Rishab Sharma on His Show 'Sitar for Mental Health': 'It Feels Like a Huge Responsibility'

Indian sitar player Rishab Sharma has emerged as one of the most recognisable young faces of contemporary classical music, bringing the centuries-old instrument to audiences far beyond traditional concert halls. In recent years, the musician has built a wide following through live performances, digital platforms and collaborations that place the sitar within modern contexts.

For him, the act of making music begins with something far more inward: self-reflection. “Music is deeply personal and it is a reflection of oneself,” he says in the League of Excellence powered by BMW India. Sharma believes authenticity is what ultimately resonates. “I’ve never made music with the intention of, oh I want to make cool music, I want to target a particular audience,” he explains. “Once you start, it’s a rabbit hole.”

Sharma’s philosophy has shaped not just his artistic process but also the purpose behind his performances. Through his initiative 'Sitar for Mental Health', the musician has been using classical music as a space to spark conversations around emotional wellbeing—an area that still carries significant stigma in India. The idea, he says simply, “is to bring conversation around mental health.”

Yet even naming the project was not straightforward. Sharma recalls facing resistance from those around him because of the discomfort attached to the word itself. “There were a lot of fights at home, when I was naming it Sitar for Mental Health, because the word ‘mental’ itself has so much stigma around it,” he says.

At one point, he softened the title to 'Sitar for Mindfulness', hoping the gentler phrasing might feel more acceptable. But the change didn’t sit right with him. “After the inaugural show, I realised I’m not feeling this—it defeats the purpose,” he says. He eventually reverted to the original name, embracing the discomfort that comes with confronting difficult conversations. “You have to have those awkward conversations at home.”

The response from audiences has reinforced his decision. Sharma often meets listeners after performances who tell him his music has affected them in deeply personal ways. “Some people come up to me after my shows and say, ‘Your music has changed my life,’” he says.

Those moments, while gratifying, come with their own sense of weight. For Sharma, they are a reminder that the relationship between artist and listener can extend far beyond the stage. “It feels like a huge responsibility,” he admits. “I have to keep doing what I do, and keep doing it better.”