Arijit Singh

Biography

Arijit Singh (Bengali pronunciation: [ɔɾid͡ʒit̪ ʃiŋɦo]; born 25 April 1987) is an Indian singer, composer, and music producer. He has been described by critics as one of the most influential and commercially successful vocalists in Indian music, and is noted for his emotive vocal style and work across multiple genres.
He has received two National Film Awards and eight Filmfare Awards. In 2025, he received the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours, for his contributions to the arts.
Singh began his career in 2005 as a contestant on the reality television programme Fame Gurukul. He subsequently worked as a music programmer and assistant to composers including Pritam before making his playback singing debut in Hindi cinema with “Phir Mohabbat” (2011). He gained wider recognition in 2013 with “Tum Hi Ho×Tum Hi Ho17 January 2014 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Tum Hi Ho4:222Kabhi Jo Baadal Barse4:133Love Me Thoda Aur4:264Main Dhoondne Ko Zamaane Mein4:235Aasan Nahin Yahan3:346Tose Naina4:247Har Kisi Ko5:378Phir Mohabbat5:309Ilahi3:4910Milne Hai Mujhse Aayi4:5611Uska Hi Banana5:2712Kabira Encore4:3013Raabta4:0414Duaa4:20” from Aashiqui 2, which earned him his first Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer.
In 2025, he received his eighth Filmfare Award for “Sajni”, equalling Kishore Kumar’s record for the most wins in the Best Male Playback Singer category.
Singh has been the most-streamed artist on Spotify in India for seven consecutive years, from 2019 to 2025.

Early life

Arijit Singh was born on 25 April 1987 in Jiaganj, Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India, to Surinder Kakkar Singh, a Punjabi Sikh father, and Aditi Singh, a Bengali Hindu mother. His paternal family migrated from Lahore during the Partition of India.
Singh was raised in a musically inclined family and began training in music at an early age. His maternal aunt was trained in Indian classical music, while his maternal grandmother sang. His maternal uncle played the tabla, and his mother also sang and played the instrument.
He attended Raja Bijay Singh High School and later studied at Sripat Singh College, affiliated with the University of Kalyani. He has stated that he was a “decent student” but was more inclined towards music,leading his parents to arrange formal training.
He received training in Indian classical music from Rajendra Prasad Hazari and in tabla from Dhirendra Prasad Hazari. He was also trained in Rabindra Sangeet and Western pop music by Birendra Prasad Hazari. He began training under the Hazari brothers at the age of three, and at the age of nine received a government scholarship for vocal training in Indian classical music.
Growing up, he listened to composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven, as well as modern Bengali music. He has cited musicians including Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustad Rashid Khan, Zakir Hussain, and Anand Chatterjee as influences, and has also expressed admiration for singers such as Kishore Kumar, Hemant Kumar, and Manna Dey.

Early career and breakthrough

In the early 2010s, Singh began receiving opportunities in film music, frequently collaborating with Pritam on film soundtracks including Golmaal 3, Crook, and Action Replayy. He also recorded "Neeve Na Neeve Na" for the Telugu film Kedi and made his Hindi playback debut with "Phir Mohabbat" from Murder 2.
He gained industry recognition with "Raabta" from Agent Vinod (2012), and subsequently contributed to the soundtracks of films such as Players, Cocktail, and Barfi!.
His breakthrough came with Aashiqui 2 (2013), particularly the song "Tum Hi Ho×Tum Hi Ho17 January 2014 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Tum Hi Ho4:222Kabhi Jo Baadal Barse4:133Love Me Thoda Aur4:264Main Dhoondne Ko Zamaane Mein4:235Aasan Nahin Yahan3:346Tose Naina4:247Har Kisi Ko5:378Phir Mohabbat5:309Ilahi3:4910Milne Hai Mujhse Aayi4:5611Uska Hi Banana5:2712Kabira Encore4:3013Raabta4:0414Duaa4:20", which achieved commercial success and earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer. The song is considered a turning point in his career.
Following this, he recorded songs for films including Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Chennai Express, Jackpot, and Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, further establishing his presence in Hindi film music.

2014–2019: Continued success

During the mid-2010s, Singh remained a prominent figure in Indian film music, collaborating frequently with composers such as Pritam and Vishal–Shekhar.
In 2019, he recorded "Khairiyat" for the film Chhichhore, composed by Pritam with lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya; the song achieved commercial success and streaming popularity. In the same year, he recorded "Tujhe Kitna Chahne Lage" for Kabir Singh, which was among the commercially successful Hindi film songs of the year.
He also collaborated with Shilpa Rao on "Ghungroo" from War, composed by Vishal–Shekhar with lyrics by Kumaar.

2020–present: Independent ventures

In 2020, Singh recorded songs for films including Love Aaj Kal, Chhapaak, Street Dancer 3D, and Malang. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he also contributed to the soundtrack of the series The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye.
In July 2020, Singh launched his independent music label, Oriyon Music, marking a shift towards non-film music. He subsequently released non-film singles including “Dil Ko Maine Di Kasam×Dil Ko Maine Di Kasam10 August 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Dil Ko Maine Di Kasam4:28”, composed by Amaal Mallik, and “Rihaa×Rihaa4 October 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Rihaa5:30”, his first independent single as singer, composer, and producer; a Bengali version titled “Mukto Kore Dao×Mukto Kore Dao10 October 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Mukto Kore Dao5:30” was also released.
In 2022, he recorded "Kesariya" from Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva, for which he received the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer at the 68th Filmfare Awards. In 2025, he received his eighth Filmfare Award for "Sajni" from Laapataa Ladies, equalling Kishore Kumar’s record for the most wins in this category.
Singh has remained among the most-streamed Indian artists on digital platforms throughout the 2020s, with his catalogue featuring in Spotify India year-end charts.
In October 2025, he provided uncredited vocals on the song "Sapphire" by Ed Sheeran, which was later included on his album Play and subsequently featured on the remix of the track on the EP, Play (The Remixes).
In January 2026, he announced his retirement from playback singing, stating that he would no longer accept new assignments while continuing to pursue independent and classical music.

Vocals and musical style

Singh has been described as a baritone, and is noted for his emotive vocal style and tonal quality. Critics have commented on the texture of his voice and its consistency in live performances. He has also been noted for his use of meend in his singing.

Technical proficiency and training

Singh's vocal training began at an early age under the Hazari brothers. He studied Hindustani classical music under Rajendra Prasad Hazari, and was trained in Rabindra Sangeet and Western pop music by Birendra Prasad Hazari.
His training has enabled him to perform across a range of vocal registers and musical styles. Critics have noted his use of techniques such as controlled voice modulation in his performances.

Versatility and repertoire

Singh is primarily associated with romantic ballads such as "Tum Hi Ho×Tum Hi Ho17 January 2014 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Tum Hi Ho4:222Kabhi Jo Baadal Barse4:133Love Me Thoda Aur4:264Main Dhoondne Ko Zamaane Mein4:235Aasan Nahin Yahan3:346Tose Naina4:247Har Kisi Ko5:378Phir Mohabbat5:309Ilahi3:4910Milne Hai Mujhse Aayi4:5611Uska Hi Banana5:2712Kabira Encore4:3013Raabta4:0414Duaa4:20" and "Channa Mereya", but has performed across multiple genres. His repertoire includes dance tracks such as "Nashe Si Chadh Gayi×Nashe Si Chadh Gayi1 December 2016 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Nashe Si Chadh Gayi3:58", Punjabi folk-inspired songs including "Samjhawan", and Sufi-influenced compositions such as "Mast Magan".
He has also recorded songs in electronic dance music and synth-pop, including "Sooraj Dooba Hain" and "Ghungroo".
He has collaborated with composers including A. R. Rahman, Pritam, and Vishal–Shekhar.

Musical influences

Singh has cited a range of musical influences spanning Hindi film music, ghazal traditions, and contemporary international genres. He has acknowledged Kishore Kumar as a formative influence, particularly noting his versatility and vocal style.
He has also cited Mohit Chauhan and Atif Aslam among contemporary influences. Singh has described playback singer KK as a significant artistic influence and has paid tribute to him in performances following his death.
His musical influences also include ghazal artists such as Ghulam Ali, Jagjit Singh, and Mehdi Hassan. He has expressed appreciation for international acts including Coldplay and has indicated interest in collaborating with artists such as Norah Jones.

Public image

Singh is known for maintaining a relatively low public profile despite his commercial success. Indian media have frequently characterised him as a “small-town” artist who rose to prominence in Hindi cinema from Jiaganj.
His limited media presence and infrequent television appearances, including a guest appearance on The Kapil Sharma Show in 2016, have been described as reflective of his reserved and private nature.
He has stated that he previously avoided playing his own songs in his personal space in order to maintain a distinction between his professional work and private life.
He has also stated that he engages minimally with social media and prefers that audience feedback be mediated through his team.

Industry commentary

In the 2020s, Singh commented on structural issues within the music industry, particularly concerning compensation practices for singers. In a 2023 interview, he criticised practices in which vocalists record songs without receiving adequate remuneration.

Impact and recognition

In 2025, he was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour, for his contributions to the arts.

Commercial and cultural impact

In 2025, his win for "Sajni" at the 70th Filmfare Awards marked his eighth Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer, equalling the record held by Kishore Kumar.
His popularity has extended beyond the music industry, with public figures from other fields expressing admiration for his work. Cricketer Virat Kohli has described himself as a fan of Singh's music and praised his voice in media interactions.
International publications have noted his global touring presence, including performances at venues such as London's The O2 Arena. From 2019 to 2025, he remained the most-streamed artist in India for seven consecutive years.

Family

Singh was born to a Punjabi Sikh father, Surinder Kakkar Singh, and a Bengali Hindu mother, Aditi Singh. His mother, who influenced his early musical interests, died on 20 May 2021 at the age of 52 due to complications from a cerebral stroke.
In January 2014, Singh married Koel Roy in a private ceremony at Tarapith, West Bengal.

Lifestyle and residence

Despite his prominence, Singh is known for maintaining a relatively low public profile. He resides primarily in his hometown of Jiaganj rather than Mumbai. He is locally known by the nickname "Shomu" and has been reported to participate in community activities and use local modes of transport.
His residence has also been visited by public figures. In February 2025, British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran visited Singh in Jiaganj, where they were seen travelling through the town together. This was followed by visits from Dutch DJ Martin Garrix in March 2025 and actor Aamir Khan in February 2026 in connection with professional collaborations.

Philanthropy

His initiatives are focused in the Murshidabad district, where he has been associated with projects including a multi-specialty hospital, a music academy, and a sports complex.

Interests

Singh has expressed interest in sports, particularly badminton and football. He supports the English football club Manchester United and has identified Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and Saina Nehwal among his favourite sportspersons.

2013–2015: Early career and international debut

On 10 November 2013, he headlined the "Xpressions" festival at the Xavier Institute in Odisha.
In January 2015, Singh made an international appearance in Dubai accompanied by a 50-piece Grand Symphony Orchestra from London.

2016–2018: Orchestral collaborations and US tour

From 2016, Singh began incorporating symphony orchestras into his live performances. In February 2016, he performed at the Dubai World Trade Centre with an orchestra, and later performed at the Rajasthan Day celebrations at the Albert Hall Museum in Jaipur. That year, he also performed in Chandigarh and at AFAS Live in Amsterdam.
In 2017, Singh undertook a tour of the United States, performing in cities including Dallas, Chicago, Newark, and Washington, D.C. The tour featured a symphony orchestra and was attended by large audiences. He also collaborated with MTV and Wizcraft International for the "MTV India Tour" (2017–2018), performing in cities including Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai.

2019–2021: North American tours and pandemic period

In 2019, Singh undertook a North American tour, performing in multiple cities including venues such as the Prudential Center in Newark and the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. He also performed at the Lusail Sports Arena in Qatar.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he participated in virtual events. In June 2021, he collaborated with Facebook and GiveIndia for a live-streamed relief concert supporting pandemic response efforts in India, which received significant viewership and raised funds. He resumed live performances in November 2021 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

2022–2026: Arena tours and global performances

In 2022, Singh began a series of international tours across the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia. He also performed a tribute to Lata Mangeshkar on the television special 'Naam Reh Jayegaa' in June 2022.
In October 2026, Singh announced a nine-city India tour for 2027.