Rajesh Roshan

Biography

Rajesh Roshanlal Nagrath (born 24 May 1955), known professionally as Rajesh Roshan, is an Indian music director and composer.

Personal life

Rajesh was born to music director Roshanlal Nagrath and singer Ira Nagrath on 24 May 1955 in Bombay, Bombay Presidency. His father is Punjabi and his mother is Bengali. He is younger brother to actor, director and producer Rakesh Roshan, thus making him uncle to latter's children, Sunaina Roshan and actor Hrithik Roshan. He is married to Kanchan with whom he has two children – a son, Eshaan Roshan, married to actor and model Aishwarya Singh in 2025 and a daughter, Pashmina Roshan, also an actress.

Career

Rajesh Roshan had a frequent successful collaboration with Kishore Kumar, Basu Chatterjee, Dev Anand, Mohammed Rafi, Amit Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle. He shot to fame with the score for the 1974 film Kunwara Baap and the 1975 film Julie; for the latter he won the Filmfare Best Music Director Award.
Rajesh scored for Kunwara Baap (1974) and then in three back-to-back hit films: Des Pardes, Man Pasand, Lootmaar. He went on to compose melodious tunes and made Kishore Kumar sing them in films like Mama Bhanja, Doosra Aadmi, Swami, Priyatama, Yehi Hai Zindagi, Ek Hi Raasta, Swarag Narak, Inkaar, Khatta Meetha, Baton Baton Mein, Do Aur Do Paanch, Kaamchor, Hamari Bahu Alka, Jaag Utha Insan, Bhagwaan Dada, Ghar Sansar followed by films with Rajesh Khanna like Janta Hawaldar, Nishaan, Babu and Aakhir Kyon?.
In the 1990s, he worked in albums like Karan Arjun×Karan Arjun1994 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Jaati Hoon Main6:242Yeh Bandhan Toh5:403Jai Maa Kali7:074Ek Munda7:385Yeh Bandhan Toh (Part II)1:386Bhangra Paale7:077Gup Chup Gup Chup6:02 (1995), Sabse Bada Khiladi×Sabse Bada Khiladi9 June 1995 · Album · SoundtrackSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Bholi Bhali Ladki5:362Har Dil Me Hai Rab Basta5:333Mukkala Muqabla Hoga5:224Zehar Hai Ke Pyar Hai5:395Bharo Maang Meri Bharo7:516Tu Hai Aandhi5:207Lovers6:24 (1995), Papa Kehte Hai (1996), Koyla (1997), Keemat – They Are Back, Daag: The Fire (1999), Dastak (1996), Kya Kehna (2000) and Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000).
Critics believe that several of his most popular songs are closely based on popular songs from other countries.
Rajesh has been the recipient of several prestigious awards for his contributions to Hindi cinema music. He has won multiple Filmfare Awards and other accolades for Best Music Director for films like Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai and Koi... Mil Gaya.
In 2025, Netflix released a four-part documentary series titled The Roshans. The series traces the artistic lineage from composer Roshan to his sons Rakesh and Rajesh, and to actor Hrithik, reflecting on how the family’s creative output helped shape mainstream Bollywood music and cinema.

Plagiarism claims

Rajesh Roshan has often been accused of plagiarism; veteran journalist Karan Thapar talks of at least 39 copied tunes. Indian music critic Karthik Srinivasan, on his website ItwoFS, which tracks plagiarism in the Indian film music industry, lists 41 such tunes. These include some of Roshan's best-known titles, such as "Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaye" (Jurm, 1990) being inspired by "Hear The Whistle Blow A Hundred Miles" from Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs (released in 1967) and "Aye Dil Laya Hai Bahaar" (Kya Kehna, 2000) inspired by Neil Sedaka's 1959 single "Oh! Carol".
In 2008, the Bombay High Court obligated the Roshan brothers to pay up to ₹2 crore to music composer Ram Sampath following his accusations of their film Krazzy 4, produced by Rakesh and having Rajesh as music director, containing Sampath's plagiarised music score.