Amit Trivedi credits Shilpa Rao for his first film break with Anurag Kashyap’s No Smoking

Composer Amit Trivedi says singer Shilpa Rao got him his first film gig by introducing him to director Anurag Kashyap for the movie No Smoking. Trivedi told Komal Nahta that he began with stage performances and spent four to five years in advertising and television. He wanted to stay in independent music and his family had no film connections. While making ads he met Shilpa Rao, who sang many commercial tracks. He admired her voice and they became close friends. They planned an album together and recorded the song Dhol Yaara Dhol, later used in Dev D (2009). Trivedi hoped to make a music video and pitch it to MTV or Sony, but Rao pushed the track to film directors. When Rao said she had met Anurag Kashyap and asked if Trivedi would meet him, he hesitated, saying he was shy and feared the film world. Rao insisted, and Kashyap invited him to watch a rough cut of No Smoking while Black Friday was still in post‑production. Trivedi saw the film without any background score and laughed that he did not understand it at all. He recalled wondering what he would say if Kashyap asked his opinion. No Smoking starred John Abraham with Paresh Rawal and Ranvir Shorey in supporting roles. Trivedi later composed the score for the film, marking his entry into Bollywood music.

Context

Anurag Kashyap is known for giving opportunities to new talent in Indian cinema. Shilpa Rao is a playback singer who often works on ad jingles and film songs. Amit Trivedi’s later success shows how early collaborations can launch a career.