Arijit Singh / Instagram- arijitsingh

At a time when distinguishing one singer's voice from another proves to be a challenge, Arijit Singh's mellifluous vocals not only stand out, but rise above the noise. Whether he is attempting a heart-tugging 'Channa Mereya...' or a peppy 'Nashe Si Chadh Gayi...'-the singer takes to the mic like fish to water, making the song his own. 

Switch on the radio, and there will inevitably come a time when every channel you toggle to plays an Arijit song. The singer's name has become synonymous with soulful melodies and heartfelt renditions but every once in a while, he will also come out with an upbeat song that seems completely out of his ballpark, taking fans by surprise with his versatility.

His ability to adapt to various musical genres, from Sufi to EDM, while maintaining the essence of his classical training, has endeared him to millions worldwide. 

As he continues to evolve as an artist, Arijit's legacy is firmly established as one of the most influential voices in contemporary music. While everyone knows the voice, few know the story behind Arijit's rise to fame. From his humble beginnings to becoming a global sensation, his journey is a testament to talent, perseverance, and an unwavering passion for music.

Let's take a look at the highlights of his musical career so far...

Starting on a high note

Arijit's mother Aditi Singh is a singer, and his maternal uncle is a tabla player, who first introduced him to the nuances of classical music. Since he showed immense promise, he was immediately enrolled at the Sripat Singh College in Jiaganj, where he pursued his education alongside his musical training. He began his formal training under the guidance of Rajendra Prasad Hazari and later, Ustad Rashid Khan-which provided him with the right foundation to build on.

In fact, at the age of nine, he secured a government scholarship for classical vocal training. This training plays a pivotal role in the way his vocals can lend themselves to several genres of songs. Ever so humble, Arijit credits his family's musical leanings for his talent.

He was quoted as saying, "My grandma's into music. My mom is a singer. Even my sister is a much better singer than I am. So you could say music runs in the family". He has often spoken of his admiration for legendary singers such as Ghulam Ali, Jagjit Singh, and Mehdi Hassan but the singer regards late singer KK as his biggest inspiration.

Musical breakthrough

For anyone who grew up on a steady diet of early 2000s Indian reality television, it would have been difficult to miss Arijit's presence on the reality show Fame Gurukul in 2005. While he didn't win, the exposure provided him with valuable industry connections, and he had made a mark on the audience with his amazing voice quality.

His big Bollywood break came in 2011 with the song "Phir Mohabbat" which featured in the film, Murder 2. Interestingly, given the uncertain nature of the Bollywood music industry where songs are sung by several singers till one is shortlisted and released, Arijit was unaware of his first Bollywood song's release until a friend informed him.

However, talking about breakthroughs, Arijit stormed into the scene with the 2013 blockbuster Aashiqui 2, a musical that catapulted him to overnight stardom. The song "Tum Hi Ho..." became an instant hit, earning him his first Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer and setting the tone for a career that was only going to skyrocket from there.

A steady stream of chart toppers

After the success of Aashiqui 2, there was no stopping Arijit. He delivered a series of chart-topping tracks. Songs like 'Raabta', 'Chahun Main Ya Naa', and 'Gerua' showcased his ability to infuse emotion into every note. The accolades continued to pour in too.

Between the years 2016 and 2020, he swept up the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer five times in a row! Arijit has also been recognized internationally and was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2025 for his contributions to the arts. His popularity with the youth reflects in the fact that he became the most-followed artist globally on Spotify, surpassing Taylor Swift with over 140 million followers in 2024.

Simple living

Despite his superstardom, Arijit remains grounded. He has admitted to drawing significant inspiration from Rabindranath Tagore's philosophy, particularly the notion that simplicity is challenging to achieve. He strives to embody this in his music, aiming to present complex emotions in a simple yet profound manner. 

When asked about his reluctance to share much about his personal life he revealed his discomfort with fame. He expressed that he does not seek attention and prefers to let his music speak for itself and hence believes in maintaining a low profile.

He married his childhood friend and neighbour Koel Roy and lives a humble life in Mumbai. He often speaks about his love for badminton, cricket, and football. The ardent Manchester United fan also expressed a desire to sing the anthem for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. And just like his songs, he has a few surprises up his sleeve in life too.

The singer has tried his hands on documentary filmmaking, making fans wonder if he plans to pursue it further. He even composes the lyrics of his songs in Bengali. "But I've never thought of composing for a film. That's a different art altogether," he was quoted as saying.

Given his humble beginnings, the singer refuses to buy a car and is often seen hopping into an autorickshaw to beat the traffic. He also frequents the local joints around Andheri, without concerning himself with the optics or the paparazzi. He hates using his phone, too, and has been quoted saying that when he reaches his saturation point, he goes to some random place and throws his phone away.