Exclusive | Naatu Naatu singer Rahul Sipligunj recalls meeting Rihanna after Oscar performance: ‘She came forward, appreciated us…’

Soon as the energetic performance was over, Rahul saw the members in the audience at the Dolby theatre stand up, clap and cheer for the performance. Rahul says he experienced goosebumps at that moment.

“I had goosebumps! Big celebrities from around the world were present in the auditorium, but more importantly, my guru MM Keeravani sir and Rajamouli sir were watching our performance. We had to make sure we put our best effort and make the RRR team feel happy. So that was the whole intention, since it was almost a recreation of Naatu Naatu on the stage.”

Watch the live #Oscars performance of #RRR‘s “Naatu Naatu” from inside the Dolby Theatre, along with director S. S. Rajamouli pic.twitter.com/EQ9aLz0c0y

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 13, 2023

The singers rehearsed for every day at least for 30 minutes for three to four days leading up to the Oscars. The singers also posed with nine-time Grammy-winning Barbadian singer Rihanna. The singers later posted the picture on their social media account.

Calling her a beautiful lady with a beautiful heart, Rahul recalls the meeting, “Our green rooms were next to each other and we were going back to our green room and she was coming out of hers. When we were walking towards her, me and Kaala Bhairava were discussing that we want to take a picture. She was observing that these two guys wanted to take a picture but were too shy to ask for it. Then she came forward and appreciated us and clicked pictures with us. She was so humble and a beautiful lady with a beautiful heart. ”

Their meeting with Rihanna happened after the Oscar win and Rahul revealed the conversation they had with the Umbrella singer. “She said, ‘Guys, you performed really well and congratulations for winning an Oscar for Naatu Naatu’.”

Now that Rahul is back in India, he has his focus on work. The singer, who started his career as an independent artist and worked his way up to be part of iconic films, says he wants to just go with the flow.

“I want to go with the flow and if a good opportunity knocks my door then I definitely want to do it. I want to make sure that I concentrate and work harder on my singing and do some good collaborations,” he says.

 

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Rahul wants to explore independent and playback singing in different languages. Just like he sung Naatu Naatu in multiple languages, the singer says that he wants to do that with his own music too.

His next single is going to release in Telugu, Hindi, Kannada and Tamil and its lyrics are written by Kumaar, known for writing lyrics of Shah Rukh Khan’s chartbuster songs Besharam Rang and Jhoome Jo Pathaan.

“Basically in Telugu I do some independent music and albums. After becoming an Oscar-winning singer, I am trying to do it in every language…I want to explore my upcoming project, which in Hindi is titled Tera Bhaiya Mera Saala,” says Rahul, who will be singing the same song in Telugu, titled as Nee ayya na mama.