Shabbir Kumar

Shabbir Kumar was born Shaikh Shabbeer Ahmed, on 26 October 1954 in Baroda, Gujarat. He became interested in singing as a child, and gained attention for imitating the voice of Mohammed Rafi. After Rafi's death in 1980, Shabbir Kumar sang Rafi's songs at Ek Raat Rafi Ke Naam, an event organized to honor Rafi. This made Shabbir Kumar more popular, and he started doing several stage shows. == Bollywood career ==

Music director Usha Khanna noticed Shabbir Kumar, and called him for an audition, where she asked him to sing two of Rafi's songs - Teri Galiyon Mein and Main Yeh Soch Kar. She offered him a song in the 1981 movie Tajurba. The song featured only three lines by Shabbir Kumar; the other singers were Amit Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Suresh Wadkar, and Usha Mangeshkar. Usha Khanna promoted him in the film industry, and he got a chance to sing his first solo for the movie Sardar. Usha Khanna recommended Shabbir Kumar to him, and the movie's music director Laxmikant invited Shabbir Kumar to Mumbai for an audition. The Coolie songs, filmed on Amitabh Bachchan, gave Shabbir Kumar his big break. The duet - Jab Hum Jawan Honge - became a hit. He went on to with other notable music directors, including Chitragupta, Bappi Lahiri, Anu Malik, and Jatin-Lalit. He sang in several languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Marathi, Bengali, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Bhojpuri and Gujarati. His popular songs include Zindagi Har Kadam from Meri Jung (1985), Tumse Milkar Na Jane Kyun from Pyar Jhukta Nahin (1985), Zihale Maskin from Ghulami (1985) and Gori Hain Kalaiyan from Aaj Ka Arjun (1990). Occasionally, he sang for Hindi films, including the 2010 movie Housefull. In 2012, he became involved in a controversy with Lata Mangeshkar, when he challenged her claim that Rafi had written her a letter of apology. In 2023, he appeared on The Kapil Sharma Show. Shabbir Kumar's music certifications include 34 Gold Discs and 16 Platinum Discs. == Personal life ==

Shabbir Kumar is also a painter and sketcher. His wife Mehtaab died on 9 May 2021, a month before their 49th wedding anniversary. His son Dilshaad Shaikh is a music director; he has two daughters - Tehzim and Rubina Mallick. == Discography ==

• "Apne Dilse Badi Dushmani" from Betaab (1983), composed by Rahul Dev Burman • "Badal Yun Garajta Hai" from Betaab (1983), (duet with Lata Mangeshkar) • "Jab Hum Jawan Honge" from Betaab (1983), (duet with Lata Mangeshkar) • "Teri Tasveer Mil Gayee" from Betaab (1983) • "Tumne Dee Awaaz" from Betaab (1983) • "Kangna Oye Hoye Kangna" from Woh Saat Din (1983), composed by Laxmikant–Pyarelal • "Pyar Kiya Nahi Jaata" from Woh Saat Din (1983), (duet with Lata Mangeshkar) • "Saari duniya ka bojh" from Coolie (1983), composed by Laxmikant–Pyarelal • "Mubarak Ho Tum Sabko Haj Ka Mahina" from Coolie (1983) • "Mujhe Pineka Shokh Nahin" Coolie (1983) (duet with Alka Yagnik) • "Bol Do Mitti Bol Soniye" Sohni Mahiwal (1984), composed by Anu Malik, (duet with Asha Bhosle) • "Mujhe Dulhe Ka Sehra" Sohni Mahiwal (1984), (duet with Asha Bhosle) • "Tumse Milkar Naa Jaane Kyon" from Pyar Jhukta Nahin (1985), composed by Laxmikant–Pyarelal • "Tumhe Apna Saath Banane Se" from Pyar Jhukta Nahin (1985), (duet with Lata Mangeshkar) • "Chahe Lakh Toofan Aaye" from Pyar Jhukta Nahin (1985), (duet with Lata Mangeshkar) • "Ae Doctor Babu" from Piya Ke Gaon (1985), (duet with Alka Yagnik) • "Zeehal-e-Musqeen" from Ghulami (1985), composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal, (duet with Lata Mangeshkar) • "Zindagi Har Kadam Ek Nayi Jung" from Meri Jung (1985), composed by Laxmikant–Pyarelal • "Buri Nazarwale Tera" from Mard (1985), composed by Anu Malik • "O Maa Shero wali" from Mard (1985) • "Aana Jana Laga Rahega" from Giraftaar (1985), composed by Bappi Lahiri • "Pyar Ke Do Pal Koh" from Pyar Ke Do Pal (1986), composed by Anu Malik • "Jaano Jaanam Jaaneman" from Sultanat (1986), composed by Kalyanji Anandji • "Jab Jab Kisi Ladake" from Kala Dhanda Goray Log (1986), (duet with Anuradha Paudwal) • "Gali Gali Badnaam Hogaya" from Karamdaata (1986) • "Hairaan Hoon Main" from Jawab Hum Denge (1987), (duet with Anuradha Paudwal) • "Mere Yaar Ko Mere Allah" from Dacait (1987), composed by Rahul Dev Burman • "Tujhe Itna Pyaar Kare" From Kudrat Ka Kanoon (1987), with Lata Mangeshkar • "Saajan Aajao Wada Yeh" from Aag Hi Aag (1987) • "So Gaya Ye Jahan" From Tezaab (1988), with Nitin Mukesh • "Maine bhi ek geet likha hai" from Hamara Khandan (1988) • "Gori Hai Kalaiyan" from Aaj Ka Arjun (1990), composed by Bappi Lahiri • "Sochna Kya Jabi" from Ghayal (1990) (with Kumar Sanu and Asha Bhosle) • "O Radha Tere Bina" from Radha Ka Sangam (1992), composed by Anu Malik • "Tu Pagal Premi Awara" from Shola aur Shabnam (1992) • "Finak habibi finak" from Awara Paagal Deewana (2002) composed by Anu Malik • "I Don't Know What to do" from Housefull (2010) composed by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy. ==References==