[1] He had an unsuccessful stint with Sony Music and Tehelka before finally releasing his debut album Rabbi in 2004 under Phat Phish Records.

Relying on word-of-mouth publicity and a music video, he had a chart topper song "Bulla Ki Jaana".

[6] The album contains nine songs and deals with issues like communal violence, likis the Bilkis Bano case expressing social responsibility and the need for "collective morality".

He lent his voice to Yash Chopra's 2012 romantic film Jab Tak Hai Jaan singing the leading number "Challa" composed by A. R. Rahman and the lyrics penned by Gulzar.

And with his poetic, socially relevant lyrics and an adult alternative sound, Shergill instantly connected with an urban crowd who loved him for his genuine and original approach to his songs.

His songs are deeply philosophical and blend archaic, almost lost, Punjabi phrases into more recent Indian rock music.