Alka Yagnik

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Alka Yagnik
Alka Yagnik in 2023 (cropped).jpg
Yagnik in 2023
Born (1966-03-20) 20 March 1966 (age 59)
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Occupation Playback singer
Spouse
Neeraj Kapoor
​
(m. 1989)​
Children1
Awards Full list
Musical career
Genres Filmi
Instrument Vocals
Years active1979–present

Alka Yagnik (born 20 March 1966) is an Indian playback singer who worked predominantly in Hindi cinema from 1980s to mid 2000s. [1] [2] One of the most prominent singers of 1990s era Bollywood, she has received several accolades including two National Film Awards, two Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards and seven Filmfare Awards for Best Female Playback Singer [note 1] from thirty-seven nominations. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents

Yagnik has sung maximum female solo songs in her Bollywood career along with Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. [7] Several of her soundtracks were included in the BBC "Top 40 Bollywood soundtracks of all time". [8]

Yagnik is the most popular music artist of all time on YouTube, with the mention in the Guinness Book of World Records of 17 billion streams in 2021 and 16.6 billion in 2020. As of 2026, she is the most streamed weekly music artist on Youtube. [9] [10] [11]

She was awarded Padma Bhushan for her contribution to Indian music and playback singing in 2026. [12]

Early life

Yagnik was born in Kolkata on 20 March 1966 to a Gujarati family. [13] Her father's name is Dharmendra Shankar. [14] [15] Her mother Shubha was a singer of Indian classical music. In 1972 at age six, she started singing for Akashvani (All India Radio), Calcutta. [13] [16] At age 10, her mother brought her to Mumbai as a child singer. She was advised to wait until her voice matured, but her mother remained determined. On a subsequent visit, Yagnik got a letter of introduction to Raj Kapoor from his Kolkata distributor. Kapoor heard the girl and sent her with a letter to noted music director Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar. Impressed, Laxmikant gave her two alternatives – an immediate start as a dubbing artist or a later break as a singer; Shubha chose the latter for her daughter. [17] Yagnik mentioned that she was a bright student but didn't like studies. [14]

Career

Alka Yagnik began singing at the age of four and was trained in classical music. She has sung romantic, sad, peppy, and item number songs across a career spanning more than four decades. [18] Yagnik frequently sang duets with Kumar Sanu, followed by Udit Narayan and Sonu Nigam, and is regarded as a leading female playback singer of the 1990s. [19] She has credited veteran composers Lakshmikant-Pyarelal and Kalyanji-Anandji for mentoring and shaping her voice. [20] [21]

In the media and legacy

Yagnik is recognised as one of the most versatile female playback singers in India. [22] She became the most-streamed Indian artist-mom on Spotify in 2019. [23] Publications such as Rolling Stone, The Times of India, Hindustan Times, and Mid-Day have cited her voice and versatility, and Filmfare has recognised her as one of India's celebrated playback singers. [24] Contemporary singers Lata Mangeshkar, Sunidhi Chauhan and Sonu Nigam and composers such as A.R. Rehman, Lalit Pandit, Vani Jairam, and M.M. Keeravani have praised her vocal ability, versatility, and contribution to Indian music. [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32]

Personal life

Yagnik married Shillong-based businessman Neeraj Kapoor in 1989, with whom she has a daughter named Syesha. [33]

In 2024 she was diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss. [34]

Discography

Filmography

Besides singing, Yagnik also judged several singing reality shows on television. [35]

YearNameNotesChannelRef
1992 Sapne Sajan Ke Yagnik also appeared in film Sapne Sajan Ke in a song 'Yeh Dua Hai Meri' with co-singer Kumar Sanu.N/aN/a
2006 Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs She made her first television debut with the show. Zee TV [35]
2014 Comedy Nights with Kapil On 25 May 2014 she appeared as a special guest along with Kumar Sanu for the popular TV show Comedy Nights with Kapil. Colors TV [36]
Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs She had done Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs as a judge in first Season and fifth Season as a Maha Guru (also in previous 2 seasons).Zee TV [37]
2016 Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! In November 2016, she appeared in a Hindi comedy serial Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! with Kumar Sanu in a special one hour episode. &TV [38]
2017 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai Yagnik also appeared as a guest in Hindi serial 'Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai' STAR Plus [39]
Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs She came with her co-singer Udit Narayan and sung many duets of the 1990s.Zee TV [40]
2018 Rising Star She appears as a guest and gave a special tribute to late actress Sridevi Colors [41]
Indian Idol She appeared in 10th season of Indian Idol with co-singer Kumar Sanu. Sony Entertainment Television [42]
2019 The Kapil Sharma Show She appeared in The Kapil Sharma Show with other two judges for the promotion of her show 'Superstar Singer'. [43]
Superstar Singer In 2019, she appeared in Superstar Singer as a Judge in Sony TV. [44]
2020 Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs Besides Alka Yagnik, Udit Narayan and Kumar Sanu appeared as judges after 30 years.Zee TV [45]

She also appeared in Star Voice of India as a judge. [13] She appears as a guest with Udit Narayan in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs. [46]

She has also been a judge on fame gurukul, superstar singer 2, super singer plus,sa re ga ma pa-2009 and Indian idol and 2 seasons of Bengali sa re ga ma pa

Awards and nominations

Yagnik has won several accolades including two National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for her songs: "Ghoongat Ki Aad Se" from Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993) [47] and "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998). [48] She has won a record seven Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer [note 2] for her songs: "Ek Do Teen" from Tezaab (1988), [49] "Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai" from Khalnayak (1993), [50] "Zara Tasveer Se Tu" from Pardes (1998), [51] "Taal Se Taal" from Taal (2000), [52] "Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Hai Dil Se" from Dhadkan (2001), "O Re Chhori" from Lagaan (2002) and "Hum Tum" from Hum Tum (2005) from a record thirty-six nominations. [53] Additionally she has won two Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards. For her contribution in the field of music, Yagnik was bestowed with the Lata Mangeshkar Award in 2019. [54] She was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2026. [55]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Tied with Asha Bhosle.
  2. ↑ Tied with Asha Bhosle.

Citations

  1. ↑ "Alka Yagnik : The Legendary Singer - You Won't Miss A Thing". 21 June 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  2. ↑ Vaidya, Amit (20 March 2022). "20 Timeless Hits To Mark Alka Yagnik's Birthday" . Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  3. ↑ Taneja, Parina (18 February 2022). "Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik to reunite after 5 years on stage for Dubai concert". India TV News. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  4. ↑ "Wishing a happy birthday to the queen of melody Alka Yagnik". Radio and Music. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  5. ↑ Singh, Shalu (20 March 2018). "Birthday Special Playlist: Thank You Alka Yagnik for giving us melodious tracks that we can play on loop". India TV News. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  6. ↑ "Digitisation can enhance your singing, not your skill: Alka Yagnik - Hindustan Times".
  7. ↑ "Women are fading out from Bollywood music". Hindustan Times . Archived from the original on 13 May 2019.
  8. ↑ "BBC – Asian Network – Top 40 Soundtracks of All Time". BBC. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  9. ↑ "Guinness World Records". 20 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023– via YouTube.
  10. ↑ "Padma Awards 2026 LIVE: Dharmendra, former Kerala CM Achuthanandan awarded Padma Vibhushan posthumously, actor Mammootty awarded Padma Bhushan". The Hindu. 25 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  11. ↑ "YouTube Music Charts".
  12. ↑ "Padma Awards 2026" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs. Government of India. 25 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 "Alka Yagnik birthday: Lesser known facts about the Agar Tum Saath Ho singer, you would love to know". Times Now News. 20 March 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  14. 1 2 "A Lots of Songs Were Taken From Me". Filmfare. Archived from the original on 13 May 2019.
  15. ↑ "Alka_Yagnik". Alkayagnik.co.in. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  16. ↑ Number, A Hit (16 October 2011). "Fine Tuning". The Telegraph, Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on 18 October 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  17. ↑ "About Me". Alka Yagnik. 2008. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  18. ↑ "Digitisation can enhance your singing, not your skill: Alka Yagnik". Hindustan Times . 4 January 2015.
  19. ↑ "38th Anniversary: When music was the hero". Mid-Day. 23 June 2017.
  20. ↑ "Musical notes with Alka Yagnik".
  21. ↑ "Superstar Singer 2: Alka Yagnik calls Anandji her 'Godfather'; says, "Whatever I am today is hugely because of him"".
  22. ↑ "Alka Yagnik: I'd die if a song I recorded is given to someone else". The Times of India . 16 January 2017.
  23. ↑ IANS (8 May 2019). "Alka Yagnik is number one on this list". TheQuint. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  24. ↑ "Birthday Special: 10 Iconic Songs of Alka Yagnik".
  25. ↑ Subhash K, Jha (14 June 2005). "How can I disrespect Lata, Asha: Sunidhi". Hindustan Times. Indo-Asian News Service. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  26. ↑ Coutinho, Natasha (28 November 2013). "Sunidhi Chauhan: My sis sings 100 times better". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  27. ↑ InterACT with Padma Wadkar feat. Sonu Nigam. Ajivasan Music Academy. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  28. ↑ "How A.R. Rahman transformed Punjabi Music in 'Chamkila' - Revealed on RoTalks from Fever FM". 1 May 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  29. ↑ Jha, Subhash K. (21 March 2023). "Lalit Pandit on Alka Yagnik's strong musical bond with Jatin-Lalit". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  30. ↑ "I don't abuse my voice: Vani Jairam".
  31. ↑ Jha, Subhash K. (20 March 2023). "Alka Yagnik's musical journey is full of unforgettable gems like Gali Mein Chand Nikla and Suno Jane Wale". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  32. ↑ Mohamed, Khalid (7 February 2022). "Marriage, Rivalry, Politics: Lata Mangeshkar Covers It All in Her Last Interview". TheQuint. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  33. ↑ "Alka Yagnik Birthday Special: From 'Tip Tip Barsa' to 'Lal Dupatta,' Top 10 songs by the soulful singer". Free Press Journal. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  34. ↑ Mishra, Lata (19 June 2024). "Alka Yagnik's 'hearing loss' a disorder hard to reverse: Doctors". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  35. 1 2 "Kids were the main reason for me to choose Superstar Singer, says Alka Yagnik". Eastern Eye. 3 July 2019.
  36. ↑ "Comedy Nights with Alka & Sanu". 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  37. ↑ "Alka Yagnik to judge 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li'l Champs'". The Indian Express. 22 December 2014.
  38. ↑ "Saumya Tandon's fan moment on sets 'Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hai'". Mid-Day. 21 November 2016.
  39. ↑ "Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai September 4, 2017 written update: Alka Yagnik pays tribute to Akshara at sangeet ceremony". The Times of India . 5 September 2017.
  40. ↑ "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li'l Champs: Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik take the audience on a 90's nostalgia trip". 23 April 2017.
  41. ↑ "Alka Yagink's Tribute To Sridevi".
  42. ↑ "Alka Yagnik, Kumar Sanu, Udit Narayan to usher in Navratri on TV". Sify. Indo-Asian News Service. 6 October 2021. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  43. ↑ "The Kapil Sharma Show preview: A musical night with Superstar Singer team". 22 June 2019.
  44. ↑ "Alka Yagnik to judge music reality show". The Times of India .
  45. ↑ "Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik and Kumar Sanu launch the new season of SaReGaMaPa Lil Champs 2020". Mumbai Live. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  46. ↑ "Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan's cute BANTER on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs". DNA. 19 April 2017.
  47. ↑ "41st National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  48. ↑ "46th National Film Awards (PIB - Feature films)". Press Information Bureau (PIB), India. Archived from the original on 19 August 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  49. ↑ "The Filmfare Awards Winners – 1988". The Times Group. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007.
  50. ↑ "The Filmfare Awards Winners – 1993". The Times Group. Archived from the original on 28 October 2007.
  51. ↑ "43rd Filmfare Awards 1998 Winners". Indian Times . The Times Group. Archived from the original on 8 May 2006. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  52. ↑ "The 45th Filmfare Awards 2000 Winners". Indian Times . The Times Group. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  53. ↑ "Filmfare Awards Winners From 1953 to 2019". filmfare.com. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  54. ↑ "Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan to get Lata Mangeshkar Award". The Times of India . Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  55. ↑ Saxena, Shipra (25 January 2026). "धर्मेंद्र को निधन के बाद मिलेगा पद्म विभूषण,सुरों की मलिका अल्का याग्निक को मिला पद्म भूषण, तो ममूटी और सतीश शाह को मिला ये अवॉर्ड". Zee News (in Hindi). Retrieved 25 January 2026.
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