Udit Narayan (born 1 December 1955) is an Indian playback singer whose voice became the sound of Bollywood romance in the 1990s and early 2000s. After years of struggle, he shot to fame with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak in 1988. He went on to sing for stars including Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan. He has won four National Film Awards and both the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Udit Narayan Jha |
| Born | 1 December 1955, Baisi, Supaul district, Bihar, India |
| Age | 70 |
| Profession | Playback singer |
| Debut | Unees-Bees (1980) |
| Spouse | Deepa Narayan |
| Son | Aditya Narayan (singer and host) |
| Honours | Padma Shri (2009), Padma Bhushan (2016), 4 National Film Awards |
Early Life
Udit Narayan was born in Bihar to a Nepali father and an Indian mother, and he grew up in a farming family. He began his career singing Maithili and Nepali folk songs on Radio Nepal before moving to Mumbai. There he studied classical music on a scholarship at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
Career
Udit made his Hindi film debut in 1980 with Unees-Bees, singing a duet with his idol, Mohammed Rafi. But success did not come quickly, and he spent most of the 1980s singing small songs.
His breakthrough came in 1988 with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, starring a young Aamir Khan. Songs such as “Papa Kehte Hain” became huge hits and won him his first Filmfare Award. Through the 1990s he and Alka Yagnik formed one of the most successful duet pairings in Hindi cinema, recording hits for Dil, Raja Hindustani, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Mohabbatein.
Udit won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer four times, including for songs in Lagaan, Dil Chahta Hai and Swades. He has also won five Filmfare Awards across three decades. He has sung in many languages, including Hindi, Nepali, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu and Bhojpuri.
Personal Life
Udit is married to Deepa Narayan, also a singer. Their son, Aditya Narayan, is a singer and a popular television host.
Awards and Honours
Popular Songs
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Udit Narayan born?
Udit Narayan was born on 1 December 1955 in Baisi, Supaul district, Bihar, India.
What honours has Udit Narayan received?
Padma Shri (2009), Padma Bhushan (2016), 4 National Film Awards.
