Indian Idol 16 winner Jyotirmayee Nayak wins Rs 20L, wants to sing for Alia, Deepika

24-year-old, Jyotirmayee Nayak from Bhubaneswar, Odisha, has won the trophy of Indian Idol Season 16. She impressed everyone throughout the season with her powerful voice. The grand finale saw Jyotirmayee competing against Anshika Chonkar, Manraj Veer Singh, Myscmme Bosu, Suhail Sufi, Tanishk Shukla for the coveted title. In the end, Jyotirmayee bagged the trophy beating the other finalists. In an exclusive conversation with Times of India TV, the singer spoke about the winning moment, her journey on the show and future plans. Jyotirmayee aspires to playback for Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt in the future.Along with the trophy, Jyotirmayee received prize money of Rs 20 lakh. The other runners-up were presented with cheques worth Rs 5 lakh each.Congratulations! How does it feel after winning the title?I am in awe and I feel overwhelmed. I am so thankful to the whole Indian Idol team, the judges and most importantly to the audience who have supported me and believed in me throughout this journey. When I got the winner's trophy, I was completely overwhelmed and I didn't really knew what to do with it. It was all too surreal and I couldn’t quite take in what was going on in that moment. There was a mixture of happiness and gratitude. A memory I will always treasure, a moment that will always hold a very special place in my heart.What was going into your mind during the final moments?Since I began this journey, I’ve only dreamed of lifting this trophy and making Odisha proud. I created this moment every single day. I used to keep the Indian Idol trophy as my phone wallpaper way before I won it. It was a constant reminder of the dream I was working toward because I knew and always believed that this day would come only if I gave my best and stayed true to my music. Winning this title is the result of that belief, hard work and faith in myself.How was your journey on the show?My journey at Indian Idol has been amazing and full of learning experience. Each stage has given me something new, as a singer, as a person. One of the most special parts of the journey was getting appreciation from Shreya ma’am it always motivated me to keep improving. I am really thankful to her for all the mentorship which has also helped me to grow as an artist and guided me throughout my journey. My fellow contestants were also very supportive and we became a family. This platform has given me the best experiences, beautiful memories and lessons that I will carry with me throughout my musical journey.Who was your favourite judge amongst Vishal, Badshah and Shreya Ghoshal?All three judges hold a very special place in my heart and I am grateful for the love and guidance each of them provided me throughout my journey. But if I had to choose one, it would be Shreya ma’am. The one thing that kept me super excited from the time I came for the auditions was that I will finally get to meet Shreya Ma'am and sing in front of her. I have admired her for years and being appreciated by her on the Indian Idol stage was a dream come true. Her encouraging words gave me so much confidence and will always be one of my most treasured memories of my journey.One memorable moment from the journey which you will cherish forever?There was a day during the show where my throat was really bad. I was literally scared that I couldn’t sing and that my journey could end right there. But that challenge made me take a chance and that chance changed everything. It helped me find a whole new tone in my voice and I was praised by my mentor Shreya ma’am. That performance really transformed me on the show, so I decided to sing that same life-changing song one last time in the finale and that was ‘Saiyan Pakad Baiyan’.Have you made friends on the show, who are they and do you plan to stay connected after the show?Indeed, I have formed some amazing friendships during this program. Honestly speaking, all of my competitors were really supportive and we went through so many good things together that we will never forget. Nevertheless, if I had to name my closest friend among all the participants, I think I would name Tanishk. I even call him my sakha since our bond is special and unique.Every singer dreams to playback for a Bollywood face, who do you wish to sing for in Bollywood? Which Bollywood actress?Becoming a professional singer in Bollywood is one of the dreams of many singers, and so do mine. I also wish to sing for Alia Bhatt and Deepika Padukone. They are great actresses and being credited for my contribution is truly an honor. I aspire to act in the future as a singer.What do you plan to do with the prize money?To be honest, I haven’t gone that far yet. Now, I am merely celebrating my victory and enjoying it to the fullest since it has been a dream that I have worked very hard to achieve. Winning Indian Idol is a big achievement for me, and I am still in the process of taking it. Once the joy and excitement fade away, I will start planning how to make use of the winnings from the show for my future and music endeavors.Any future projects in the pipeline?Since the show was completed only recently, I haven't started anything till now. I want to cherish this moment while reflecting on my journey. I look forward to many things coming my way. I would like to record my own songs very soon; my long-term goal is to work on devotional music, which is my favorite genre.