Harshad Golesar and Duhita Golesar Honoured with Padma Shri Mahendra Kapoor Award 2026 for Their Contribution to Indian Music
MUMBAI, 25th May 2026: In a landmark moment for contemporary Indian music rooted in classical tradition, singers Harshad Golesar and Duhita Golesar have been honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri Mahendra Kapoor Award 2026, recognising their contribution to Indian music and their growing impact as one of the country’s most promising musical acts.
Known for blending the richness of Hindustani classical music with contemporary live arrangements, the duo has rapidly emerged as a powerful new voice through their musical project, the Harshaduhita Collective. Their performances move seamlessly through Bhajans, Sufi, Ghazals, Folk music, semi-classical compositions, and contemporary reinterpretations, creating a sound that feels deeply rooted while remaining accessible to modern audiences.
The recognition follows their widely celebrated journey on India’s Got Talent Season 11, where they reached the semi-finals and earned appreciation for bringing Indian classical music into mainstream entertainment spaces with emotional depth and originality. But behind the recent spotlight lies years of discipline, training, and inherited musical tradition.
Harshad Golesar comes from a priestly family in Nashik that has served a temple for twelve generations. Raised around the sound of his grandfather’s 4 AM bhajans, music became part of his spiritual and emotional foundation from childhood itself. After struggling initially to find direction in life, he chose to pursue music professionally through a Bachelor’s degree in Music and eventually topped his university. Today, he is a Sangeet Visharad trained under Pandit Prasad Khaparde in the Rampur Gharana tradition.
Duhita Golesar grew up in Mumbai in a family deeply connected to Indian classical music and recordings. A Gold Medalist from the University of Mumbai with an M.A. in Music, she has trained under Vidushi Shalmalee Tai Joshi in the Jaipur Gharana tradition. Alongside her classical foundation, she has also worked in playback singing, recordings, and commercial music spaces, giving her artistry both technical strength and contemporary understanding.
Together, the duo has created a distinct musical identity built on what they describe as a “signature Indian classical touch” that combines rich ragas and intricate rhythms with familiar melodies and immersive live arrangements.
Speaking about receiving the award, Harshad Golesar said: “Receiving an honour associated with Mahendra Kapoor ji feels surreal and deeply emotional for us. Music has always been part of our lives and our upbringing. From temple bhajans in Nashik to performing on national television, every step of the journey has shaped us. There were phases where people doubted us and moments where things felt extremely difficult, but we stayed committed to our music and continued working with complete faith. This recognition feels very special because it acknowledges years of silent sadhana and dedication.”
Duhita Golesar added: “We have always believed that music should make people feel something deeply. Beyond performance and recognition, our intention has always been to create music that feels emotionally intense, spiritually strong, and peaceful from within. We want audiences to leave our concerts feeling lighter and more connected to themselves. Receiving this award motivates us to dream even bigger for the Harshaduhita Collective and take Indian music to audiences across the world.”
Beyond television and digital popularity, the artists are now focused on building the Harshaduhita Collective into a global live music and cultural property. Their performances feature a seamless blend of vocals with keyboard, flute, harmonium, guitars, tabla, and drums, creating immersive experiences that bridge spirituality, emotion, and large-scale entertainment. They are currently also collaborating on projects with Shankar Mahadevan while actively expanding their vision for international touring and large-format cultural productions.
At a time when audiences are increasingly reconnecting with authenticity and cultural identity in music, Harshad Golesar and Duhita Golesar represent a new generation of artists carrying Indian classical traditions into contemporary global spaces without losing their essence.