*Niharica Raizada Launches Ishqbaazi — A Soulful Tribute to O.P. Nayyar’s Centenary through Raizada and Alligrass Entertainments*
Mumbai’s musical heartbeat echoed with nostalgia and new beginnings as actress and writer, and granddaughter of the legendary O.P. Nayyar, Niharica Raizada, unveiled her debut production "Ishqbaazi," under her banner Raizada Entertainments, produced, presented, and distributed in association with Bhim Singh’s Alligrass Entertainments.
"Ishqbaazi" is not just an album; it is a soul-stirring tribute to O.P. Nayyarji’s centenary year, a celebration of melodies that once defined an era, now carried forward through fresh voices and young dreams. Forty-seven spirited children from Piyush Dance Academy dance to the rhythm of hope, tying the golden past with the vibrant future in a beautiful musical embrace.
The evening, set against the luminous backdrop of Juhu PVR, witnessed the coming together of musical luminaries. Stalwarts like Bhavdeep Jaipurwale, Pratiksha Vashishta, Rahul Nair, Hrishikesh Chury, Reha Khan, Vipin Aneja, Dr. Vinod Hasan, Arvinder Singh, Harshita Panwar, Haelyn Shastri, graced the celebration, along with distinguished personalities including Kobbi Shoshani, Consul General of Israel to the Mumbai, Dr. Mukesh Batra, lending their blessings to this heartfelt tribute.
The music video features Niharica Raizada herself, alongside Rahul Choudhry, the rising star who will soon be seen in Neeraj Pandey’s much-awaited Netflix series "Taskaree," weaving a tender story of love and dreams. The concept and lyrical narrative were beautifully crafted by Niharica Raizada as a writer, with direction by Yuvraaj Parashar, choreography by Piyush Sen, and the visual storytelling captured with grace by cinematographers Sukumar Jatania and Jogendra Panda, seamlessly edited by Shadab Memon. The musical composition, a tapestry woven by Rahul Nair and Aslam Keyi, breathes life into the words penned by Dev Pandey and Amitabh Ranjan, and is brought alive by the soulful voice of Pratiksha Vashishtha, supported by the emerging talents from Sur Sanskaar Academy of Music.
The journey of "Ishqbaazi" began with a silent whisper on April 18, 2025, coinciding with Niharica Raizada’s birthday, as the song was released across 118 global platforms, marking a deeply personal and musical milestone, and now finds its full bloom in a live celebration — an evening where music, memory, and magic intertwine.
Speaking from the heart, Niharica Raizada shared,
"Ishqbaazi is my heartbeat offered to the world — a bridge from the melodies my grandfather gifted to generations, to the dreams of a new tomorrow. It is my prayer wrapped in music, my tribute, my first step into the world he so beautifully adorned."
With blessings showered by legends like Pyarelal, Shankar Mahadevan, Govinda, Kavita Krishnamoorthi, Anuradha Paudwal, Sanjay Tandon, Randeep Hooda, and Baba Sehgal, "Ishqbaazi" promises to be more than a song — it is a feeling, a legacy reimagined, a dream reborn, a timeless offering from a granddaughter to her grandfather, from a new voice to a timeless echo, from yesterday’s golden memories to tomorrow’s shining stars.
The soul of O.P. Nayyarji’s music will live on through "Ishqbaazi," lovingly produced by Niharica Raizada and Bhim Singh, through the heartbeats of Raizada Entertainments and Alligrass Entertainments — where music meets memory, and dreams find their melody once again.
