At the Indira Gandhi Arena in New Delhi on April 6, renowned sitarist and online sensation Rishab Rikhiram Sharma captivated the audience with his heartfelt performance of Kal Ho Naa Ho. His current Sitar for Mental Health India tour, a ground-breaking project that blends classical music with emotional healing, included the performance.
A clip from the concert quickly went viral, with a fan posting it online alongside the caption, “BEST 70 SECONDS OF MY LIFE. You were magical, @rishabsmusic.”
Social media was abuzz with praise—one Instagram user who couldn’t attend wrote, “Was there and literally had goosebumps” while another called the performance “the therapy I never knew I needed.” Many described it as goosebump-inducing and profoundly moving.
Even filmmaker Karan Johar, the producer of Kal Ho Naa Ho, shared the reel on his Instagram story.
Rishab later shared his own reflections from the Delhi concert on Instagram, writing, “14,000 hearts. One frequency. We made history in my hometown, Delhi. Still overwhelmed with gratitude after selling out the biggest indoor stadium in the country — thank you to every soul who showed up and tuned in. A huge win for Indian music! This is only the beginning. Sitar for Mental Health is more than a concert — it’s a movement, and it’s going global. Healing, one city at a time.”
Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, the youngest and last student of sitar great Pandit Ravi Shankar, was born in Delhi on September 17, 1998. He is a member of the renowned Rikhi Ram family, who are well-known throughout the world for making instruments for famous artists like The Beatles.
From performing solo for President Joe Biden at the White House during Diwali to entertaining over 60,000 people at Houston's NRG Stadium, he has performed at prestigious events such as the 50th anniversary of Woodstock and the closing ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
One city, one heart at a time, Rishab continues to connect classical music with modern relevance through his distinctive fusion of tradition and innovation.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
