Biography
Who is Arijit Singh?
Early life and musical training
Arijit Singh was born on April 25, 1987, in Jiaganj, Murshidabad district, West Bengal. His father, Surinder Kakkar Singh, is a Punjabi Sikh, while his mother, Aditi Singh, is a Bengali Hindu. His family has roots in Lahore, migrating during the Partition of India. Growing up in a musically inclined household, his mother and aunt both possessed singing talent, and his uncle played the tabla.
He attended Raja Bijay Singh High School and later enrolled at Sripat Singh College, which is affiliated with the University of Kalyani. Although he considered himself a decent student, his primary interest remained music. His parents arranged for formal instruction, leading him to train under the Hazari brothers. He studied Indian classical music with Rajendra Prasad Hazari and learned to play the tabla from Dhirendra Prasad Hazari. Also, he received training in Western pop music and Rabindra Sangeet from Birendra Prasad Hazari.
Rise to fame and career
The singer began his professional path in 2005 as a contestant on the reality television show Fame Gurukul. Following this, he worked behind the scenes as a music programmer and assistant for composers including Pritam, Mithoon, and Shankar Ehsaan Loy. He made his debut in Hindi cinema playback singing with the track Phir Mohabbat in 2011.
His breakthrough arrived in 2013 with the song Tum Hi Ho from the film Aashiqui 2. This track earned him his first Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer and is widely regarded as a major turning point in his career. Throughout the following decade, he contributed to numerous successful film soundtracks, including Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Chennai Express, and Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela.
Recent work and independent music
In July 2020, Arijit launched his own music label, Oriyon Music, to focus on non-film projects. He released independent singles such as Dil Ko Maine Di Kasam and his first self-composed production, Rihaa. His Bengali version of the latter, titled Mukto Kore Dao, was also released to the public. During the 2020s, he continued to collaborate on major film soundtracks like Brahmāstra: Part One, Shiva, which featured the hit song Kesariya.
He has received significant recognition, including the Padma Shri in 2025 for his contributions to the arts. That same year, he earned his eighth Filmfare Award for the track Sajni, equalling a long-standing record for the most wins in the Best Male Playback Singer category. In January 2026, he announced his retirement from playback singing, stating an intent to focus exclusively on independent and classical music projects.
Vocal style and influences
Critics often describe his voice as a baritone noted for its tonal quality and emotive delivery. He is recognized for using techniques like meend and controlled voice modulation during his performances. His repertoire is diverse, ranging from romantic ballads like Channa Mereya to dance tracks such as Ghungroo and Sufi-influenced compositions like Mast Magan.
He draws inspiration from a wide array of artists. His formative influences include Kishore Kumar, whose versatility he admires, alongside Hemant Kumar and Manna Dey. He also listens to ghazal artists such as Ghulam Ali, Mehdi Hassan, and Jagjit Singh. Internationally, he has expressed appreciation for acts like Coldplay and has spoken about the influence of classical composers like Ludwig van Beethoven and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Birthday and age
Arijit Singh was born on April 25, 1987, which makes Arijit 39 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Arijit shares the date with 64 other famous people.
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