Alumni Spotlight – Nisa Shetty ’10

27 Apr Alumni Spotlight – Nisa Shetty ’10

Nisa Shetty ‘10 has carved out a vibrant career in music and the performing arts—something she began discovering during her time at Woodstock. Today she performs internationally, collaborates with Academy Award–winning composer A.R. Rahman, and has toured with leading artists including Arijit Singh, performing before audiences of thousands. As part of our Alumni Spotlight, we caught up with Nisa to reflect on her years on the hillside, the experiences that shaped her creative journey, and the work she continues to pursue today as a singer, actor, and performer. 

What does Woodstock mean to you, and in what ways do experiences from your time here continue to resurface in your life today? 

Woodstock feels like a different lifetime! It was like being in a movie full of adventures and amazing characters and fantastical locations and animals and what not! Being in Woodstock gave me some of the best years I ever had. I came from a Delhi school where things like individuality, thinking out of the box and just being yourself wasnt really encouraged and coming to Woodstock flipped that for me. It was so amazing to meet teachers that were so understanding and more importantly kind to students and would actually listen and work with them instead of berating them!   

I think school taught me how to listen and be kind and keep an open mind and to be adventurous and fearless. I think it helps me all the time. I meet new people all the time, travel a lot and value my experiences and relationships because of being at a place like Woodstock. I also have become a musician because of singing on stage in school so much! 

Nisa on stage with A R Rehman

Could you share a bit about your professional journey? How did you find your way into your current field? 

I come from a family of artists. I have been a theatre actor since I was a teenager. I acted with my family in many plays. However, when I came to Woodstock I was on my own and sort of rediscovered my love for the arts and the stage in a way that was different to what I was used to. 

I sang a lot in school and naturally found myself becoming friends with lots of musicians in college, participating in contests and becoming part of small bands in Delhi.  

I started working in musicals and performing at various shows. My first big gig was working with a production of Disney’s Beauty and The Beast in Bombay in 2015-16. This one of the largest scale live musicals to ever come to India. A few of us were chosen for the cast amongst thousands of people that auditioned for it. After that I moved to Bombay for some time, singing ads and doing shows. I was part of a music reality show that came on television called “The Stage” where I was in the top 10.  

Are there any particular highlights or milestones from your work that you would like to share with the Woodstock community? 

One milestone is definitely getting to work with Oscar and grammy winning music composer AR Rahman. I won a talent hunt where I submitted a song that I had written and composed and ever since then I have been doing live shows and tours with him. I sang 2 Bollywood songs with Rahman sir. I also did an all-India and UK tour with Arijit Singh. One of the biggest shows I’ve ever done was to perform at Tottenham Stadium with Arijit Singh in London to a crowd of 60,000 people in 2025. 

Can you share a little about your theatre experiences as well?  

My family runs a beautiful theatre and art institute in New Delhi called Akshara Theatre. My grandparents, Jalabala Vaidya (actor and director) and Gopal Sharman (playwright and director) were the first Indians to take an Indian production to Broadway, The West End and lots of theatres across the world- The play was “The Ramayana” in English. They toured the world, hobnobbed with some of the most prolific names in the theatre and artistic scene in India and the West and returned to India and built this theatre. I have always been a sort of observer of their life and their work. I have been trained by them, and I naturally started doing plays. We have always had a theatre company at Akshara Theatre but as I entered college, our theatre company became more active and we were working on stage almost every day rehearsing plays, doing shows, musicals etc. So by now I think I have done about 20 different plays! including a one-woman musical which was an amazing experience.  

What advice would you give students or alumni who are interested in pursuing a similar path and building a career as an artist? 

Well first of all I would say hone your skills, and become very, very good at what you love! It will set you apart. Your level of talent is the most important thing and everything else – like marketing your talent, etc- comes second. You have to give time, practice and respect to your art.  

Secondly, I would say, experiment. Become technically savvy, whether you use instrument or your voice, get good with music production software. Push boundaries, learn as much as you can, keep an open mind towards people, and their experiences and journeys. Your experiences influence your art.  

Most importantly, be humble.  If you are lucky enough to be an artist and a successful one who perhaps makes good money from their work – – you should strive to be honest and humble. It’s a journey where you are constantly learning and you will possibly never know everything in this lifetime. There is no limit to what you can learn, experience and observe on this earth as an artist- be open, be mindful, and be kind. 

When you reflect on your years at Woodstock, are there any moments, memories, or stories that stand out for you, perhaps something joyful, formative, or unexpected? 

There is so much joy in all my memories from Woodstock. Playing in snow for the first time! Singing “Rocket man” in an empty church near Char Dukaan! Seeing a shooting star for the first time ever while on a hike. Being a shot put champion hahah! Singing at talent shows! Watching someone get slapped by a monkey! Just listening to music and walking along the hillside during sunset was such a beautiful experience. I am still close to so many people from school; there are so many friends that have helped shape who I am! and I feel like these are friendships for life. Whenever I travel, I make it a point to try and meet them.  

 Did any teacher, class, or specific lesson at Woodstock have a lasting impact on you? 

I remember loving English with Mr.Powels! He was just so hilarious but also made me realize there were so many wonderful ways of interpreting texts which I of course use every day. Mr. Maiti for always being so sweet and Mr.Montgomery (rest in peace) my physics teacher from 9th grade- he encouraged me to sing and perform solo in school for the first time in school and I never looked back! 

If you could go back in time and meet your younger self as a Woodstock student, what advice would you give Nisa today? 

I would say write more songs, don’t be so insecure. BOYS are not that important! And START A YOUTUBE CHANNEL immediately so that you’re a millionaire by the time you’re 25!