Aarti Khetarpal’s Quiet Turn Inward

TV presenter features on Grammy-nominated Sounds of Kumbha with a devotional offering

January 28, 2026: At a time when scale and visibility often shape artistic decisions, Aarti Khetarpal’s presence on Sounds of Kumbha, the Grammy-nominated album by composer-producer Sidhant Bhatia, stands out for its quiet restraint. Set to be recognised at the Grammy Awards on February 1 in Los Angeles, the album is a meditative exploration of faith and ritual rather than a performance-driven showcase. Within this framework, Khetarpal appears simply as “Aarti from Vrindavan,” contributing not as a celebrity voice but as a practitioner of devotion.

For an artist known for commanding some of India’s biggest television platforms, including Zee, Sony, Star Plus and Balaji, the shift is notable. Her career has largely unfolded in high-visibility formats demanding immediacy and polish. Here, however, there is no role to perform or persona to project. Her contribution reflects a continuity with her personal spiritual life, rooted in a long-standing relationship with Krishna, rather than a reinvention or strategic pivot.

Those close to her describe the moment as a recalibration of ambition rather than a retreat. While Khetarpal continues her professional engagements across media, the intent behind her choices appears to have deepened. Sounds of Kumbha offers a counterpoint to an industry driven by speed and spectacle, and within it, Khetarpal’s presence underscores a quieter truth: influence does not always need amplification—sometimes, it reveals itself through stillness.