Shirley Setia Biography: Songs, YouTube Journey, Maska, Nikamma, Movies & Latest News
Shirley Setia is an Indian-born New Zealand singer, YouTuber and actress. Born in Daman and raised in Auckland, she became famous for her covers of Hindi film songs on YouTube, which earned her the nickname “Pyjama Popstar”. She went on to sing for T-Series and Bollywood films before making her acting debut in Netflix’s Maska (2020). She has since starred in the Hindi film Nikamma (2022), the Telugu film Krishna Vrinda Vihari (2022) and TVF’s patriotic series Sena – The Guardians of the Nation (2025).
Shirley Setia Latest News
- Sena – The Guardians of the Nation (2025): Shirley appeared as Bhavya in TVF’s patriotic drama series, alongside Vikram Singh Chauhan and Yashpal Sharma. The show was directed by Abhinav Anand.
- Industry 2 with Arjun Kanungo: She has collaborated with singer Arjun Kanungo on his album Industry 2, including the romantic duet “Sach Bata Mujhe”.
- Still singing online: Her YouTube channel, active since 2012, has millions of subscribers, and she continues to post covers and original songs.
Shirley Setia Profile and Wiki
| Bio | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Shirley Setia |
| Nickname | Pyjama Popstar |
| Profession | Singer, YouTuber, actress |
| Date of birth | 2nd July 1995 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 31 years |
| Birthplace | Daman, India |
| Raised In | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Citizenship | New Zealand |
| Education | |
| University | University of Auckland |
| Career | |
| YouTube Channel | Shirley Setia (since 2012) |
| Big Break | Winning a T-Series cover contest |
| Acting Debut | Maska (Netflix, 2020) |
| Theatrical Debut | Nikamma (2022) |
| Telugu Debut | Krishna Vrinda Vihari (2022) |
| Known Songs | “Disco Disco”, “Tu Mil Gaya”, “Naiyo Jaana”, “A Whole New World” (Hindi), “Main Teri Hi Rahoon” |
| Personal life
|
|
| Father | Raj Setia |
| Mother | Firoza Setia |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
Early Life and Education
Shirley Setia was born in Daman, then part of the union territory of Daman and Diu, on India’s west coast. When she was a child, her family moved to Auckland, New Zealand, where she grew up and later became a New Zealand citizen.
She studied at the University of Auckland, where she was a graduate student. Alongside her studies, she worked as a marketing and publicity intern at Auckland Council. Music was a hobby she pursued in her spare time, singing Hindi film songs and recording them at home.
Shirley Setia Career
YouTube and the “Pyjama Popstar” Story (2012–2016)
Shirley started her YouTube channel in 2012, posting covers of popular Hindi film songs. Her soft voice and simple home videos drew a growing audience, especially among young listeners in India.
Her big break came when she entered a cover contest run by T-Series, India’s biggest music label. Her entry, recorded in her bedroom in Auckland, won the contest. The New Zealand Herald called her the “pyjama popstar”, a name that stuck with her fans. Soon after, she began recording original songs and recreated tracks for T-Series. She performed at YouTube FanFest in Mumbai in 2016 and 2017.
Bollywood Playback Singing (2015–2023)
Shirley’s first released single was “Thode Se Hum” in 2014. She then sang songs for films and albums, including “Naye Love Ki Subah” from 4 Steps Forward (2015), “Aadat” from Passengers (2016) and “Disco Disco” from A Gentleman (2017), which was one of her biggest film songs.
Her independent singles, such as “Koi Shor“, “Tu Mil Gaya”, “Naiyo Jaana” and “Biba”, were also popular. In 2019 she sang the Hindi version of “A Whole New World” for Disney’s Aladdin, and took part in T-Series’ Mixtape and Electrofolk series. In 2023 she sang “Main Teri Hi Rahoon” for the film Chhatriwali.
Acting Debut with Maska (2020)
Shirley made her acting debut in Maska, a Netflix film released in March 2020. She played Persis Mistry, opposite Prit Kamani, who plays a young man torn between his acting dreams and his family’s Irani café in Mumbai. The film also starred Manisha Koirala and Javed Jaffrey. She also sang “I Wanna Hang With You” for the film’s soundtrack.
Nikamma and Krishna Vrinda Vihari (2022)
Her first theatrical release was Sabbir Khan’s action comedy Nikamma, released on 17 June 2022. She played Natasha “Nikki” Singh, the love interest of Abhimanyu Dassani’s character, while Shilpa Shetty played his sister-in-law. The film was a Hindi remake of the 2017 Telugu film Middle Class Abbayi. She also recorded a reprise of the song “Tere Bin Kya” from the film.
In September 2022 she made her Telugu debut as Vrinda Mishra in Krishna Vrinda Vihari, a romantic comedy opposite Naga Shaurya. The role earned her a SIIMA nomination for Best Female Debut – Telugu.
Sena – The Guardians of the Nation (2025)
In 2025 Shirley appeared in Sena – The Guardians of the Nation, a patriotic drama from The Viral Fever (TVF), a change from the company’s usual slice-of-life shows. She played Bhavya, the friend of the lead character. The cast also included Vikram Singh Chauhan, Yashpal Sharma and Neelu Dogra.
Shirley Setia Movies and Shows List
| Year | Title | Role | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Maska (Netflix) | Persis Mistry | Hindi |
| 2022 | Nikamma | Natasha “Nikki” Singh | Hindi |
| 2022 | Krishna Vrinda Vihari | Vrinda Mishra | Telugu |
| 2025 | Sena – The Guardians of the Nation (series) | Bhavya | Hindi |
Shirley Setia YouTube Channel
Shirley’s YouTube channel is where her career began, and it remains central to her work. She launched it in 2012 with acoustic covers of Hindi film songs, often filmed at home with simple lighting and a single microphone. By September 2023 the channel had about 3.86 million subscribers and more than 381 million views.
Over the years the channel has moved from bedroom covers to professionally produced music videos. She has released original singles, recreated versions of classic Bollywood songs and medleys for T-Series’ Mixtape series, where she sang “Tu Jo Mila – Raabta” (2017) and a medley of “Ik Vaari Aa”, “Naadan Parindey” and “Tum Ho Toh” (2019). In 2020 she recorded new versions of three older Hindi film songs: “Dil Ko Tumse Pyaar Hua”, “Naa Tum Jaano Na Hum” and “Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko”.
Her success on YouTube led to invitations to perform on stage at YouTube FanFest in Mumbai in both 2016 and 2017.
Popular Shirley Setia Songs
- “Thode Se Hum” (2014) – her first single
- “Aadat” – Passengers (2016)
- “Disco Disco” – A Gentleman (2017)
- “Tu Mil Gaya” (2017)
- “Naiyo Jaana” (2018)
- “A Whole New World” (Hindi) – Aladdin (2019)
- “Biba” (2019)
- “I Wanna Hang With You” – Maska (2020)
- “Tere Naal Rehniya” (2021)
- “Main Teri Hi Rahoon” – Chhatriwali (2023)
Personal Life
Shirley keeps her personal life private and is not married. She stays in close touch with fans through YouTube and Instagram, where she shares new songs, covers and behind-the-scenes clips.
Why Shirley Setia Stands Out
Shirley is one of the best-known examples of an Indian artist going from home-recorded YouTube covers to a recording contract with T-Series and lead roles in films. Her journey from an Auckland bedroom to Bollywood, Netflix and Telugu cinema showed a generation of online creators that a digital following could open doors in the film industry. Like fellow YouTube musician Vidya Vox, she built her audience online before moving into the mainstream.
Lesser-Known Facts About Shirley Setia
- She worked as a marketing and publicity intern at Auckland Council.
- Her winning T-Series entry was recorded in her bedroom.
- The “Pyjama Popstar” nickname came from the New Zealand Herald.
- She sang the Hindi version of “A Whole New World” for Disney’s Aladdin (2019).
- She has acted in both Hindi and Telugu projects.
Related Biographies
FAQs About Shirley Setia
Where is Shirley Setia from?
Shirley Setia was born in Daman, India, and grew up in Auckland, New Zealand. She is a New Zealand citizen.
How did Shirley Setia become famous?
She became famous for her Hindi song covers on YouTube and won a T-Series cover contest with a video recorded in her bedroom, earning the nickname “Pyjama Popstar”.
What was Shirley Setia’s first movie?
Her first film was Netflix’s Maska (2020), in which she played Persis Mistry. Her first theatrical release was Nikamma (2022).
Who is Shirley Setia’s co-star in Nikamma?
She starred opposite Abhimanyu Dassani in Nikamma (2022), with Shilpa Shetty in a key role.
Has Shirley Setia acted in Telugu films?
Yes. She made her Telugu debut opposite Naga Shaurya in Krishna Vrinda Vihari (2022).
What are Shirley Setia’s popular songs?
Her popular songs include “Disco Disco”, “Tu Mil Gaya”, “Naiyo Jaana”, “Aadat” and the Hindi version of “A Whole New World”.
Is Shirley Setia Indian or a New Zealander?
She was born in India and holds New Zealand citizenship, having grown up in Auckland. She works mainly in the Indian film and music industry.
How many subscribers does Shirley Setia have on YouTube?
Her YouTube channel had about 3.86 million subscribers and more than 381 million views as of September 2023.
Is Shirley Setia married?
No, Shirley Setia is not married.