New Delhi, Jan 15 (IANS): Her lively stage presence makes Richa Sharma a much sought after live performer when it comes to musical extravaganzas in the country. While the songstress has recorded a number of songs in studios for Bollywood, she says her love for the stage is eternal.

She was in Gurgaon Wednesday to receive a special award at the LIVE Quotient Awards 2015, organised by EVENTFAQS. She left the audience delighted with her performance and songs too.

Talking about her "fantabulous journey of 20 years", she said in a statement: "Today I feel that it’s just the beginning. I'm enjoying every single bit of music around me.

"I would like to thank the entertainment industry, my family, my fellow artists and the live entertainment industry for being around as a pillar for me. Before any prefix tag on me, I have been a live performer, and stage is and will always be my first love.”

Richa has come a long way since the time when her singing was confined to devotional songs. Although she used to sing as a child, her work as a playback singer was noticed immensely when she sang the club song "Mahi ve" from the film "Kaante" in 2002.

The singer, who has to her credit hit numbers like "Ni main samajh gayi", "Billo rani", "Sajda" and "Zor ka jhatka", was born and brought up in Haryana. She learnt the art of singing bhajans from her father Pandit Daya Shankar Upadhyaya and mother Manorma Devi.