Anup Jalota, a renowned Indian musician and devotional singer, is celebrated for his captivating Hindu bhajans and Urdu ghazals. This comprehensive biography delves into his life, career, and personal journey.
Biography/Wiki
Born Anoop Jalota on July 29, 1953 (70 years old as of 2023), in Nainital, Uttarakhand, India, Anup Jalota earned the moniker “Bhajan Samrat” (Emperor of Bhajans) due to his immense popularity singing devotional songs. His classical music training stemmed from his father, Purshottam Das Jalota, and the Bhatkhande Vidyalaya in Lucknow. Interestingly, he was also a skilled batsman during his college years. His career began singing in shows for the legendary Kishore Kumar, earning him the title “Junior Kishore.” He then worked his way up to a chorus singer position at All India Radio, before eventually gaining widespread recognition for his soulful bhajans.
Physical Appearance
Anup Jalota stands at 5’4″ and weighs approximately 80 kilograms. His physique is described as having a 44″ chest, 38″ waist, and 13″ biceps, with black eyes and hair.
Family, Wife & Girlfriend
Hailing from a musical Punjabi-Khatri family in Nainital, with roots in Phagwara, Punjab, Anup’s father, Purshottam Das Jalota, was a renowned classical and devotional singer. He has two brothers, Anil and Promod Jalota, and two sisters, Anjali Dhir and Anita Mehra. One brother, Ajay Jalota, currently resides in California.
Anup Jalota’s marital history is complex. He married Sunali Rathod, a student at the time who later became a successful singer. This marriage ended in divorce, with Sunali later marrying Roopkumar Rathod. His second marriage to Bina Bhatia also ended in divorce. His third wife, Medha Gujral (later Medha Jalota), the niece of former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, passed away in 2004 from liver failure. They had a son, Aryaman Jalota, born in 1996. Since 2016, he has been in a relationship with his student and singer, Jasleen Matharu.
Career
After relocating to Lucknow for his education, Anup’s musical journey started with performances alongside Kishore Kumar. Following a period of struggle in Mumbai, he secured a position as a chorus singer at All India Radio for a modest salary of ?350. His breakthrough came when Manoj Kumar featured him in four songs for the film *Shirdi Ke Sai Baba*. He has collaborated with numerous renowned musicians, including Zakir Hussain, Lata Mangeshkar, and Pankaj Udhas, among many others.
Beyond singing, Anup Jalota has also produced two Hindi films, *Hum Deewane Pyar Ke* (2001) and *Nishaan: The Target* (2005), and numerous devotional, pop, ghazal, and classical vocal albums. He has given over 5000 live concerts globally and even played Satya Sai Baba in a film (although unreleased). He presented the television program *Dharam Aur Hum* (2002-2005) and is the director of Prabhatam Fly Divine, an airline in Madhya Pradesh. He also privately taught music students.
Awards
Anup Jalota’s contributions to music have been widely recognized. His accolades include:
- Bhajan Samrat (Shankaracharya Peeth)
- Manav Ratna Award (Global Sai Foundation)
- Citizen Council Award (Gujarat Government)
- Gandharva Gaan Mani Award (Kanchi Shankaracharya Math)
- Sangeet Natak Academy Award (Uttar Pradesh Government)
- British Parliament’s Annual Globe Award (2010)
- Padma Shri Award (2012)
- Rasheshwar Award (Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai)
- Guinness Book of World Records entry for most platinum discs
Salary
Anup Jalota’s reported fee for a single performance is ?7-8 Lakhs.
Controversy
In 2010, Israeli actress Rina Golan’s book, *Dear Mister Bollywood*, included an allegation of casting couch against Anup Jalota.
Favourite Things
| Category | Preference |
|---|---|
| Cuisine | Chinese, Mexican, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polynesian |
| Actors | Shatrughan Sinha, Aamir Khan |
| Actress | Shabana Azmi |
| Music | Kishore Kumar, Pankaj Udhas, Jagjit Singh, R.D. Burman, Madan Mohan |
| Sport | Cricket |
| Restaurant | The Zodiac Grill, Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai |
| Holiday Destinations | Kashmir, Dharamsala, Sikkim, Shimla, Nainital |
| Athletes | Purav Raja (Tennis), Roman Reigns (Wrestling) |
Facts
- Does not smoke
- Drinks alcohol
- Was a skilled batsman in college
- Hobbies include travelling, reading, writing, and singing
- Has sung and recorded over 2000 bhajans, geets, and ghazals
- Published numerous blogs on his website
- Owns an Audi A6
- Has sung in 9 different languages
- Earned over 100 Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum Discs (as of 2018)
- Address: Mohan Nivas, 56, Keluskar Road, Shivaji Park, Mumbai – 400 028, India
