Popular singer Shaan has opened up about one of the most difficult phases of his life, recalling how he lost his father at the age of 13 and took up several odd jobs to help support his family.Speaking to Humans of Bombay, Shaan reflected on the emotional impact of losing his father and the responsibilities that followed at a young age.
‘I cried a lot, but I bounced back quickly’
Recalling the period after his father’s demise, Shaan said he was only 13 years old when tragedy struck.“Honestly, I’m not the kind of person who dwells in depression. Looking back, my father passed away on a Thursday, and by Saturday I was playing basketball. I had cried a lot on Friday, but I think I bounced back pretty quickly,” he shared.Even decades later, the singer says he continues to dream about his father.“It’s been 40 years since I lost my dad. In fact, I’m now 10 years older than my father ever got to be. The older I get, the younger he remains in my memory. He’ll be forever young,” Shaan said.
‘My mother raised us single-handedly’
The singer revealed that his mother became the pillar of the family after his father’s death.“My sister started working very young. It wasn’t fair that my mother should be the sole breadwinner. In fact, she was the main earning member even when my father was alive,” he said.Shaan explained that while his father had worked in films, he was never particularly driven by money.“He wasn’t very good with money and disliked doing things purely for financial reasons. But I can imagine what it must have felt like for him to see his wife running the household while raising two children,” he added.Paying tribute to his mother, whom he lost in 2022, Shaan said, “She was a very proud, strong woman and literally raised us single-handedly.”
Selling cable TV connections, taking tuitions and working at a boutique
With responsibilities mounting early in life, Shaan said he began looking for ways to earn money while continuing his studies.“I did all kinds of odd jobs. I gave tuitions to children. Around 1988-89, cable television had just started, so I used to sell cable TV connections and earn commissions,” he recalled.The singer also revealed that he worked at a boutique called Looks, where he sold clothes.“There were lots of strange jobs. I did whatever I could to make some money,” he said.
‘I never thought singing could become a career’
Despite beginning his journey with jingles as a child, Shaan admitted that he never imagined music would become his profession.He recalled how his voice changed during his teenage years, leading to a temporary halt in singing assignments.“At that time, most people preferred children’s voices, especially girls. Then my voice changed around the age of 12 or 13 and the work stopped for a while,” he said.Although opportunities returned when he was around 16 or 17, Shaan said he continued to view singing as just another way to earn some extra money.“I was giving tuitions, working at a boutique, attending college and occasionally singing a few lines here and there. I never thought it could become a full-fledged career,” he said.Today, Shaan is regarded as one of India’s most beloved playback singers.
