Rekha Bhardwaj (born 24 January 1964) is an Indian playback singer and live performer known for her husky, earthy voice and her Sufi and folk-flavoured songs. After many years of little work she became widely known in her forties with “Namak Ishq Ka” from Omkara (2006) and “Sasural Genda Phool” from Delhi-6 (2009). She has won two Filmfare Awards and a National Film Award. She is married to the composer and director Vishal Bhardwaj.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Rekha Bhardwaj |
| Born | 24 January 1964, Delhi, India |
| Age | 62 |
| Occupation | Playback singer |
| Education | Hindu College, University of Delhi (music) |
| Teacher | Pandit Amarnath |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Spouse | Vishal Bhardwaj (m. 1991) |
| Children | 1 (Aasmaan) |
| Honour | National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2011) |
Early Life
Rekha grew up in Delhi in a family where music was loved; her father, though not a professional, sang and insisted his daughters learn. She began training at about twelve and studied Hindustani classical music with Pandit Amarnath. At Hindu College, where she was a year senior to Vishal Bhardwaj, the two met at the college music society.
Career
She moved to Mumbai with her husband in the early 1990s. Her first film song was in Chachi 420 (1997), and she sang occasionally for Vishal’s films. Her solo album Ishqa Ishqa (2002), with lyrics by Gulzar, won admirers but she remained little known.
“Namak Ishq Ka”, picturised on Bipasha Basu in Omkara, changed that. “Sasural Genda Phool”, A. R. Rahman‘s reworking of a Chhattisgarhi folk song, won her the Filmfare Award. She won it again for “Darling” in 7 Khoon Maaf (2011), shared with Usha Uthup, and the National Film Award for “Badi Dheere Jali” from Ishqiya (2010). Other popular songs include “Kabira” (Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani), “Phir Le Aya Dil” (Barfi!), “Ghagra”, “Hamari Atariya Pe” (Dedh Ishqiya) and “Mileya Mileya”.
She is a regular at Sufi and folk music festivals and on Coke Studio and MTV Unplugged.
Personal Life
She and Vishal Bhardwaj married in 1991. Their son, Aasmaan Bhardwaj, is a film director. She follows the teachings of the spiritual teacher Osho.
Awards and Honours
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Rekha Bhardwaj born?
Rekha Bhardwaj was born on 24 January 1964 in Delhi, India and is 62 years old.
What is Rekha Bhardwaj’s occupation?
Occupation: Playback singer.
Featured image: Rekha Bhardwaj performs at a concert in Bengaluru, February 2014. Photo by Bodhisattva Dasgupta, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
