Pawan Singh is an Indian politician, playback singer, actor, music composer, and stage performer associated with the Bhojpuri film industry. He began his career in music by working behind the scenes, playing the harmonium at musical concerts, before transitioning to playback singing. He has also lent his voice as a playback singer in the Hindi film Stree 2.
Pawan Singh has received two International Bhojpuri Film Awards for his contributions to the industry. He is known for his roles in Bhojpuri films such as Pratigya (2008), Satya (2017), Crack Fighter (2019), Raja (2019), Sher Singh (2019), Mera Bharat Mahaan (2022), and Har Har Gange (2023).[2]
Early life and education
Pawan Singh was born on 5 January 1986 in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, into a Hindu Rajput family. His father, Rama Shankar Singh, was a farmer, and his mother, Pratima Devi, was a homemaker. He has two elder brothers and a sister, Mala Singh.
From a young age, Singh showed a strong interest in music. He began his musical journey by playing the harmonium at local events, which helped lay the foundation for his career in playback singing. Despite financial constraints, his family supported his musical aspirations. He often traveled long distances on a bicycle to participate in stage shows.
Singh attended primary school in Kolkata before returning to Arrah, where he completed his intermediate education at H.N.K. High School. He later graduated from Maharaja College, Arrah, balancing his studies with his growing involvement in music.[3]
Music career
Singh started singing and doing stage shows during his childhood. Singh has worked on Bhojpuri-language pop albums as a vocalist. His first album was Odhaniya Wali, which was released in 1997. In 2004, he made his acting debut with the filmRangli Chunariya Tohre Naam. He played his first lead role together in the 2007 film Rangli Chunariya Tohre Naam. In 2008 Singh released the album Lollipop Lageli whose song Lollipo Lagelu gave him fame in the industry. The same year, Singh released another album Dont Touch My Body, whose song Saniya Mirza Cut Nathuniya was a big hit.
In 2020, he made his Bollywood debut with song Kamariya Hila Rahi Hai featuring American dancer and actress Lauren Gottlieb.[4] His second Bollywood single was Babuni Tere Rang Me, a holi song featuring Tridha Choudhury which was followed by Current featuring Payal Dev. In 2021 he sang a Chhath song with Sonu Nigam and also released Bhojpuri cover version of some popular Bollywood songs like Lut gaye, originally sung by Jubin Nautiyal and Barish Ban Jana. After Bhojpuri cover versions, he remade the famous Hindi song Tumsa Koi Pyara from the film Raja Babu (1994) in Bhojpuri.[5] His next Bhojpuri single Jindagi was in collaboration with Haryanvi singer Renuka Panwar.
Personal life
In September 2025, Singh faced legal issues in Varanasi, where a complaint alleged that he had cheated a hotelier of ₹1.57 crore in connection with investments in the 2018 Bhojpuri film *Boss*. The court directed the police to register a case under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code.[6]
In 2019, actress Akshara Singh filed an FIR against Singh, alleging threats and posting vulgar content on social media after their breakup.[7]
Singh’s second marriage to actress Jyoti Singh ended amid allegations of forced abortions and domestic violence.[8][9][10][11]
Television
In 2025, Pawan Singh joined the celebrity reality competition show Rise & Fall, hosted by Ashneer Grover. The show is an Indian adaptation of the British format by the same name.[12]
Pawan Singh formally entered politics ahead of the 2024 Indian general election. He was announced as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the Asansol Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal. His nomination drew mixed reactions, with some welcoming his popularity as a Bhojpuri film star, while others criticized the decision citing his controversial public image. Within days of the announcement, Singh withdrew his candidature, stating that he took the decision due to “personal reasons.”
In 2025, Singh again turned towards electoral politics, this time from his home state of Bihar. He declared himself an independent candidate from the Karakat Lok Sabha constituency, where the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had already fielded its own candidate. His move was seen as a direct challenge to the alliance, leading to his expulsion from the BJP.
Singh’s campaign in Karakat attracted widespread media coverage due to his star status, large public gatherings, and musical-style rallies. His candidature divided public opinion—while his supporters portrayed him as a voice of the youth and Bhojpuri-speaking population, critics questioned his political experience and alleged that his entry would split votes in the region.
Although Singh gained significant attention during the campaign, he was unable to secure victory in the election. His performance, however, established him as a recognizable political figure in Bihar, and analysts described his foray into politics as the beginning of a possible long-term political journey.[14][15]
In May 2024, Singh was expelled from the **Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after announcing his candidacy as an independent candidate for the **Karakat Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar, opposing the party's official nominee, Upendra Kushwaha. The BJP cited his actions as "anti-party activities" and "indiscipline," stating that his decision harmed the party’s image.[16]
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