“Alka Yagnik: Iconic Indian Playback Singer, 7-Time Filmfare Winner, 20K+ Songs, Guinness World Record Holder, Enchanting Audiences with Musical Brilliance.”
Born : 20 March 1966 (age 57)
Place : Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Occupation : Playback singer
Spouse : Neeraj Kapoor (m. 1989)
Children : 1
Years active : 1980–present
About
Alka Yagnik, a celebrated Indian playback singer, gained eminence in 90s Bollywood with seven Filmfare Awards, two National Film Awards, and more, totaling thirty-six nominations. Her remarkable four-decade career includes over a thousand films and a repertoire exceeding twenty thousand songs across Indian languages. BBC’s top forty Bollywood soundtracks boast twenty of her tracks.
Atop YouTube’s Music Charts for 331 weeks, she amassed 371 million views and clinched a Guinness World Record with 15.3 billion views in 2022, retaining the title for three years with 17 billion streams in 2021 and 16.6 billion in 2020.
Born in Kolkata to a musical family, her journey began at six on All India Radio. Guided by Raj Kapoor and Laxmikant, she pursued singing, despite early advice to wait. Her mother’s perseverance paved her path, and Yagnik’s passion for music steered her career, despite academic promise.
Early life
Alka Yagnik, born in Kolkata on March 20, 1966, to Gujarati parents—Dharmendra Shankar and Shubha, a classical singer—began singing for All India Radio at six. Her mother, determined for her singing career, brought her to Mumbai at age 10.
Despite advice to wait for her voice to mature, her mother persisted. Introduced to Raj Kapoor, she was recommended to music director Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar, opting for a future in singing over immediate dubbing work. Yagnik, a bright student uninterested in studies, found her passion in music.
Career
Alka Yagnik, a classically trained singer, began her musical journey with Bhajans for All India Radio at six. Her breakout came with “Ek Do Teen” from Tezaab (1988), winning her the first of seven Filmfare Awards. Beyond Hindi, she’s sung in over 25 languages and performed globally.
Notably, her career spans diverse songs including the controversial “Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai” and “Din Mein Leti Hai,” both garnering Filmfare Awards. Collaborating with renowned composers and lyricists, she’s ventured into private albums and devotional music, impacting both Bollywood and global cinema. Yagnik’s diverse contributions include empowering projects and acclaimed hits like “Taal Se Taal Mila.”
She shares the title of most Filmfare Awards with Asha Bhosle, boasting 2,486 Hindi songs across 1,114 films. Among female playback singers, she ranks third in female solos, following Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle.
