Soumya Vajpayee is the Senior Editor (Lifestyle & City) for Hindustan Times HT City (Mumbai and Pune) and writes on music, entertainment and lifestyle.
Articles by Soumya Vajpayee
AR Rahman: I am against songs that promote drugs
AR Rahman, who paid a tribute to his late guru, Padma Vibhushan Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, at a Sufi concert on January 17, talks about the importance of lyrics
Updated on Jan 22, 2025 12:46 PM IST
Shalmali Kholgade on upcoming marathon: I aim to finish Half Marathon in 2 hours
In a shoot for HT City, singer Shalmali Kholgade talks to us about the importance of running marathons and how she's prepping for her upcoming run on Sunday.
Updated on Jan 15, 2025 02:15 PM IST
Try out these different pongal recipes as you celebrate Pongal this year
From sweet to savoury varieties, chefs from across India share pongal recipes that you can try as you celebrate Pongal, the harvest festival, this year.
Published on Jan 14, 2025 01:33 AM IST
Meenal Nigam: Glad to release my bhajan around Ayodhya Ram Mandir’s first annive
Around the first anniversary of the consecration of the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya, singer Meenal Nigam comes up with a single dedicated to Shri Ram's virtues.
Published on Jan 14, 2025 01:16 AM IST
Sonu Nigam and Vishal Dadlani's first independent song clocks 2 million views
As Sonu Nigam and Vishal Dadlani mark their first non-film collab with the single Jaan Le Gayi, they talk about the experience and what sets the project apart
Published on Jan 14, 2025 12:53 AM IST
Harshdeep Kaur on Lohri: Happy to pass on the values of the festival to our son
On Lohri, singer Harshdeep Kaur talks about missing the thand of Delhi on Lohri; says Makke Ki Roti and Sarson Ka Saag with gur is a festival staple.
Updated on Jan 13, 2025 11:26 AM IST
Flautist Pandit Ronu Majumdar achieves Guinness World Record with 546 musicians
Pandit Ronu Majumdar performs with a symphony of 546 musicians at the historic Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh achieving a Guinness World Record.
Updated on Jan 11, 2025 12:11 PM IST
Coldplay, Shawn Mendes, Linkin Park - what's in store for music lovers in India?
As we step into the New Year, Soumya Vajpayee puts together the key highlights from the world of music that Indians can look forward to in 2025.
Published on Jan 02, 2025 03:13 PM IST
Salim-Sulaiman on releasing 140 singles in 2024: It'll be global collabs in 2025
As they step into the fifth year of their independent music label, Salim Merchant talks about releasing over 100 indie songs last year and the vision for 2025.
Updated on Jan 02, 2025 02:27 PM IST
Sonu Nigam performs on Rafi's 100th birth anniversary: I cannot thank God enough
Sonu Nigam performed 54 songs in 3 hours with a 50-member symphony orchestra to mark singer Mohammed Rafi's 100th birth anniversary on December 24 in Mumbai.
Updated on Dec 25, 2024 07:30 PM IST
Shaan talks about fire in his building: We were asleep when the fire broke out
Shaan and his wife Radhika Mukherji talk about being woken up at 1am when a fire broke out in their building. Say two househelps and two pets were rescued.
Updated on Dec 24, 2024 02:25 PM IST
Sonu Nigam releases Aadesh Shrivastava’s last song, Ave Maria, this Christmas
Sonu Nigam revives Ave Maria to “honour” late composer Aadesh Shrivastava's vision; they worked on the prayer song together in 2011, but couldn't complete it.
Updated on Dec 22, 2024 02:34 AM IST
Actors Parineeti Chopra, Vicky Kaushal jam with Karan Aujla at his Mumbai show
Singer Karan Aujla belted out his hits at the Mumbai show on Saturday, as actors Parineeti Chopra and Vicky Kaushal surprised the audience with their singing.
Updated on Dec 22, 2024 02:43 AM IST
Anuradha Pal: Zakir bhai helped me shine in a male-dominated space
Tabla player Anuradha Pal explains how losing her guru, Ustad Zakir Hussain, is a personal loss; recalls how he would ensure she aced the craft of tabla playing
Updated on Dec 20, 2024 04:38 PM IST
Sonu Nigam to sing 50 Rafi songs in 3 hours at his 100th birth anniversary show
To pay a tribute to his guru Mohammed Rafi, Sonu Nigam will take the stage at Sau Saal Pehle with a 50-member orchestra to present over 50 songs by the legend.
Updated on Dec 20, 2024 04:26 PM IST
Ustad Zakir Hussain's last concert; music fam and friends pay homage to
Ustad Zakir Hussain’s death has left the world in shock. Here, his family-like-friends from the fraternity talk about the bond they shared with the legend.
Published on Dec 17, 2024 11:34 AM IST
Ustad Zakir Hussain is critical and in the ICU for two weeks
Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain has been admitted at a hospital in San Francisco due to heart and lung-related ailments. Has been in the ICU for two weeks.
Updated on Dec 15, 2024 11:13 PM IST
Bryan Adams’ Mumbai gig saw Raveena Tandon grooving; he remembered Tina Turner
Bryan Adams’ Mumbai concert saw Bollywood actors Raveena Tandon and Arbaaz Khan groove to his hits. He also paid a tribute to late singer Tina Turner.
Published on Dec 14, 2024 01:24 AM IST
Steve Aoki on collab with Sunidhi-Shreya on Chhaila: Their talent is inspiring
The world-leading DJ has worked on a remix version of the Salim-Sulaiman composition, which is part of their independent album Bhoomi 2024.
Updated on Dec 11, 2024 06:02 PM IST
Meenakshi Pahuja swims from Alibaug to Mumbai for the cause of water pollution
International open-water swimmer Meenakshi Pahuja recently swam from Revas Jetty in Alibaug to the Gateway of India to raise awareness on water pollution.
Published on Dec 10, 2024 10:00 AM IST
King hints Bollywood debut: I want to create original music for Hindi films
Singer-rapper King says he is ready to explore Hindi film music “with the right song and project”; wants to work with filmmakers who make story-driven films. w
Updated on Dec 10, 2024 09:51 AM IST
Jorja Smith: I love the Bollywood song Maar Daala from Devdas
As the English singer marks her India debut next weekend, she says she will visit ‘the famous Kayani Bakery in Pune’; adds she'll soak in all the music and food
Published on Dec 06, 2024 02:20 PM IST
Maroon 5 viral fan Suman Suresh: When Adam Levine called me on stage, I froze
Suman Suresh, a jewellery designer from Kerala, says her life's changed ever since she's gone viral after sharing the stage with Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine.
Updated on Dec 06, 2024 03:13 PM IST
Maroon 5 perform debut gig in India: We will come back for two gigs soon
At their first-ever concert in India, Maroon 5 performed their chart-toppers; Adam Levine said the band is in love with India and would come back soon.
Updated on Dec 05, 2024 12:51 PM IST
Bollywood on AP Dhillon’s mind? He says, ‘Why not?’
Ahead of his India tour, AP Dhillon tells us that he's keen to get into Hindi film music if “something organic comes up, where I can stay true to my style”.
Published on Dec 02, 2024 06:12 PM IST
Jonita Gandhi on opening for Dua Lipa: I gifted her two pairs of jhumkas
Jonita Gandhi, who was the opening act at Dua Lipa's recent India gig, calls her ‘an absolute sweetheart’. Recalls spending time with her backstage.
Updated on Dec 02, 2024 01:43 PM IST
Javed Ali: Audiences abroad crave for us more
Singer Javed Ali, who has been touring extensively in India and other countries lately, says gigging in India and globally have their respective USPs.
Published on Nov 29, 2024 04:12 PM IST
Boney M: A DJ in India is doing a Bollywood version of our song Sunny
The iconic band will perform in India in February 2025 as part of their 50th anniversary tour.
Updated on Nov 29, 2024 04:00 PM IST
When Sonu Nigam, Shekhar Ravjiani, Alka Yagnik bravely battled health challenges
From losing their voice to battling sinus issues, here’s a look at the musicians who have bravely spoken out about their physical struggles this year.
Published on Nov 24, 2024 04:41 PM IST
EXCLUSIVE| Shekhar: Losing my voice was the most traumatic experience of my life
Shekhar Ravjiani opens up exclusively to HT City on going through the scare of losing his voice and the mental toll it took on him
Updated on Nov 19, 2024 12:35 PM IST