Alka Yagnik, a legendary Indian playback singer, has captivated audiences for decades with her soulful voice. This comprehensive biography explores her life, career, and significant achievements.

Biography/Wiki

Alka Yagnik was born on March 20, 1966, in Kolkata, India. Her mother, Shubha Yagnik, a classical Indian singer, provided early musical training. Alka’s education included attending Modern High School for Girls in Kolkata. At the tender age of six, she began singing for Akashvani (All India Radio), performing devotional songs. She moved to Mumbai at age 10, further developing her talent. Her zodiac sign is Pisces.

Physical Appearance

• Height: 5’4″
• Weight: 65 kg
• Eye Color: Black
• Hair Color: Dark Brown

Family, Caste & Husband

Alka hails from a Gujarati family. Her father’s name was Dharmendra Shankar. She is married to Neeraj Kapoor, a businessman from Shillong, since 1989. They have a daughter, Syesha Kapoor, who is an entrepreneur. Alka also has a brother, Samir Yagnik.

Career

Alka’s singing career began at six years old with Calcutta radio. Her Bollywood debut was in 1979, with a small part in the Rajeshwari song “Payal Ki Jhankar”. “Mere Angne Mein” followed, becoming a major hit. Her first solo track, “Hum Tum Rahenge,” was for Rajesh Roshan in Hamari Bahu Alka (1982). Her breakthrough came with “Ek Do Teen” from the movie Tezaab. Her versatility is evident in her work across numerous Indian languages including Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Avadhi, Odia, Assamese, Meitei, Rajasthani, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, English, and Malayalam.

She has collaborated with numerous renowned Indian composers. In a career spanning over three decades, she has sung alongside iconic singers like Udit Narayan, Kumar Sanu, Sonu Nigam, and Shaan. She boasts an impressive discography of over 2,486 Hindi songs in 1,114 films. This places her among Bollywood’s most prolific singers.

Controversies

The 1993 song “Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai” from the film “Khalnayak,” while hugely popular, sparked controversy due to its suggestive lyrics. It faced criticism from 42 political parties and was even banned from Doordarshan and All India Radio.

A professional disagreement with Anuradha Paudwal, who reportedly dubbed some of Alka’s recordings, led to a public rift between the two singers.

Awards and Honours

Alka Yagnik’s exceptional talent has been recognized through numerous awards:

Favourites

• Food: Gujarati, Maharashtrian, Italian, and Chinese cuisines
• Actors: Salman Khan, Raj Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, and Aamir Khan
• Actresses: Aishwarya Rai, Raveena Tandon, Rekha, and Alia Bhatt
• Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Sadhna Sargam, Sonu Nigam, Kumar Sanu, and Shreya Ghoshal
• TV Shows: Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champs (Zee TV), Indian Idol (Sony TV)
• Colors: Black, Yellow, Pink, and White

Facts

• Her first stage performance was at Kala Mandir in Kolkata.
• Many of her songs were recorded at Mehboob Studio.
• A large number of her recordings were found in Osama bin Laden’s compound.
• She shares the record for the most Filmfare Awards won by a playback singer with Asha Bhosle.
• “Taal Se Taal Mila” from “Taal” was voted the best song of the century (2002 poll).
• “Choli Ke Peeche” from “Khalnayak” was voted the hottest song of the century (Sanona poll).
• She has worked on projects focusing on the empowerment of girls.
• She has sung with her brother, Samir Yagnik.
• She has judged various Indian singing reality shows, including Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and Star Voice of India.
• “Chamma Chamma” was featured in “Hindi Sad Diamonds” from the “Moulin Rouge!” soundtrack.
• She experienced a #MeToo moment early in her career, but fortunately, her mother was present and intervened.
• Guinness World Records recognized her as the most-streamed singer for three consecutive years (2020-2022).
• In 2024, she publicly shared a diagnosis of a rare neural nerve sensory loss.

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