Alisha Chinoy

18 Mar, 1972 |

Singer/Actress

Biography

Alisha Chinai , formerly known as Alisha Chinoy, was an Indian pop singer known for her albums as well as playback singing in Hindi cinema. She is best known for her songs with Anu Malik during the 1990s. Her most successful and popular song is Made in India released in 1995. She is also known as the "Indian Madonna" (she was first known as Babydoll but an image change later resulted in the "Madonna" moniker). Alisha Chinai is a leading pop singer, who can be given the credit for bringing the trend of pop music in India. Born in 1972 to a Gujarati family, Sujata changed her name to that of her cousin's daughter Alisha (also Chinai) after she was born. Career Alisha's initial foray into the Hindi music industry was through her album, Jadoo, the music for which was composed by Anu Malik. She also had another album titled Babydoll. She 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. The songs she sang in this album became very popular. In the 90s, she worked in different films, collaborating with other music directors, such as Anu Malik and Nadeem-Shravan. Throughout these years, she had numerous Bollywood hit songs, including Tere Ishq Mein Nachenge (Raja Hindustani), Roundhe (Pyar Tune Kya Kiya), Sona Sona Roop Hai (Bollywood/Hollywood), and the controversial 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 1996 hit single and album, titled "Made in India", which contains another well-known song, "Lover Girl". However, her follow-up albums were less successful. Alisha's comeback to film music was with the song "Oh My Darling" in the Yash Raj Film Mujhse Dosti Karoge. She then teamed up several times with Anu Malik after stating she would never work with him again in 1995, alleging that Anu Malik attempted to molest her. In 2005, she had one of her highest career points with the song Kajra Re (Bunty Aur Babli). The song was a hit and Alisha won her first Filmfare Best Female Playback Award. Alisha was a judge in Indian Idol 3. Personal Life She was married to her manager Rajesh Jhaveri, but they are now separated.