12 Bollywood Playback Singers Who Tried Their Luck In Acting
Posted On: 28 Mar 2022 | Last Updated : 19 Oct 2022 | Views : 1.2k
A person described using multi hyphens surely is praised by everyone for their mastery in different areas. Among these multi-hyphenated people, actor-singers are our favourite ones. The auto-tune software has made it possible for any actor to sing songs in their respective movies. However, the singers-turned-actors are those who leave their audience in awe with their multiple talents. There have been many actors who have gained popularity over time and some gained recognition only after their appearance on the silver screen. These are the people who have only trailed in acting, appeared only in one or two movies, but primarily focused on their singing careers. While singers-turned-actors have become a common concept in Hollywood, Bollywood sees this once in a while. Here, we present some of our favourite Bollywood singers who tried their luck in acting. Check out similar such Bollywood updates, articles, topics, and trivia related to movies and celebrities.
1. G.M. Durrani
Ghulam Mustafa Durrani, better known as G. M. Durrani, was one among the first playback singers of Bollywood. He started his career as a radio drama artist, and then became a full-time singer on Lahore Radio Station. In the late 1930s, he moved to Mumbai and started working as a radio singer. Soon after, the concept of playback singing started and he got a chance to lend his voice. He has sung songs for movies like Vikramaditya (1945), Samrat Chandragupta (1945), Bhai Jaan (1945), Heer Ranjha (1948), Bazaar (1949), Beqasoor (1950), Madhubala (1950), Hanste Raho (1950), Anand Bhawan (1953), Ramayan (1954), Sheikh Chill (1956), and many more. He even tried his luck in acting, and appeared in movies like Yaad (1942), Hum Log (1951), Aasman (1952), Shree Krishna Bhakti (1955), Teesra Kaun (1965), Lal Patthar (1971), etc.
2. Talat Mahmood
Born in Lucknow, the city of musicians and poets, Talat Mahmood started to learn music at a very young age and enjoyed sitting in all-night music concerts. He started his singing career in late 1930s and began singing Ghazals on All India Radio. His distinct voice made him a popular singer, and soon he began his career as a playback singer in Bollywood. His big break came with the song ‘Ae Dil Mujhe Aisi Jagah Le Chal Jahan Koi Na Ho’ from the 1950 movie Arzoo, which was followed by ‘Ae Mere Dil Kahin Aur Chal’ from Daag and several hit songs. Talat Mahmood then showed interest in acting, and acted alongside actresses like Nutan, Mala Sinha, Suraiya and others in dozens of movies including Raj Lakshmi (1945), Tum Aur Main (1947), Thokar (1953), Dil-e-Nadaan (1953), Ek Gaon Ki Kahani (1957), Lala Rukh (1958), and many more.
3. Shailendra Singh
The Bollywood playback singer Shailendra Singh garnered immense popularity when Raj Kapoor gave him his first break in Bobby (1973). Till date, he is remembered for the hit song ‘Main Shaayar Toh Nahin’ from Bobby. He went to sing songs for movies like Zehreela Insaan (1974), Khel Khel Mein (1975), Aap Ki Khatir (1977), Khatta Meetha (1978), Suhaag (1979), Naseeb (1981), Shola Aur Shabnam (1992), etc. In addition to his singing career, he acted in movies like Do Jasoos (1975), Ginny Aur Johnny (1976), Naukar (1979) and Agreement (1980). However, the acting career didn’t go well for him, so he focused back to singing.
4. Sonu Nigam
One of the most popular and successful playback singers of Bollywood, Sonu Nigam was born in the family of singers. He started singing at the age of 4 and often joined his father, Agam Kumar Nigam on the stage to sing along with him. Trained in classical music, Sonu Nigam started his career as a playback singer at the age of 19. His first ever song was ‘O Aasman Wale’ from the movie Aaja Meri Jaan (1993). Soon after, he released his album ‘Rafi Ki Yaadein’ in the same year. He then sang for several films, including – Aag (1994), Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996), Dil Se (1998), Dulhe Raja (1998), Soldier (1998), Taal (1999), etc. Though many don’t know that he started acting career as a child artist in movies like Kaamchor (1982) and Betaab (1983) and later in 2002 made his adult screen debut with Rajkumar Kohli’s supernatural film Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani, which was followed by his appearance in movies like Kash Aap Hamare Hote (2003), Love in Nepal (2004), and Spotless (2019). He didn’t get much success in acting; thus, he shifted his focus back to singing and went on to sing songs for super hit films like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham… (2001), Saathiya (2002), Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), Main Hoon Na (2004), Veer Zaara (2004), Agneepath (2012), PK (2014) and many more.
5. Baba Sehgal
Harjeet Singh ‘Baba’ Sehgal is an Indian singer and actor. Involved in various areas of entertainment, Baba Sehgal gained immense popularity for being the first Indian rapper. In the 1990s, he released his Indipop which was frequently airplay on MTV India. He went on to release numerous song albums like – ‘Baba Bachao Na’ (1993); ‘Miss 420’ (1994); ‘Loomba Loomba’ (1996); ‘America Mein Indian Dhaba’ (1997); etc, and continued to garner the fame until early 2000s. He has sung songs for movies like Hum Hain Bemisaal (1994), Miss 420 (1998) and 13B (2009). In 1998, Baba Sehgal made his acting debut with the romantic thriller Miss 420, alongside Sheeba Akashdeep. It was followed by his appearance in movies like Double Gadbad (1999), My Friend Ganesha 3 (2010), Bank Chor (2017), etc.
6. Himesh Reshammiya
The Indian playback singer, music director, songwriter, music producer and actor, Himesh Reshammiya started his career by producing TV serials and also used to compose the title tracks of the TV shows. It was actor Salman Khan who discovered Himesh Reshammiya and offered him to compose music for his film Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998). Started as a music composer in Bollywood, Himesh soon became a well-known playback singer and music director after the success of the movie – Aashiq Banaya Aapne (2005). He is known for his works in movies like Aksar (2006), Phir Hera Pheri (2006), Namastey London (2007), Bol Bachchan (2012), Khiladi 786 (2012), Sanam Teri Kasam (2016). After becoming a successful singer and music director, Reshammiya worked on his body and prepared himself as an actor. He made his screen debut with the 2007 film Aap Kaa Surroor, alongside newcomer Hansika Motwani. He has also acted in other movies like Karzzzz (2008), Radio (2009), Damadamm! (2011), The Xposé (2014), Teraa Surroor (2016) etc. Even though none of his movies did well at the box office, the music of all his movies became super hits.
7. Mika Singh
Born as Amrik Singh, Mika Singh followed the steps of his elder brother Daler Mehndi, the sensational Indian singer, and became a prominent Indian singer and performer. He has a huge catalogue of songs and released several music albums before becoming a part of Bollywood. His first Bollywood song ‘Dil Mein Baji Guitar’ from Apna Sapna Money Money (2006) was a big hit, which instantly made him an important Bollywood playback singer. He went on to record songs for movies like Jab We Met (2007), Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! (2008), Dil Bole Hadippa! (2009), Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai (2010), Mausam (2011), Bodyguard (2011), Khiladi 786 (2012), Bhoothnath Returns (2014), Simmba (2018), Luka Chuppi (2019) and many more. After becoming a sensational singer, Mika tried his luck in acting and appeared in few Punjabi movies, followed by his appearance in Bollywood films, like - Loot (2011) and Balwinder Singh Famous Ho Gaya (2014).
8. Shaan
Shantanu Mukherjee, better known as Shaan, is a multi-lingual Indian singer, who has been the host and judge of several singing reality shows. Shaan began his career by singing jingles for advertisements. After taking a break from advertisement jingles, Shaan entered in pop with his sister singer Sagarika. The two became everyone’s favourite in no time and enjoyed the limelight for quite some time. In 1999, he entered Bollywood and recorded two songs for the film Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi, and both the songs – ‘Musu Musu Hai’ and ‘Woh Pehli Baar’ became hit songs, and further gained him popularity. He is one of the Indian singers who tried their luck in acting and acted in the movies Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence (2001) and Balwinder Singh Famous Ho Gaya (2014). However, he didn’t get much success in his acting career, thus he shifted his focus back to singing. He has recorded songs for numerous films like Raju Chacha (2000), Asoka (2001), Saathiya (2002), Andaaz (2003), Koi… Mil Gaya (2003), Masti (2004), Dus (2005), Heyy Babyy (2007), Partner (2007), Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi (2008), Paa (2009), Bodyguard (2011), Jai Ho (2014), and many more.
9. Aditya Narayan
Son of legendary singer Udit Narayan, Aditya Narayan started his singing career at a young age of 5, and his first recorded song was for the Nepali movie Mohani (1992). In 1995, he recorded songs for Rangeela (1995) with singer Asha Bhosle, and later for the film Akele Hum Akele Tum (1995) with his father Udit Narayan. Along with his singing career, he started his acting career as a child, and appeared as a child artist in Pardes (1997) and Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai (1998). He continues to focus on his singing career and recorded songs for numerous films like Masoom (1996), Pardes (1997), Chachi 420 (1998), Taal (1999), Biwi No. 1 (1999), Chal Chalein (2009), Shaapit (2010), Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela (2013), Dil Bechara (2020), etc. He tried his luck in acting, and as an adult made his screen debut with the 2010 horror-thriller drama Shaapit, alongside Shweta Agarwal.
10. Abhijeet Sawant
Abhijeet Sawant started his singing career with the Indian singing reality TV show Indian Idol (season 1) in 2004. He won the show, which gave him immense fame and he became very popular among youth. He started to release his singles and albums. Soon after, he got his big break in Bollywood as a playback singer with the 2005 film Aashiq Banaya Aapne. He has also recorded songs for the movies like Jawani Diwani – A Youthful ride (2006), Tees Maar Khan (2010), Chittagong (2012), Ishq Wala Love (2014), Baji (2015), Dishoom (2016), etc. He made to the list of Hindi movie singers who tried their luck in acting and acted in the 2009 romantic thriller Lottery, alongside Manisha Kelkar and Rucha Gujarati. He even appeared in a small role in the climax of Tees Maar Khan (2010).
11. Badshah
Born as Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia, better known as Badshah, is an Indian rapper and singer. He started his career as a rapper and released several singles on Youtube, including – ‘Saturday Saturday’ (2012), ‘Proper Patola’ (2013), ‘Chull’ (2014), ‘DJ Waley Babu’ (2015), ‘Lover Boy’ (2016), ‘Kareja’ (2018), ‘Buzz’ (2018), ‘Paagal’ (2019), ‘Genda Phool’ (2020), and many more. He got his first break in Bollywood in 2014, and recorded the song ‘Saturday Saturday’ for the film Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. He then recorded songs for several movies including Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), ABCD 2 (2015), Sultan (2016), Shivaay (2016), OK Jaanu (2017), Bhoomi (2017), Veere Di Wedding (2018), Saaho (2019), etc. He made his screen debut with a supporting role in the comedy drama Khandaani Shafakhana (2019), starring Sonakshi Sinha.
12. Honey Singh
Hirdesh Singh, or professionally known as Yo Yo Honey Singh, is an Indian music producer, composer, rapper and lyricist. He started his career as music producer and used to release his albums and singles on YouTube. He gained huge popularity after the release of his Punjabi album ‘International Villager’ (2011), and the track ‘Gabru’ from the album topped the Asian music charts. His debut song in Bollywood was in the 2011 comedy film Shakal Pe Mat Ja. Later, he recorded songs for several movies including Desi Boyz (2011), Cocktail (2012), Khiladi 786 (2012), Chennai Express (2013), Singham Returns (2014), Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018), Marjaavan (2019), etc. He started his acting career with the Punjabi film Mirza – The Untold Story (2012). In Bollywood, he made his screen debut with the 2014 romantic thriller The Xposé, directed by Anant Mahadevan, alongside Himesh Reshammiya and Zoya Afroz. However, with little success in his acting career, he re-shifted his focus to music.
