Singing show winner Sugandha is now an internet sensation too

Nagpur: Fourteen-year-old Sugandha Date, who recently clinched the top prize in a television reality show, is already an internet sensation with 14,000 followers. This was the second attempt by Sugandha on television, the earlier being one in 2013, when she was barely six and was among the top five finalists.
Often compared to popular playback singer Shreya Ghoshal, Sugandha, who hails from Nagpur, won hearts especially with her rendition of songs like ‘Dhadak’, ‘Bhaire Naina’ and ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’. “Though she missed the trophy in 2013 this win has more than made up for it,” said her mother Amruta.
Already in exam mode as she prepares for her Std X boards next year, Sugandha says she is not affected by the attention that comes her way through Instagram, where she 14,800 followers. The number of those viewing her videos of rehearsals and highlights of her performance rose to 35,000 after she won the trophy.
“Instagram and Facebook help build an image beyond the show, but it only works if the talent is real,” Amruta said. Sugandha has at least five fan club pages on Instagram and Facebook. “But for now, she is only concentrating on her training with her guru Anand Sharma and her studies,” her mother said.