‘I don’t worry about traditionalists’: Rishab Sharma, the sitar maestro earning millions of followers for his mindful music

The youngest of Ravi Shankar’s sitar disciples was broken by grief – then his instrument saved him. He’s now on a mission to improve mental health with his peaceful artistry

‘I want to be the slowest sitarist on the planet,” Rishab Sharma says. “Everyone is trying their gimmicks and playing as fast as they can but I want to provide a sense of comfort and peace when we’re so busy and full of anxiety.”

The youngest of Ravi Shankar’s sitar disciples, 27-year-old Sharma has spent the past five years transforming the ancient Indian classical instrument into a tool for wellbeing. Billed as “Sitar for Mental Health”, Sharma’s live project features group breathing exercises, meditation and intermission talking prompts, while his repertoire includes everything from traditional ragas to Bollywood songs and versions of the Game of Thrones and Harry Potter themes. It’s a distinctive blend that has gained him more than four million Instagram followers and 60m streams.