Rahul developed his interest in vocal music by studying the music of
Kumar Gandharva. Initially, he sought guidance of Pandit Gangadharbuva Pimpalkhare and Dr. Madhusudhan Patwardhan. He further learnt under the tutelage of Smt. Ushatai Chipalkatti and Pandit
Mukul Shivputra. He also learned the
tabla from Pandit Suresh Samant. His repertoire includes khayal, tap khayal, dhruvpad, thumri, kajri, hori, tappa, ghazal, abhanga, bhajan, natyasangeet and bhavgeet. Rahul has judged
Zee Marathi's popular reality TV show "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Little Champs" and Zee Yuva's "Sangeet Samrat parva2". His work in the re-opening of the musical play which originally starred his grandfather
Katyar Kaljat Ghusali was tremendous. He was the
playback singer for the songs of "Khansaheb Aftab Hussain Bareliwale", played by
Sachin Pilgaonkar in the film. The role was played by Rahul himself in the play
Katyar Kaljat Ghusali. Every year he arranges "
Vasantotsav" in the memory of his late grandfather Pandit
Vasantrao Deshpande. A revised version of
Kakasaheb Khadilkar's Sangeet Maanapmaan played in
Maharashtra in 2011 and 2012, the centenary year of the play's first performance. It has been revised by Rahul Deshpande. "Originally, the play has five parts with around 52 classical songs. Deshpande's version will have two parts and 22 classical songs." ==Personal life==