Alka Yagnik Biography, Awards, Age, Net Worth, Songs, Husband

Know more facts about Alka Yagnik’s Age, Family, Biography, Relationships, and Career. Keep reading more to get interesting about Alka Yagnik

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Alka Yagnik’s Biography

Alka Yagnik is an Indian playback singer who primarily works in Hindi films. She has been described in the media as one of Bollywood's most prominent and successful playback singers.

Over the course of her four-decade career she has recorded over 8000 songs for films and albums in various Indian languages and has received numerous awards including two National Film Awards two Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards and a record seven Filmfare Awards for Best Female Playback Singer from a total of thirty-six nominations.

Yagnik is one of Bollywood's most prolific female playback singers having sung a considerable number of female solos. Over the course of her four-decade career she has sung songs for over a thousand films and recorded over 20 000 songs in various Indian languages. Twenty of her songs are included in the BBC's list of the best forty Bollywood soundtracks of all time.

As of February 2022 she is placed first on YouTube's Music Charts & Insights list of top global artists. She has been on the charts for 283 weeks and has received 300 million views.

Alka Yagnik’s Age

Alka Yagnik was born on March 20 1966 in Kolkata India to a Gujarati family. Her age is 56 years old as of 2022. Her zodiac sign is Pisces.

Alka Yagnik's Childhood

Her mother brought her to Mumbai as a child vocalist when she was 10 years old. Her mother was urged to wait until her voice matured but she was adamant. Yagnik received a letter of introduction to Raj Kapoor from his Kolkata distributor on a future visit. After hearing about the girl Kapoor sent her a letter to famed music director Laxmikant.

Laxmikant impressed offered her two options: an immediate start as a dubbing artist or a later break as a singer; Shubha selected the latter for her daughter. Yagnik stated that she was a bright student who disliked studying.

Alka Yagnik's Education

Alka Yagnik attended Modern High School for Girls in Kolkata. Alka on the other hand was a bright student who disliked studying.

Alka Yagnik's Family

Dharmendra Shankar is her father's name. Shubha her mother was an Indian classical music performer. At the age of six she began singing for Akashvani (All India Radio) in Calcutta. In 1989 Yagnik married Shillong businessman Neeraj Kapoor with whom she has a daughter named Syesha.

Alka Yagnik's Husband

The singer had met her love in an unexpected place. Alka Yagnik and her mother traveled to New Delhi by train in 1986 and Neeraj Kapoor met them at the station early in the morning. Neeraj was the nephew of Alka's mother's acquaintance. This was the first time Alka Yagnik and Neeraj Kapoor saw one other.

This meeting resulted in the start of a wonderful friendship and Alka and Neeraj remained in close contact following the trip. Furthermore Neeraj visited Alka's home whenever he was in Mumbai on business. Their friendship became stronger over time and after six months the pair realized they had fallen in love.

The pair had been dating for two years and had planned to marry for life. In the year 1988 Alka Yagnik and Neeraj Kapoor decided to tell their family about their relationship. However when the pair decided to marry their family expressed their great misgivings about their decision. One issue was that they were from different professions and the other was the physical distance between them.

Even after being separated for more than two decades Alka Yagnik and Neeraj Kapoor overcame all challenges that stood in their path. Not only that but they both unconditionally respected and supported one other's dreams. Even after 25 years Alka and Neeraj are still blissfully married and have no regrets about their marriage.

As stated by Iforher Alka had mentioned Our marriage may be summed up in the U2 song 'Can't live with or without you'. It's been a difficult marriage to maintain. But we couldn’t let go of each other.

Alka Yagnik Career

At the age of six a classically trained Yagnik began singing bhajans for Akashvani (All India Radio) in Calcutta. Her debut song was written for the film Payal Ki Jhankaar in 2007. (1980). This was followed by the film Hamari Bahu Alka (1981) which featured the song Mere Angane Mein (1982). Her big break came with the song Ek Do Teen from the film Tezaab (1988).

She stated that the day she recorded Ek Do Teen she had a severe fever. She got the first of seven Filmfare Awards for Best Female Playback Singer for the song. She has performed in almost twenty-five languages in addition to 15 Pakistani tunes.

Top 10 songs of Alka Yagnik

Ek Do Teen – Tezaab

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The song launched Madhuri Dixit to stardom and remains one of Alka's biggest successes. Tera karoon din gin gin ke intezaar aaja piya aayee bahaar written by Javed Akhtar was composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Saroj Khan's choreography set new standards and the song was popular at the time.

Mere Angane Mein – Laawaris

Though the male version of this song was sung and filmed on Amitabh Bachchan the female rendition by 15-year-old Alka was also praised. It was based on Raakhee and Amjad Khan and included music by Kalyanji-Anandji with Anjaan writing Mere angane mein tumhara kya kaam hai jo hai naam waala wohi toh badnaam hai.

Gazab Ka Hai Yeh Din – Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak

The film was a turning point in Alka's career since she collaborated on some lovely duets with the new Udit Narayan. Anand-Milind composed this one which features Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla in the woods. Tum ho akele hum bhi akele mazaa aa raha hai kasam se penned veteran lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri.

Tu Shayar Hai – Saajan

Another highly popular number this was likewise shot on Madhuri Dixit with Sanjay Dutt in the background. Nadeem-popularity Shravan's had risen by this point and Alka performed admirably. Tu shayar hai main teri shayari tu aashiq hai main teri aashiqui tujhe milne ko dil karta hai o mere saajna Sameer wrote.

Ghunghat Ki Aad Se – Hum Hai Raahi Pyar Ke

Alka has performed some incredible duets with Kumar Sanu including this one with Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla in a touristic destination. Dilbar ki aad se dilbar ka deedaar adhura rehta hai jab tak na pade aashiq ki nazar singaar adhura rehta hai Nadeem-Shravan penned.

Baazigar O Baazigar – Baazigar

O mera dil tha akela tu ne khel aisa khela teri yaad mein jaagoon raat bhar baazigar o baazigar tu hai bada jaadugar penned Arzoo Lucknawi. Anu Malik composed the music which included Sanu and Alka as well as appearances by Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan.

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai – Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

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This song describes a three-way relationship that starred Shah Rukh Khan Kajol and Rani Mukherji. Tum paas aaye yun muskuraye tumne na jaane kya sapne dikhaye ab toh mera dil jaage na sota hai kya karoon haaye kuch kuch hota hai Alka and Udit sung. Jatin-Lalit composed the music.

Taal Se Taal Mila – Taal

Another Alka favorite with Udit joining in on the duet nicely. The song was composed by A.R. Rahman who was at the top of his career at the time and was sung by Aishwarya Rai and Akshaye Khanna. The lyrics were written by Anand Bakshi a regular partner with filmmaker Subhash Ghai with the lines Aaja sanwariya aa aa aa aa taal se taal mila being a singalong favorite.

Is Deewane Ladke Ko – Sarfarosh

Alka's lighthearted love song for Sonali Bendre had Aamir Khan speaking dialogues in the midst. Is deewane ladke koi samjhaye pyar mohabbat se na jaane kyun yeh ghabraaye dard-e-dil jaane na paas main jitna aaoon utni door yeh jaaye jaaye haan jaaye Sameer continued.

Panchchi Nadiya Pawan Ke Jhonkhe – Refugee

Anu Malik composed some wonderful songs for Abhishek Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor's debut film. Panchchi nadiya pawan ke jhonkhe koi sarhad na inhe roke; Sarhad insanon ke liye hain socho tumne aur maine kya paaya insaan hoke Javed Akhtar penned on this song. Sonu Nigam joined Alka in this lovely duet.

Alka Yagnik Best Songs From Each Year

Alka Yagnik's Controversies

Anuradha Paudwal controversy

Alka Yagnik accused Anuradha Paudwal of dubbing her songs without her permission. Alka Yagnik slammed Paudwal in the July 1997 issue of Filmfare. The report begins by describing how Anuradha Paudwal dubbed Alka Yagnik's Itihaas songs Dil Ki Kalam Se Ye Ishq Bada Bedardi Hai and O Ramji.

In response Filmfare quotes Alka Yagnik as stating What a jerk! Why does Anuradha keep doing this to me over and over? When she dubbed my songs in Dil she had an excuse ready: her voice suited Madhuri Dixit better than mine. So what's her excuse now? Is she going to suggest that her voice suited Twinkle Khanna as well?

Alka Yagnik also revealed that she was contacted by producers to dub Anuradha's songs that they didn't like but she flatly refused. She went on to say that she told them to have it re-dubbed by Paudwal herself.

The magazine states that it attempted to contact Anuradha Paudwal for three days without effect. It then contacted Itihaas' producer-director who stated that the film's soundtrack rights had previously been with Amitabh Bachchan's business.

However due to a lack of funds Alka Yagnik was unable to market the music. The music was then given to Gulshan Kumar who quickly promoted it. However he also made certain that at least one of his vocalists dubbed the song.

Alka Yagnik's Networth

Alka's net worth is reported to be in the range of INR 30 crores.

Alka Yagnik's Awards

• Yagnik has received numerous awards including two National Film Award nominations for Best Female Playback Singer for her songs Ghoongat Ki Aad Se from Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993) and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998).
•  Alka Yagnik has won a record seven Filmfare Awards for Best Female Playback Singer for her songs: Ek Do Teen from Tezaab (1988) Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai from Khalnayak (1993) Zara Tasveer Se Tu from Pardes (1998) Taal Se Taal from Taal (2000) Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Hai Dil Se from Dhadkan (2001) O Re Chhori from Lagaan (2002) and Hum Tum from Hum Tum (2005) from a record thirty-six nominations. 
• Alka Yagnik has also received two Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards.
• Yagnik was awarded the Lata Mangeshkar Award in 2017 for her contributions to music

9 Interesting facts about Alka Yagnik

• She has collaborated with numerous well-known and renowned music composers including Kalyanji-Anandji Rahul Dev Burman Laxmikant-Pyarelal Rajesh Roshan Nadeem-Shravan Jatin-Lalit Anu Malik A. R. Rahman Anand-Milind Himesh Reshammiya Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and others.
• According to claims hundreds of her song recordings were discovered at Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad.
• She shares the record for the most Filmfare Awards (seven) as a playback singer with Asha Bhosle.
• On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Hindi cinema her song Taal Se Taal Mila from the film Taal was named the finest song of the century in a survey done by DesiMartini Hindustan Times and Fever 104 in 2012.
• She has also been active in a number of projects aimed at empowering girls.
• Alka made her stage debut at the Kala Mandir in Kolkata.
• The majority of Alka's tracks were recorded at the Mehboob Studio.
• So far she has performed 2 486 Hindi songs in 1 114 films. She is regarded as the fifth most successful Bollywood singer.
• For the song Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai Alka Yagnik and Ila Arun shared the Filmfare Award for Best Playback Female Singer. It was the first time the two playback singers shared a Filmfare Award.

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