Alisha Chinai

Alisha Chinai, born 18 March 1965, is an Indian pop singer widely credited as the ‘Queen of Indipop’ for her role in shaping the independent Hindi pop scene of the 1990s. She began recording in the mid-1980s, with her album Jadoo an early marker of her career, and went on to build a distinctive catalogue outside of playback singing, though she also lent her voice to Hindi film soundtracks.

Her collaborations with producers Anu Malik and Biddu were central to her rise, blending Western dance-pop production with Hindi lyrics and a bold, sultry vocal style that stood apart from the traditional playback sound of the era. Her signature song, «Made In India», became a cultural phenomenon and one of the best-selling Indipop releases of its time, cementing her crossover appeal. She also contributed memorable numbers to Bollywood films, including «Kajra Re» and songs from «No Entry».

Chinai's career reflects the broader rise of Indipop as a genre distinct from film music, and she remains one of its most recognizable voices, having successfully bridged non-film pop stardom with mainstream Bollywood recognition across several decades.