Ila Arun (born 1954) is an Indian singer, actress and theatre artist known for her deep, husky voice and for bringing the folk music of Rajasthan into Hindi film songs and pop albums. Her best-known film songs include “Choli Ke Peeche” from Khalnayak (1993), which won her a Filmfare Award, and “Ringa Ringa” from Slumdog Millionaire (2008). She is also a respected character actress on stage and screen.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Ila Arun |
| Born | 1954, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India |
| Raised in | Jaipur |
| Occupation | Singer, actress, theatre artist |
| Education | Maharani’s College, Jaipur |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Spouse | Arun Bajpai |
| Children | 1 (Ishita Arun) |
| Known for | “Choli Ke Peeche”, “Morni Baga Ma”, “Ringa Ringa”, Vote for Ghagra |
Early Life
Ila Arun grew up in a large family in Jaipur, where she absorbed the songs of Rajasthan’s Langa and Manganiyar folk musicians. She was active in college theatre, trained for a time at the National School of Drama and worked in television, including the health serial Lifeline (Jeevan Rekha).
Career
In the 1980s and 1990s she released a series of Rajasthani folk and pop albums, among them Vote for Ghagra, Banjaran and Haule Haule, whose music videos made her a familiar face on television.
Her duet with Alka Yagnik, “Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai”, composed by Laxmikant–Pyarelal for Khalnayak and picturised on Madhuri Dixit, was a sensation and a subject of controversy for its lyrics. Both singers shared the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer. She sang “Morni Baga Ma” in Lamhe (1991) with Lata Mangeshkar, “Gup Chup” in Karan Arjun (1995), and for A. R. Rahman “Muthu Muthu Mazhai” in Tamil and “Ringa Ringa” in Slumdog Millionaire.
She has acted in many films by Shyam Benegal, including Mandi (1983), Trikal, Welcome to Sajjanpur (2008) and Well Done Abba (2010), as well as in China Gate, Jodhaa Akbar, Begum Jaan and Thugs of Hindostan.
With the director K. K. Raina she runs the theatre group Surnai in Mumbai, for which she has adapted plays by Ibsen into Indian settings and written her own. Her memoir, Parde Ke Peechhey, was published in 2024.
Personal Life
She is married to Arun Bajpai, a former merchant navy officer. Their daughter, Ishita Arun, is an actress and singer.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Ila Arun born?
Ila Arun was born in 1954, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
What is Ila Arun known for?
Known for: “Choli Ke Peeche”, “Morni Baga Ma”, “Ringa Ringa”, Vote for Ghagra.
Featured image: Ila Arun at the Jaipur Literature Festival, 2025. Photo by Sriya Sarkar, licensed under CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
