Mumbai, April 10, 2026: Bajaj Finserv’s digital-first music discovery platform, Bajaj Dhuniverse, has crowned 19-year-old Mumbai-based singer Ratnika Shrivastava as the winner of its inaugural season, rising above an impressive 64,000 entries from across India. Unanimously chosen by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, her victory marks a breakout moment signalling the arrival of a powerful new voice on the national stage.
As part of her win, Ratnika steps into the spotlight with a significant opportunity: an independent album with Zee Music Company, a high-profile collaboration with Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy for an exclusive release on Spotify, and co-create the Bajaj Anthem, transforming her victory into a defining leap from discovery to a sustained career in music.
Commenting on the milestone, Manav Mianwal, President – Digital Platforms, Bajaj Finserv, said: “Bajaj Dhuniverse was built to recognise sustained effort and bring forward talent that shows discipline, resolve and consistency. This season reinforced a simple truth: potential exists widely in India, but access does not. When effort is given a stage, the country gets a stage. This is how India moves forward. Platforms like Bajaj Dhuniverse are our way of making that possible.”
Shankar Mahadevan said, “Ratnika has a voice that connects instantly and carries both vulnerability and power. From the very first time we heard her, we knew she was something special. She truly represents the spirit of what Bajaj Dhuniverse set out to find.”
Ehsaan Noorani added, “What struck me about Ratnika was her command over her craft and her ability to bring genuine emotion to her performance. In a competition of this scale and calibre, that is what ultimately sets a winner apart.”
Loy Mendonsa said, “Bajaj Dhuniverse has given us immense satisfaction and working with a talent like Ratnika on Bajaj’s sonic identity is something I am genuinely excited about. She has the rare quality of making you feel every note. I look forward to what we will create together.”
For generations in India, the circumstances you were born into frequently defined the limits of your ambition. Talent existed everywhere, but stages were few and opportunities were uneven. Thousands of voices never found a platform, not for lack of effort but for lack of access.
Bajaj Dhuniverse was created to change that. Built as a digital-first, nationally accessible music discovery platform by Bajaj Finserv, this platform is anchored in a simple belief: when merit is given room to rise, progress follows and in turn India advances.
The search began on November 7, 2025, as an open call with no barriers of geography, background, or age, reinforcing the platform’s inclusive approach. By the time entries closed on January 8, 2026, Bajaj Dhuniverse had received over 64,000 submissions without television amplification or high-decibel mass media campaigns quickly establishing itself as one of India’s largest digital-only music talent searches. A rigorous, multi-stage evaluation process narrowed the pool to the top 100 contestants, followed by mentorship and a competitive finale featuring 10 finalists and a wildcard entrant, culminating in a widely viewed live event on March 31, 2026, drawing over 5.3 lakh views.
Bajaj Dhuniverse reflects Bajaj Finserv’s broader commitment to enable aspiration through equitable access. The initiative stands as one more step in Bajaj Finserv’s long-standing commitment to inclusive growth, where technology becomes a bridge, not a barrier
