Top Bollywood Playback Singers Who Married Music Directors
Posted On: 20 Jun 2022 | Last Updated : 07 Nov 2022 | Views : 2.8k
Music has been an integral part of Bollywood movies since the end of silent-era films. During the earlier times, live orchestras were accompanied by silent films for the better entertainment of the viewers. However, with the arrival of sound in movies, the handlers of the orchestras and their other members transitioned into music directors or musicians. The music directors, musicians, and playback singers spend quite a lot of time in recording studios to ensure the best quality of music, in order to meet the exceeding expectations of the cine-goers, sometimes these recording studios become the budding ground for the best kind of love stories. Sometimes these love stories end as quickly as they started, while other times they lasted forever and transitioned into marriage. So, here we present to you the list of the top Bollywood singers who married music directors. For more such Bollywood updates, articles, topics, and trivia related to movies and celebrities, stay tuned.
1. Sudhir Phadke - Lalita Deulkar (Lalita Phadke)
Sudhir Phadke was an Indian singer and music composer, who was often referred to by his nickname ‘Babyji’, who was regarded as an icon in Marathi films. He composed the music for 111 films, 21 of which were Bollywood films. Some of the movies for which he composed music include Gokul (1946), Aage Badho (1947), Sita Swayamvar (1948), Aparadhi (1949), Veer Savarkar (2001), and many more. He was married to veteran singer Lalita Deulkar, who renamed herself after marriage as Lalitabai Phadke. She is best known for her song ‘O Rani… Rani Dheere Dheere Chalo’ from Valmiki (1946), starring Raj Kapoor, Shanti Apte and Prithviraj Kapoor. The couple’s son is Shridhar Phadke, who is a music composer for Marathi films, just like his father.
2. Khayyam - Jagjit Kaur
Born as Mohammed Zahur Khayyam, known as Khayyam, was an Indian music director and background score composer, whose career spanned over four decades in Bollywood. He has directed music for movies like Heer Ranjha (1948), Aakhri Khat (1966), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Umrao Jaan (1981), Razia Sultan (1983), Bepanah (1985) and many more. In 1954, he married his fellow singer Jagjit Kaur, and theirs was one of the first inter-communal marriages in Bollywood. Jagjit Kaur has sung some famous songs like ‘Ladi Re Ladi Tujhse Aankh Jo Ladi’ from Shola aur Shabnam (1961), ‘Saada Chidiya Da Chamba Ve’ from Kabhi Kabhie (1976), ‘Kaahe Ko Byahi Bides’ from Umrao Jaan (1981), etc. Their son Pradeep died due to heart attack which inspired the couple to start a trust, ‘Khayyam - Jagjit Kaur Charitable Trust’.
3. R.D. Burman - Asha Bhosle
Known for her versatility, Asha Bhosle, is described as one of the most influential singers of Bollywood who has inspired many throughout her singing career spanning over eight decades. She has recorded over 10,000 songs in her entire career, some of which include ‘Leke Pehla Pehla Pyaar’ from C.I.D. (1956), ‘Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka’ from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), ‘Dum Maro Dum’ from Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), and many more. Recipient of several accolades, she married music director, R. D. Burman in 1980, and together the two recorded many songs and staged many live performances. R. D. Burman has directed music for many movies including Teesri Manzil (1966), Kati Patang (1970), Khubsoorat (1980), Masoom (1983), etc. Their marriage was childless and towards the end of their life, the two didn’t live together.
4. Jagjit Singh - Chitra Singh
The Indian Ghazal singer Chitra Singh is best remembered for her work in Mirza Ghalib (1988). She and her husband Jagjit Singh are credited for the revival of ghazal and popularizing Indian classical music in Bollywood. Born as Jagmohan Singh Dhiman, popularly known by his stage name Jagjit Singh, was a famous music composer and ghazal singer, who is known for his works in the movies like Saath Saath (1982), Arth (1982), Sarfarosh (1999), and many more. The contribution of the duo was helpful in revolutionizing Bollywood music. In 1990, their son Vivek died in a road accident, which came as a profound shock to the couple. It affected them so much that they gave up music for a year. Jagjit Singh eventually returned to the industry, but Chitra announced her retirement, and declared she would never record any more songs.
5. Vishal Bhardwaj - Rekha Bhardwaj
Bollywood playback singer and live performer, Rekha Bhardwaj who has sung in Bengali, Marathi, Punjabi and Malayalam in addition to Hindi language. Her career spans for over two decades in Bollywood, and she is best noted for her works in movies like Omkara (2006), Kaminey (2009), 7 Khoon Maaf (2011), Angrezi Medium (2020), and many more. This female playback singer is married to noted Bollywood music composer, film director, screenwriter, producer and playback singer, Vishal Bhardwaj, who is a recipient of several accolades including seven National Film Awards. He has composed music for movies like Maachis (1996), Betaabi (1997), Satya (1998), etc.
6. Ram Sampath - Sona Mohapatra
Singer of ‘Mujhe Kya Bechega Rupaiya’ song, Sona Mohapatra came to mainstream prominence with this song, which she sang in the trend breaking talk show Satyamev Jayate. She is noted for singing hit songs like ‘Bedardi Raja’ from Delhi Belly (2011), ‘Ambarsariya’ from Fukrey (2013), ‘Naina’ from Khoobsurat (2014), etc. She made to the list of top Bollywood female singers who married music directors, by marrying music director Ram Sampath in 2005, who is also her frequent collaborator and business partner in their music production house OmGrown Music. Ram Sampath has directed music for films like Khakee (2004), Delhi Belly (2011), Fukrey (2013), Bhoothnath Returns (2014), Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016), Raees (2017), and many more.
7. Salil Chowdhury - Sabita Banerjee (Sabita Chowdhury)
Salil Chowdhury was an Indian song writer, music director, lyricist, and poet, who predominantly worked in Hindi, Bengali and Malayalam films. From an early age, he listened to the Western Classical collection of his father, which also influenced his music style. He is best noted for his works in movies like Do Bigha Zamin (1953), Madhumati (1958), Chhaya (1961), Anand (1971), Chhoti Si Baat (1976), and many more. This Bollywood music director married playback singer, Sabita Banerjee (Sabita Chowdhury), in a court marriage. She has sung songs in films like Masoom (1960), Kabuliwala (1961), Baaje Ghungroo (1962), etc. The couple had four children, including playback singer and music composer Antara Chowdhury.
8. Anil Biswas - Meena Kapoor
Meena Kapoor was an Indian playback singer, who was the daughter of stage and film actor Bikram Kapoor, is known for singing popular songs like Aana Meri Jaan Sunday Ke Sunday from Shehnai (1947), Kachhi Hai Umariya from Char Dil Char Rahen (1959), Kuch Aur Zamana Kehta Hai from Chhoti Chhoti Baatein (1965), etc. In 1959, she married Anil Biswas and became one of the Bollywood female singers who married music composers. Anil Biswas has composed music for movies like Alibaba (1940), Anokha Pyar (1948), Pardesi (1957), Chhoti Chhoti Baatein (1965) and many more, who later left Bollywood and became director of National Orchestra at All India Radio (AIR) in 1963.
9. Arun Paudwal - Anuradha Paudwal
The well-known Bollywood playback singer and occasional bhajan singer, Anuradha Paudwal, who was one of the most prominent Bollywood singers of 80s and 90s married music composer Arun Paudwal. Some of the superhit songs of Anuradha’s career include Nazar Ke Saamne from Aashiqui (1990), Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin from Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1991), Dhak Dhak Karne Laga from Beta (1992), and many more. Arun Paudwal worked with music director S. D. Burman for some time and is credited as the most versatile musician of his time. He composed music for the movies like Aaj Ka Yeh Ghar (1976), Atmavishwas (1989), Meera Ka Mohan (1992), etc.
10. Roopkumar Rathod - Sunali Rathod
Sunali Rathod is a trained classical singer who was married to the bhajan singer Anup Jalota, however, the two eventually separated and divorced. This playback singer is now married to Bollywood music director and playback singer Roop Kumar Rathod. Some famous songs sung by him include Sandese Aate Hai from Border (1997), Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai from Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008), and many more. He has also composed music for movies like Madhoshi (2004), Zaher (2005), Life Express (2010), etc.
11. Hitesh Sonik - Sunidhi Chauhan
Known for her versatility, Sunidhi Chauhan has been singing since the age of 5. She started recording songs at a very young age, but got her breakthrough with the song Mehboob Mere from Fiza (2000). Some of her superhit songs include Kaisi Paheli from Parineeta (2005), title song of Aaja Nachle (2007), Chance Pe Dance from Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008), etc. Recipient of several accolades, Sunidhi Chauhan is one of the most successful Bollywood singers who married music composer Hitesh Sonik on 24 April 2012, whom she had known since the days she won the reality show Meri Awaz Suno. Hitesh Sonik has composed background scores and music for movies like Gulaal (2009), Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011), Hawaa Hawaai (2014), Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018), Laila Majnu (2018), and many more.
12. Sachet Tandon - Parampara Thakur
Sachet-Parampara is a musical duo comprising of Sachet Tandon and Parampara Thakur, who are music composers, lyricists and singers known for their works in movies like Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017), Bhoomi (2017), Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se (2018), Batti Gul Meter Chalu (2018), Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas (2019), Kabir Singh (2019) and Tanhaji (2020). They were the finalists of Indian reality show The Voice India in 2015, and the following year the duo was formed. They started uploading their cover songs on social media, and eventually entered Bollywood. The two tied the knot on 27 November 2020.
13. Clinton Cerejo - Dominique Cerejo
Born in an academically-inclined family, the music composer and playback singer Clinton Cerejo had no musical background. During his graduation, he often had jam sessions with his friends and soon started his career in advertising jingles. Later, he got the chance to work with A. R. Rahman and composed many Coke Studio songs, including ‘Madari’ sung by Vishal Dadlani and Sonu Kakkar. He has composed music for movies like Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011), Kahaani (2012), Badla (2019), Section 375 (2019), Bob Biswas (2021), and many more. Clinton is married to his college friend and now an established singer, Dominique Cerejo. She started her career by lending her voice to advertisement jingles and later started her career in Bollywood. She has worked as a playback singer in many movies, including Wake Up Sid (2009), Billu (2009), Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai (2010), Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), and many more.
14. L. Subramaniam - Kavita Krishnamurthy
Another renowned musical couple in Bollywood is L. Subramaniam and female playback singer Kavita Krishnamurthy. Musician and percussionist L. Subramaniam is a well-known violinist and composer who is trained in Carnatic and Western classical music. He has composed film scores for movies like Salaam Bombay (1988), Mississippi Masala (1991), Kama Sutra (1996), Gour Hari Dastaan: The Freedom File (2015), etc. His wife Kavita Krishnamurthy has recorded over 50,000 songs in more than 40 languages of which some of her award-winning songs have been ‘Pyaar Hua Chupke Se’ (1942: A Love Story), ‘Mera Piya Ghar Aaya’ (Yaraana), ‘Aaj Main Upar’ (Khamoshi: The Musical) and ‘Dola Re Dola’ (Devdas), etc. L. Subramaniam was earlier married to Viji Subramaniam who died in 1995 and thereafter married Kavita in 1999.
15. Mithoon Sharma - Palak Muchhal
Popular Bollywood composer, singer, and lyricist Mithoon Sharma is married to playback singer Palak Muchhal. The couple tied the knot on 06 November 2022 in Mumbai after dating each other for some time. Mithoon’s father Naresh Kumar is a popular music arranger while his uncle is the legendary Pyarelal Sharma (duo musician of Laxmikant - Pyarelal). He began his career by composing songs for Woh Lamhe, Zeher, and Kalyug which were followed by films like The Train, Aggar, Aashiqui 2, Ek Villain, Sanam Re, Half Girlfriend, Kabir Singh, etc. Palak Muchhal started her singing career in 2011 with the movie Damadamm! shot to fame by singing ‘Meri Aashiqui’ and ‘Chaahun Main Ya Naa’ from Aashiqui 2, and ‘Jumme Ki Raat’ from Kick, which was followed by movies like Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Khamoshiyan, M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, Shershaah, etc. She is the elder sister of music director Palash Muchhal.
