Bollywood music has been an integral part of the Indian entertainment industry for decades, and the industry has produced some of the most talented singers in the world. These singers have not only mesmerized audiences in India but also gained a huge following globally. From the soulful melodies of Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar to the energetic beats of Kishore Kumar and Sunidhi Chauhan, Bollywood has given us a rich and diverse musical heritage. In this article, we will take a look at the top 20 famous Bollywood singers who have contributed to the industry’s success over the years. We will delve into their backgrounds, their signature styles, and some of their most famous songs. These singers have left an indelible mark on the music industry and continue to inspire future generations of musicians. So, let’s take a journey through the decades and explore the world of Bollywood music with the top 20 famous Bollywood singers.
1. Mohammed Rafi
Mohammed Rafi was one of the most popular and versatile playback singers in the Indian music industry. He was born in 1924 in Punjab, India, and started his singing career in the 1940s. Rafi’s voice had a unique quality that made him stand out from other singers. He had the ability to convey emotions through his singing and was known for his soulful renditions of romantic and devotional songs.
Rafi worked with many legendary music directors, including Shankar Jaikishan, Naushad, and R.D. Burman, and sang for many popular actors, such as Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, and Dilip Kumar. He sang in various languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, and Bengali, and recorded over 4,000 songs during his career.
Rafi’s legacy continues to live on even after his death in 1980. He is still considered one of the greatest singers in Indian music history, and his songs continue to be popular among music lovers all over the world. Some of his most famous songs include “Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho,” “Likhe Jo Khat Tujhe,” and “Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho.”
2. Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar is an iconic Indian playback singer who has been active in the industry for over seven decades. Born in 1929 in Maharashtra, India, Lata started her singing career in the 1940s and quickly rose to fame with her melodious voice. She is known for her ability to sing in a wide range of genres, including classical, semi-classical, and film music.
Lata has worked with many legendary music directors, including S.D. Burman, R.D. Burman, and A.R. Rahman, and has recorded over 30,000 songs in various languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, and Tamil. She has won numerous awards and accolades throughout her career, including the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.
Lata’s voice has a timeless quality that continues to enchant music lovers around the world. Her songs, such as “Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo,” “Lag Ja Gale,” and “Tere Bina Zindagi Se,” have become classics and are still popular today. Lata is not just a singer but also an inspiration to many aspiring singers who look up to her as a role model.
3. Mukesh
Mukesh was a legendary playback singer in the Indian music industry. Born in 1923 in Punjab, India, Mukesh’s singing career began in the 1940s. He had a unique voice that was rich in emotion and was known for his soulful renditions of romantic and melancholic songs.
Mukesh’s collaboration with music director duo Shankar Jaikishan resulted in many iconic songs, such as “Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan” and “Sawan Ka Mahina.” He was also known for his work with music directors like Laxmikant-Pyarelal and Kalyanji-Anandji. Mukesh’s career spanned over three decades, and he recorded more than 1,000 songs in various languages, including Hindi, Gujarati, and Punjabi.
Mukesh’s legacy lives on even after his death in 1976. His songs continue to be popular, and his voice still has the power to move listeners. Some of his most famous songs include “Kabhie Kabhie Mere Dil Mein,” “Dost Dost Na Raha,” and “Chandan Sa Badan Chanchal Chitwan.”
4. Shaan Mukherjee
Shaan Mukherjee, popularly known as Shaan, is a popular playback singer in the Indian music industry. Born in 1972 in Mumbai, India, Shaan started his singing career in the 1990s. He is known for his versatile voice and has sung in various genres, including pop, rock, and film music.
Shaan has worked with many legendary music directors, including A.R. Rahman, Vishal-Shekhar, and Pritam, and has recorded over 500 songs in various languages, including Hindi, Bengali, and Telugu. He has won many awards for his singing, including the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer.
Shaan’s voice has a unique quality that has made him a favorite among music lovers in India and abroad. Some of his most famous songs include “Jab Se Tere Naina,” “Chand Sifarish,” and “Tum Ho Toh.”
5. Geeta Dutt
Geeta Dutt was a prominent playback singer in the Indian music industry. Born in 1930 in Faridpur, British India, Geeta started her singing career in the 1940s. She was known for her unique voice and her ability to convey emotions through her singing.
Geeta worked with many music directors, including S.D. Burman, O.P. Nayyar, and Shankar Jaikishan, and recorded over 1,000 songs during her career. She was also known for her work in Bengali films, where she recorded many popular songs.
Geeta’s voice had a timeless quality that continues to enchant music lovers around the world. Some of her most famous songs include “Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam,” “Babuji Dheere Chalna,” and “Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu.” Despite her untimely death in 1972, Geeta Dutt’s legacy lives on through her songs, which continue to be popular among music lovers of all ages.
6. Kishore Kumar
Kishore Kumar was a legendary playback singer, actor, and music director in the Indian film industry. Born in 1929 in Khandwa, India, Kishore Kumar started his singing career in the 1940s. He had a unique voice that was known for its versatility and was able to sing in various genres, including romantic, comic, and melancholic songs.
Kishore Kumar’s collaboration with music directors R.D. Burman and S.D. Burman resulted in many iconic songs, such as “Roop Tera Mastana,” “Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas,” and “Mere Sapno Ki Rani.” He was also known for his work with music directors like Laxmikant-Pyarelal and Kalyanji-Anandji. Kishore Kumar’s career spanned over three decades, and he recorded more than 4,000 songs in various languages, including Hindi, Bengali, and Marathi.
Kishore Kumar’s legacy lives on even after his death in 1987. His songs continue to be popular, and his voice still has the power to move listeners. Some of his most famous songs include “Kuch Toh Log Kahenge,” “Chalte Chalte,” and “Pal Bhar Ke Liye.”
7. Alka Yagnik
Alka Yagnik is a popular playback singer in the Indian music industry. Born in 1966 in Kolkata, India, Alka started her singing career in the 1980s. She is known for her sweet and melodious voice and has sung in various genres, including romantic, pop, and classical songs.
Alka has worked with many legendary music directors, including A.R. Rahman, Jatin-Lalit, and Anu Malik, and has recorded over 2,500 songs in various languages, including Hindi, Bengali, and Punjabi. She has won many awards for her singing, including the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer.
Alka’s voice has a unique quality that has made her a favorite among music lovers in India and abroad. Some of her most famous songs include “Ek Do Teen,” “Tum Hi Ho,” and “Agar Tum Saath Ho.”
8. Asha Bhosle
Asha Bhosle is a legendary playback singer in the Indian music industry. Born in 1933 in Sangli, India, Asha started her singing career in the 1940s. She is known for her powerful and melodious voice and has sung in various genres, including classical, pop, and film music.
Asha has worked with many music directors, including R.D. Burman, S.D. Burman, and Laxmikant-Pyarelal, and recorded over 12,000 songs during her career. She has won many awards for her singing, including the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer.
Asha’s voice has a timeless quality that continues to enchant music lovers around the world. Some of her most famous songs include “Piya Tu Ab To Aaja,” “Dum Maro Dum,” and “In Aankhon Ki Masti Ke.” Despite her age, Asha Bhosle continues to be active in the music industry and is a living legend in Indian music.
9. Udit Narayan
Udit Narayan is a popular playback singer in the Indian music industry. Born in 1955 in Nepal, Udit started his singing career in the 1980s. He has a versatile voice and has sung in various genres, including romantic, classical, and pop songs.
Udit has worked with many legendary music directors, including A.R. Rahman, Anu Malik, and Nadeem-Shravan, and has recorded over 25,000 songs in various languages, including Hindi, Nepali, and Bhojpuri. He has won many awards for his singing, including the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer.
Udit’s voice has a unique quality that has made him a favorite among music lovers in India and abroad. Some of his most famous songs include “Pehla Nasha,” “Mitwa,” and “Chaiyya Chaiyya.”
10. Sunidhi Chauhan
Sunidhi Chauhan is a popular playback singer in the Indian music industry. Born in 1983 in Delhi, India, Sunidhi started her singing career in the 1990s. She is known for her powerful voice and has sung in various genres, including rock, pop, and film music.
Sunidhi has worked with many music directors, including A.R. Rahman, Vishal-Shekhar, and Salim-Sulaiman, and recorded over 3,000 songs during her career. She has won many awards for her singing, including the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer.
Sunidhi’s voice has a unique quality that has made her a favorite among music lovers in India and abroad. Some of her most famous songs include “Kamli,” “Sheila Ki Jawani,” and “Dhoom Machale.”
11. Shreya Ghoshal
Shreya Ghoshal is a popular playback singer in the Indian music industry. Born in 1984 in West Bengal, India, Shreya started her singing career in the early 2000s. She is known for her sweet and melodious voice and has sung in various genres, including classical, pop, and film music.
Shreya has worked with many music directors, including A.R. Rahman, Pritam, and Vishal-Shekhar, and has recorded over 4,500 songs during her career. She has won many awards for her singing, including the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer.
Shreya’s voice has a unique quality that has made her a favorite among music lovers in India and abroad. Some of her most famous songs include “Teri Meri,” “Deewani Mastani,” and “Bairi Piya.” Shreya Ghoshal is considered one of the most talented singers in the Indian music industry and has won the hearts of millions of fans around the world.
12. Mohit Chauhan
Mohit Chauhan is a popular playback singer in the Indian music industry. Born in 1966 in Himachal Pradesh, India, Mohit started his singing career in the 1990s. He is known for his soulful and melodious voice and has sung in various genres, including rock, pop, and film music.
Mohit has worked with many music directors, including A.R. Rahman, Pritam, and Vishal-Shekhar, and has recorded over 1,000 songs during his career. He has won many awards for his singing, including the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer.
Mohit’s voice has a unique quality that has made him a favorite among music lovers in India and abroad. Some of his most famous songs include “Tum Se Hi,” “Dooba Dooba,” and “Pee Loon.”
13. KK
Krishnakumar Kunnath, better known by his stage name KK, is a popular playback singer in the Indian music industry. Born in 1968 in Delhi, India, KK started his singing career in the 1990s. He is known for his versatile voice and has sung in various genres, including rock, pop, and film music.
KK has worked with many music directors, including Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Vishal-Shekhar, and Pritam, and has recorded over 3,500 songs during his career. He has won many awards for his singing, including the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer.
KK’s voice has a unique quality that has made him a favorite among music lovers in India and abroad. Some of his most famous songs include “Tadap Tadap Ke,” “Yaaron,” and “Zara Sa.”
14. Sonu Nigam
Sonu Nigam is a popular playback singer in the Indian music industry. Born in 1973 in Uttar Pradesh, India, Sonu started his singing career in the 1990s. He is known for his melodious voice and has sung in various genres, including classical, pop, and film music.
Sonu has worked with many music directors, including A.R. Rahman, Vishal-Shekhar, and Anu Malik, and has recorded over 3,000 songs during his career. He has won many awards for his singing, including the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer.
Sonu’s voice has a unique quality that has made him a favorite among music lovers in India and abroad. Some of his most famous songs include “Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin,” “Kal Ho Naa Ho,” and “Jab Tak Hai Jaan.” Sonu Nigam is considered one of the most talented singers in the Indian music industry and has won the hearts of millions of fans around the world.
15. Neha Kakkar Singh
Neha Kakkar is a popular Indian playback singer and songwriter. Born in 1988 in Rishikesh, India, Neha started her singing career by participating in the reality show Indian Idol in 2006. She is known for her energetic and peppy voice and has sung in various genres, including Bollywood, Punjabi, and pop music.
Neha has worked with many music directors, including Pritam, Meet Bros, and Tanishk Bagchi, and has recorded over 1,500 songs during her career. She has won many awards for her singing, including the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer.
Neha’s voice has a unique quality that has made her a favorite among music lovers in India and abroad. Some of her most famous songs include “Aankh Marey,” “Dilbar,” and “O Saki Saki.”
16. Mukesh Chand Mathur
Mukesh Chand Mathur was a legendary Indian playback singer who was born in Delhi in 1923. He was known for his soulful and melodious voice and has sung in various genres, including classical, devotional, and film music.
Mukesh began his singing career in the 1940s and went on to record over 1,000 songs during his career. He was known for his collaborations with the music director duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal and was also a favorite singer of legendary music director, R.D. Burman.
Some of Mukesh’s most famous songs include “Kabhie Kabhie Mere Dil Mein,” “Kya Khoob Lagti Ho,” and “Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shayar Hoon.” Mukesh was considered one of the most talented singers in the Indian music industry and his legacy continues to inspire generations of singers.
17. Shankar Mahadevan
Shankar Mahadevan is a popular Indian playback singer, composer, and music director. Born in 1967 in Mumbai, India, Shankar started his singing career in the 1990s. He is known for his versatility and has sung in various genres, including classical, devotional, and film music.
Shankar has worked with many music directors, including A.R. Rahman, Vishal-Shekhar, and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, and has recorded over 1,000 songs during his career. He has won many awards for his singing and composing, including the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer.
Shankar’s voice has a unique quality that has made him a favorite among music lovers in India and abroad. Some of his most famous songs include “Breathless,” “Mitwa,” and “Jhoom Barabar Jhoom.” Shankar Mahadevan is considered one of the most talented and versatile musicians in the Indian music industry and has won the hearts of millions of fans around the world.
18. Noor Jehan
Noor Jehan was a legendary Pakistani playback singer and actress, born in 1926 in Kasur, Punjab. She started her singing career in the 1940s and quickly rose to fame due to her melodious voice and charming personality. She sang in various genres, including classical, ghazal, and film music.
Noor Jehan was one of the most influential singers in the South Asian music industry, and her legacy continues to inspire generations of singers. She was also known for her acting skills and appeared in over 150 films during her career.
Some of her most famous songs include “Awaaz De Kahan Hai,” “Jis Din Se Piya Dil Le Gaye,” and “Chandni Raaten.” Noor Jehan was known for her powerful voice and her ability to convey a range of emotions through her singing.
19. K. S. Chithra
K. S. Chithra is a popular Indian playback singer who was born in 1963 in Kerala, India. She is known for her melodious voice and has sung in various genres, including classical, devotional, and film music.
Chithra began her singing career in the 1970s and went on to record over 25,000 songs during her career. She has won many awards for her singing, including the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer.
Chithra’s voice has a unique quality that has made her a favorite among music lovers in India and abroad. Some of her most famous songs include “Pudhu Vellai Mazhai,” “Cham Cham,” and “Tere Bina Zindagi Se.” Chithra is considered one of the most talented singers in the Indian music industry and has won the hearts of millions of fans around the world.
20. Kailash Kher
Kailash Kher is a popular Indian playback singer and music composer who was born in 1973 in Uttar Pradesh, India. He is known for his unique and soulful voice and has sung in various genres, including folk, Sufi, and film music.
Kher began his singing career in the 2000s and quickly rose to fame due to his powerful voice and his ability to convey a range of emotions through his singing. He has worked with many music directors, including A.R. Rahman, Vishal-Shekhar, and Salim-Sulaiman.
Some of Kher’s most famous songs include “Teri Deewani,” “Allah Ke Bande,” and “Ya Rabba.” Kher is considered one of the most talented singers in the Indian music industry and has won many awards for his singing and composing. He has also been recognized for his contributions to social causes and is a popular figure among music lovers in India and abroad.
Samuel Moore is a frequent contributor to Singers Room. Since 2005, Singersroom has been the voice of R&B around the world. Connect with us via social media below.
