Ila unfiltered

I am basically like a child who wants to keep on learning and performing. My music albums, lyrics, singing have been greatly accepted by the audience.

- Rachna Virdi

Born in March 1954 in Jodhpur, singer-actress Ila Arun started with humble beginnings in the folk-rich landscape of Rajasthan. With her powerful voice, she set the tone for unconventional singing and ruled myriad hearts by becoming a national singer, actress and TV personality. Some of her popular numbers are Vote For Ghaghra, Choli Ke Peechey, Morni Baagha Ma, Vote For Ghaghra, and the Oscar-winning Ringa Ringa.

In her candid memoir Pardey Ke Peechey—An autobiography as told to Anjula Bedi, released by Penguin India, the versatile singer bares unvarnished truths of her career in the entertainment industry. The book gives glimpses into her path to success fraught with peril, and the trials, triumphs and tribulations faced by women behind the glitz of the industry.

Excerpts from an interview:

What was your inspiration behind this candid memoir Pardey Ke Peechey?

People told me that I should share my experiences of being in the industry for 42 years and dealing with different screens. Be it any celebrity, everyone likes to read about their life. I thought, I may not be worth it, but my experiences and the people who have inspired me are definitely worth it. I thank Penguin, especially Miley for this book, and I encourage everyone to read the book, grasp it, live with it and get inspired. The narrative takes you to places you have not been.

Can you share some glimpses of the book?