Sharon Prabhakar

Indian pop singer, playback singer, film actress, theatre personality and public speaker, Sharon Prabhakar made her singing debut in the 80s. Her debut performance in the title role in the musical Evita won her many accolades. She has rendered playback for several Hindi films such as Ek Din Bahu Ka (1983), Mangal Pandey (1983), Teri Baahon Mein (1984), Aaj Kaa M.L.A. Ram Avtar (1984), Rock Dancer (1995), and Judge Mujrim (1997). She also has several indie-pop albums to her credit, and continues to perform at pop shows and concerts pan India and abroad.

Prabhakar was born on 4 August, 1955 in Delhi to a Punjabi father who was a public servant, and a Christian mother who was a music teacher. She studied at All Saints’ School (Nainital) and Lady Shri Ram College (Delhi) and then moved to Bombay. She found her passion in singing and riveted the audience with her performance in the musical Evita. Since then, Sharon went on to perform all over the world.

By the mid-1980s, Prabhakar achieved recognition and fame for singing in popular overseas styles in Hindi language, namely Hindi pop and disco. She has been referred to as one of the city’s most talented folk singers with a style reminiscent of Joan Baez. She is considered by many as the original pop star of Hindi music unrelated to films. 

Sharon’s theatre accomplishments include Evita, Cabaret, The Odd Couple, and Butterflies Are Free. In 2016 her event company SPIPS GLobal Solutions produced a mammoth stage musical titled Legend Of Lovers. 

She has 11 Hindi pop albums to her credit. These include Feeling Good, Chal Disco Chal, Musical Multiplication Tables, What a Wonder, Disco Mastana, London Calling, Shabash Sharon, Pyaar Chhalke, Shararat, Suno Suno, and Burning. She was also involved in the production of Obsession '77, an album by psychedelic and hard rock band Atomic Forest. In 1980, her album Feeling Good was released on the Polydor label. In 2007, her album Dilrooba was released via Raga to Rock. 

Prabhakar’s career in playback singing has seen her render songs for films such as Namaskar (1978), Junoon (1979), Beti (1982), Pasand Apni Apni (1983), Mangal Pandey (1983), Humse Na Jeeta Koi (1983), Hum Rahe Na Hum (1984), Aaj Kaa M.L.A. Ram Avtar (1984), Insaaf Main Karoonga (1985), Mard (1985), Haveli (1985), Shart (1986), Kismetwala (1986), Jalwa (1987), Sab Se Badi Adalat (1987), Tamacha (1988), Gentleman (1989), Sansar Sangram (1995), Tu Chor Main Sipahi (1996), Nirnayak (1997), and Judge Mujrim (1997). 

She has also acted in the TV series Kehne Ko Hamsafar Hai, The Good Karma Hospital, and Nai Dishayeh. She also featured onscreen in films like Ek Aadmi (1988), Akarshan (1988), Rock Dancer (1995), and Saas Bahu Aur Sensex (2008). 

Prabhakar’s music accomplishments include Best Singer of the Year award for her song Mere jaisi haseena in the film Armaan (1981). The video for her album Dilruba won the New York Silver Award for creative brilliance. She also featured in the opening act for Michael Jackson when he came to India and performed. She has also shared the stage with Celine Dion, has represented India abroad and has sung for members of the White House. She has been part of three world tours including performances at the Royal Albert Hall, Madison Square Garden and the Kenyatta Conference Centre. She also performed at the opening of the Asian Track and Sports Meet. She also produced and featured in a mammoth production for the Government of India using 2000 dancers, aerodynamic elements and 1000 school children. She has also represented India at various international pop festivals in China, Russia, Japan, Hong Kong, Mauritius and Singapore.

Prabhakar runs a dynamic entertainment company producing events, musical programs and training modules for corporates. She is the CEO and Managing Partner of SPIPS Global Solutions. More recently, Sharon starred in her company's mega musical called the Magic of Motown.

Prabhakar is also a corporate communications skills trainer. She works with various corporates, training them on Image Enhancement, Personality Projection and Effective Communication.

She has also set up a Women’s Entrepreneurial Network to encourage young women entrepreneurs to expand their business. She conducts these forums zone-wise in Mumbai.

On the personal front, she married Bryan Mascarenhas; they later divorced. In 1986 Prabhakar married famous adman and theatre guru Alyque Padamsee, with whom she has a daughter, Shazahn Padamsee. The couple later separated.