Sargam made her playback debut in Kanku Pagli, a Gujarati film. Her first Hindi song was the solo ''Door Nahin Rehna'' from the film Rustom. However, Rustom was delayed and was released only in 1985, and Sargam s first released film was Subhash Ghai's Vidhaata (1982) in which she sang the song ''Saat Saheliyan'' for actress Padmini Kolhapure. The song, composed by Kalyanji-Anandji, also had the voices of Kishore Kumar and Alka Yagnik.
Sargam continued to sing in films like Taqdeer, Pighalta Aasmaan, Raj Tilak, Karishma Kudrat Ka
Khudgarz was followed by Khoon Bhari Maang (1988) and Sargam also began to sing for other composers like Anu Malik, R. D. Burman, Anand Milind and sparingly under LaxmikantPyarelal. Her main hits continued to be with Rajesh Roshan, which included 'Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaaye' / Jurm, 'Radha Bina Hai' / Kishan Kanhaiya, and songs in Dariya Dil, Aasmaan Se Ooncha and Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharni. She also sung several songs in B.R. Chopra's popular television series Mahabharat (1988).
She got a boost from Tridev (Kalyanji Anandji Viju Shah) in 1989 in which she worked on ''Main Teri Mohabbat Mein'' and ''Gajar Ne Kiya Hai Ishara''.