| Raageshwari | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Raageshwari Loomba |
| Also known as | Ragz |
| Born | 25 July 1977 |
| Origin | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Genres | pop, Sufi |
| Occupations | Singer, actress, VJ , model, television presenter and Yoga expert. |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Labels | BMG, HMV, Music Today, SAREGAMA |
| Associated acts | Trilok Loomba, Rishabh Loomba |
| Website | raageshwari.com |
Raageshwari Loomba (born 25 July 1977) is an Indian pop singer, actress, model, television anchor, former MTV and Chanel V VJ and a Yoga expert. She also entered in the fifth season of the reality television show Bigg Boss and was named 'Positive Raaga and the messenger of peace'
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Raageshwari was born in Bombay (now Mumbai) in a middle-class family, to Trilok Singh Loomba, a National Award winning musician and government servant, and his wife Veera. She has an elder brother, Rishabh who is a filmmaker. The Sanskrit word Raageshwari means 'the goddess of Ragas' and 'wife of the Lord'.
Raageshwari attended the Auxilium Convent High School.[1] As a child model, she did the rounds of several advertising agencies with her father. At the age of 13, she was noticed by director Shekhar Kapoor, and auditioned at a photo shoot for the lead role opposite Bobby Deol, but did not secure the part.[2] As a teenager, Raageshwari signed her first film as an actor, Zid (released in 1994). She took a month off from school to complete the shooting, but managed to secure a distinction in her Class X exams. She then acted in hit films, including David Dhawan's Aankhen (1993) and Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994).
Later, Raageshwari forayed into television, acting as VJ for the popular countdown shows, BPL Oye. In a later version of the show, she also wrote her own scripts and won innumerable awards. She was given the nickname "Ragz", while working on BPL Oye with Sunil Sahjwani and his team. She was an instant hit with teenagers and young kids.
She then decided to launch herself as a musician. She recorded a scratch demo of the song Ta Ta Ra Ri Ra Ra (later the title song of her first album, Duniya), and did the rounds of music companies. However, she faced rejection from the music companies. She and her brother Rishabh then decided to go ahead and shoot the music video in Maldives. The music video became very popular and launched Raageshwari's singing career. It was followed by another video, titled Oye shava. The album went platinum in just a month after its release. Raageshwari then signed a deal with Coca-Cola to do a series of concerts all over India.[3]
In 1998, Raageshwari released her second album, Pyar Ke Rang, in collaboration with her father and brother. The video for the title track was a spin-off on the character of Aida from Giuseppe Verdi's opera, with Raageshwari switching between the characters of Aida and a college girl. The second music video, for the song Mere Mehboob, depicted her as a young woman separated from her lover. At this point, Raageshwari also began touring the world with her dance troupe.
In 2000, Raageshwari and her father collaborated on another album, Y2K Saal Do Hazaar. Raageshwari was suffering from malaria, while shooting for the video Ikki chikki chikita. The album was released with a concert on the eve of the year 2000. Just a week after the concert, Raageshwari was diagnosed with Bell's palsy,[4] which left her with a paralyzed left side of the face and a slur in her voice. Over the next year, she rehabilitated herself with help of physiotherapy, electrical stimulation and yoga. She did television shows such as Ek do teen and Baar baar dekho on MTV, Kuch Kehti Hai Yeh Dhun on Sony, Quest for BBC and One on One With Raageshwari on TEN Sports. She then came back with an album in 2006, 'Sagari Rayn' which is a fusion world music album. Her video for the same created quite a stir as it was lavishly shot in 'The Sultanate of Oman' by her brother Rishabh Loomba. The video was the first in Indian History to have released in Cinema theatres all over.
Raageshwari has acted in following Hindi-language films:
Raageshwari has hosted following shows on television:
In October 2011 she appeared as a contestant in Indian version of reality show Big Brother, Big Boss (season 5).
Raageshwari debuted as a lead in the musical comedy The Graduate alongside Zeenat Aman.
playback singing in Hindi film One 2 Ka 4
Duniya is a pop album released in March 1997. Tracks include:
Sach Ka Saath is a Patriotic Folk Music album by National Award winning Music director/Singer 'Trilok Singh Loomba'. The album released in January 1998. The album featured 'Raageshwari' as a guest singer for the track 'Sach Ka Saath' The other tracks include:
Pyaar Ke Rang is a pop album released in July 1998. Tracks include:
Y2K: Saal Do Hazaar is a pop album released in December 1999. Tracks include:
Sagari Rayn is a world music album released in December 2006. Tracks include:
The Sufi Odyssey - A Passage to Peace (to be released with HMV Saregama) is a spiritual, devotional, Sufi album based on 'Ginans' words of wisdom from the 12th and 13th Century. Raageshwari being the first Non-Muslim to sing 'Ginans' dedicates it to the people of all religions and intends releasing it to spread the message of love, brotherhood, peace and secularism.
Raageshwari has just released her DVD dedicated to health and wellness called ‘5 Ancient Tibetan Rites’ for people of all age groups. The Five Rites are an ancient set of yogic practices which are predominantly used by Tibetan monks. They are magical practises for retaining youth and to fill one with a dynamic energy. These potent rites were formulated over 2500 years ago by the monks, and were first revealed to the world by a retired British army officer who went high into the Himalayas to learn the rites from the monks. Subsequently, a book called the Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth was published by Peter Kelder. The DVD showcases how to do the rites in a simple and harmonious manner. In essence they slow down the ageing process and fill one with a vibrant young-looking energy. As a result one can accomplish a lot more, and one looks and feels young despite the passing years very much like Raageshwari. The DVD is available on Sa Re Ga Ma (www.saregama.com).
Raageshwari has modeled for many products including Cadbury's Perk chocolates, Casio Rhythm Machines, Voltas Refrigerators, TVS Scooty, Dabur Hair Shampoo, Paas Paas (mouth freshener), Safal Mango Nectar (freshness drink), Freyas (fairness creams), Dance Action Shoes, Tata Sky, and Oman Air. She has also been a brand ambassador for Switzerland Tourism.
Raageshwari has been performing several charitable concerts in aid of the leprosy-afflicted, for 'Alert India' and is a dedicated supporter of the leprosy mission in Nasik and the Mumbai Ackworth Hospital. Raageshwari has also undertaken work for the Bill Gates and Melinda Gates Foundation on issues related to Maternal mortality and child morbidity cases in India. She has also put up performances in aid of 'Breast Cancer' for Devika Bhojwani's organization. Raageshwari has been a loyal supporter of the 'Terry Fox Run' which aids in generating funds for Cancer research. Raageshwari is the brand ambassador for 'India Deaf Expo'. An organization for the welfare and education of the Hearing impaired. She is a member & supporter of 'PALS' (Plants & Animal Lover's Society) Raageshwari to support the cause of stray animals in India, had adopted a stray dog (Harpo 2007–present). Raageshwari to promote a green eco-friendly Earth had recorded a song on global warming 'We are together'. Raageshwari is the brand ambassador of the 'Dance with Joy' festival which holds concerts in aid of street children and lately autistic children of Mumbai.