow-up albums were less successful. This was also the period when she got into a major controversy with the man who recorded several hit songs with her, Anu Malik. During the release of Made in India, Alisha had accused Anu Malik of molesting her. While some claim it was a publicity stunt by the singer to promote her album, Anu Malik and Alisha did not work for several years, only to reunite in 2003 with Ishq Vishq.

Alisha's comeback to film music was with the song "Oh My Darling" in the Yash Raj Film Mujhse Dosti Karoge. Through the 2000-2009 decade, she recorded primarily with Himesh Reshammiya, Shankar Ehsaan Loy and Pritam. After her controversy with Anu Malik in the 90s, she patched up with him to record for a number of films starting with Ishq Vishq, Fida, No Entry, Love Story 2050, Maan Gaye Mughle Azam, Ugly Aur Pagli, Chehraa and Kambakht Ishq.

In 2005, she had one of her highest career points came with "Kajra Re" (Bunty Aur Babli). The song was a hit and Alisha won her first and only Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer.

Alisha was a judge in Indian Idol 3 and is a judge in Zee TV's Star ya Rockstar with Anu Malik.

Personal life[link]

Alisha changed her name to that of her cousin’s daughter Alisha (also Chinai) after she was born.^[2] She was married to her manager Rajesh Jhaveri and is now separated.^[3]

Awards[link]

• Alisha received the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award for the song "Kajra Re" from Bunty Aur Babli in 2005.^[4]
• Alisha received the International Billboard Award around the time Made in India came out,^[5] and also won the Freddie Mercury Award for Artistic Excellence.

Partial discography[link]

1. Jadoo
2. Aah...
3. Alisha Unleashed
4. Soniya
5. Lover Girl
6. Alisha: Baby Doll of India
7. Madonna
8. Bombay Girl
9. Made In India
10. Om
11. Alisha
12. Greatest Hits
13. Film Hits
14. Best of Alisha Live
15. Dil Ki Rani
16. Shut Up N Kiss Me
17. Alisha : Singer Doll of India

[edit] Partial discography^[6]

• Alisha Unleashed

1. Aah Alisha
2. Babusha
3. Baby doll
4. Dekho dekho
5. Dheere dheere
6. Jadoo
7. Kiss ko dil doon
8. Pyaara awara
9. Rootho na hum se
10. Shor sharaaba
11. Superman
12. Tara
13. Tarzan my Tarzan
14. Vote for Alisha

• Jaadoo

1. Jaadoo
2. Khuda
3. Mon cheri
4. My angel blue
5. Rootho na humse
6. Kabhi na raat
7. Tum meri zindagi ho
8. Jaadoo

• Alisha

1. Seulement vous (Only you)
2. Ishq se ishq
3. Dilbar jaaniya
4. Maashuka
5. Woh pyaar mera
6. Soniyaa
7. Don't want your love
8. Aai teri yaad
9. Dhuaan dhuaan
10. Can you dance

• Made In India

1. Made in India
2. Lover girl
3. Dil
4. Tu kahaan
5. Ek baar do baar
6. Aajaa
7. Mere saath
8. Oo la la
9. Dhadkan
10. Made in India (Remix)
11. Dede