Renowned filmmaker Raj Kapoor was looking at launching his second son, Rishi Kapoor through the movie “Bobby”. Keeping to the overall theme of launching new talent, Kapoor was keen to find a new voice that would be identified exclusively with the hero of the film. Shailendra was that new voice. Once the song "Main Shayar To Nahin" became a runaway hit offers began pouring in for this young singer. When he sang “Humne Tumko Dekha” in the film “Khel Khel Mein”, the nation rocked to its tunes. As he continued to sing mainly Rishi Kapoor songs, his fame was to be short lived. Identified as Rishi’s voice, Rishi’s series of flops following “Bobby” did not help Shailendra’s music career.

When he tried his hand at acting with Rekha starrer “Agreement” and “Do Jasoos”, his films bombed at the box office.

Shailendra is unlike any other male singer in the quality of his voice; a voice that resembles none that we have previously heard. Some of his songs include the title song from “Amar, Akbar, Anthony” (1977), “Aa Bhi Ja Meri Jaan” from “Bhai Aakhir Bhai Hota Hai” (1982), “Kehni Hain Do Baaten Tumse” from “Aapas Ki Baat” (1981), “Jeena Ye Koi Jeena To Nahin” from “Agreement” (1980), “Kai Din Se Mujhe” from “Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se” (1978), “O Meri Sasu, O Mere Saale” from “Amiri Garibi” (1989) and “Woh Ladki Hansi Toh” from “Bhed-Bhav” (1982). He has also been a part of songs in popular movies like “Hum Apke Hain Kaun” (1994), “Chalte Chalte” (1976) and “John Jani Janardhan” (1984).

He was nominated for a Filmfare Award in 1974 for the Best Male Playback Singer for his rendition of “Main Shayar to Nahin” from the movie “Bobby”.

In recent years he sang the song “Behna Ki Shaadi” in the Sunil Shetty-Arshad Warsi starrer “Mr White and Mr Black” (2008).

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