Sonu Nigam is a famous singer from India. He became well-known by singing songs for movies in Bollywood and other local films. Sonu has a nice voice and can sing in many different styles. He’s sung more than 2000 songs in about 10 different languages. At one point, he was the highest-paid male singer in Bollywood. But in 2006, he decided to sing less for movies so he could focus on his music and concerts. Let’s talk about his life in detail.
Wiki
| Full Name | Sonu Nigam |
|---|---|
| Profession | Singer, Music Director |
| Famous As | Singer |
| Nick Name | Sonu |
| Date of Birth | 30 July 1973 (Monday) |
| Age | 51 Years Old |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Birthplace | Faridabad, Haryana, India |
| Hometown | Delhi, India |
| Country | India |
| Mother Tongue | Hindi |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Hobbies | Gymming, Reading |
| Food Habits | Non-vegetarian |
| Educational Qualification | Graduate |
| School Name | J.D. Tyler School, Delhi |
| College/University | University of Delhi, New Delhi |
| Debut | Singing: Bewafa Sanam (1995, Bollywood) Album: Rafi Ki Yaadein Vol 10-20 (1993) Music Direction: Sooper Se Ooper (2013) Film Actor: Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani (2002) |
Early Life
Sonu was born on July 30, 1973, in Faridabad, Haryana. His parents are Agam Kumar and Shobha Nigam. He has two sisters, Meenal and Nikita. Sonu went to J. D. Tytler School in Delhi for his schooling and then studied at Delhi University for his graduation. He moved to Mumbai in 1990 to become a playback singer.
Sonu Nigam got married to Madhurima Banerjee on February 15, 2002. Their son, Neevan, was born on July 27, 2007. Sonu looked up to Mohammad Rafi and often sang like him when he performed on stage, which made people call him the new Rafi. He finished school at J. D. Tytler School in Delhi and got his degree from Delhi University.
Career
Playback Singing
Sonu Nigam started singing for movies in 1990 but faced setbacks early on. However, T-series recognized his talent and gave him a chance to sing for ‘Bewafa Sanam’, where his song ‘Achha Sila Diya Tune‘ became a hit. Despite initial struggles, Sonu’s career took off with songs like ‘Sandese Aate Hain’ from ‘Border’ (1997).
He became known for his versatility, singing romantic tracks like ‘Suraj Hua Madhyam’ and energetic ones like ‘Kal Ho Na Ho‘. Around 2010-2011, he was a prominent voice in Bollywood. Sonu also found success in Kannada films, singing over 600 songs including hits like ‘Cheluve Yeke Bande’ and ‘Kannale Kannale’.
Sonu Nigam collaborated with legends like Lata Mangeshkar and contemporary artists such as Sunidhi Chauhan and Shreya Ghoshal. His talent and range have earned him numerous awards and a respected place in the Indian music industry.
Music Albums
In 1992, he put out an album called ‘Rafi Ki Yaadein’. It had Mohammed Rafi’s popular songs covered by him. Then, in 2007, he brought out another collection of Rafi songs called ‘Kal Aaj aur Kal’. It had more than 100 songs spread across six discs. Also, in 2008, he released ‘Rafi Resurrected’, a two-disc collection of Rafi songs.
Over the years, he released many albums with his songs. One of his albums, ‘Deewana’, came out in 1999 under the T-series label and was a big hit. He also released ‘Jaan’ in 2000 and ‘Chanda Ki Doli‘ in 2005.
Two other albums that got attention were ‘Classically Mild’ in 2008 and ‘The Music Room’ in 2014. He made ‘The Music Room’ with percussionist Bickram Ghosh.
Composer
Sonu Nigam is kind of new as a music maker. He’s made music for many popular Bollywood movies like ‘Singh Saab the Great’ (2013), ‘Jal’ (2014), ‘Happy Anniversary’ (2016), and ‘Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho’ (2016).
Collaborations
Sonu’s talent has made him work with many famous musicians from around the world. After Michael Jackson, a famous singer, passed away, Sonu sang a song for him on an album called ‘The Beat of Our Hearts’. This album also had singers like Judith Hill, Mike Thompson, and Quincy Patrick. He also sang at the special event when Harvard University got its 28th President.
In 2008, he went on a tour in the United Kingdom with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO). They sang songs originally sung by Mohammed Rafi, which later became an album called Rafi Resurrected. In 2011, Sonu worked with Britney Spears on a remix of one of her songs.
Acting
Sonu has a lovely singing voice and he looks really good too. He acted in movies like ‘Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani’ (2002), ‘Kash Aap Hamare Hote’ (2003), and ‘Love in Nepal’ (2004). These movies didn’t do well in cinemas, so Sonu didn’t continue acting after that.
Television and Radio
At the start of his career, Sonu became famous by hosting a singing competition called ‘Sa Re Ga Ma’ in 1995. After that, he was a judge on many TV shows like Indian Idol (seasons 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7), Amul STAR Voice of India (seasons 1 and 2), Chhote Ustaad, and X –X-Factor India. He also appeared on a radio show called ‘Life Ki Dhun’ on Radio City 91 FM.
Work in Kannada
In 1886, he sang his first song “Yello Yaro Hego” in Kannada for the movie “Jeevanadhi”. Sonu Nigam sang more than 600 Kannada songs.
Sonu Nigam sang songs like “Cheluve Yeke Bande”, “Titanic Heroine Nee Nanna Cheluve”, the title track from “Monalisa”, “Hamsave Hamsave”, “Kannale Kannale” & “Baaninda Baa Chandira”. The movie “Mungaru Male” became very popular and broke many records, especially in Karnataka, in 2006. Nigam found Kannada songs more satisfying compared to Hindi ones. Kannada songs filled him with positivity.
He considers Bangalore as his second home. Videos for the songs “Neene Bari Neene” and “Baa Nodu Gelathi” were filmed in Bangalore, featuring Nigam and model Madhuri Bhattacharya.
Sonu Nigam composed the theme song for the Karnataka Bulldozers team in the Celebrity Cricket League. He sang it with Kunal Ganjawala & Sowmys and also contributed to the lyrics.
As a Host and Celebrity Judge
Sonu Nigam was a big part of the Sa Re Ga Ma music show from 1995 to 1999, and everyone knew him. He came back to Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs International in October 2007 as a judge with Suresh Wadkar. He also judged the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Mega Challenge grand finale on 12 December 2009.
In 2002, Sonu hosted a TV show called Kisme Kitna Hai Dum on Star Plus. He was a judge on Indian Idol for seasons 1 (October 2004 – March 2005) and 2 (November 2005 – April 2006). He was also a celebrity judge in seasons 3 (17 August 2007) and 4 (16 January 2009 and 6 February 2009).
He was a celebrity judge on STAR Voice of India in August 2007 (Season 1) and in December 2008 (Season 2). He also judged the grand finale of the music reality show Jo Jeeta Wohi Super Star on 12 July 2008.
Sonu was a judge/mentor on Chhote Ustaad – Do Deshon Ki Ek Awaaz (July – October 2010) with Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. He was also a judge/mentor on the first season of X Factor (India) (29 May – 2 September 2011) with Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Shreya Ghoshal.
On 23 August 2015, he appeared on “The Anupam Kher Show” sharing his life experiences. He was also one of the three judges of Indian Idol 2016–17.
Sonu has also hosted the 3rd, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 13th, and 14th Mirchi Music Awards. In 2021, Sonu Nigam was one of the judges in the Bengali music reality show Super Singer Season 3 on Star Jalsha, along with Kumar Sanu and Kaushiki Chakraborty.
| Year | Show Name |
| 1995-1999 | Sa Re Ga Ma music show |
| October 2007 | Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs International |
| 12 December 2009 | Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Mega Challenge grand finale |
| 2002 | Kisme Kitna Hai Dum |
| October 2004 – March 2005 | Indian Idol (Season 1) |
| November 2005 – April 2006 | Indian Idol (Season 2) |
| 17 August 2007 | Indian Idol (Season 3) |
| 16 January 2009 | Indian Idol (Season 4) |
| 6 February 2009 | Indian Idol (Season 4) |
| August 2007 | STAR Voice of India (Season 1) |
| December 2008 | STAR Voice of India (Season 2) |
| 12 July 2008 | Jo Jeeta Wohi Super Star grand finale |
| July – October 2010 | Chhote Ustaad – Do Deshon Ki Ek Awaaz |
| 29 May – 2 September 2011 | X-Factor (India) (Season 1) |
| 23 August 2015 | “The Anupam Kher Show” |
| 2016-17 | Indian Idol |
| 3rd, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 13th, and 14th | Mirchi Music Awards |
| 2021 | Super Singer Season 3 on Star Jalsha |
Singing Style and Influence
Sonu Nigam is a very famous singer in Bollywood. Many people think he’s one of the best playback singers there. He’s like a role model for new singers. People often compare his voice to Mohammad Rafi’s because they sound similar. Lata Mangeshkar, another famous singer, said Sonu Nigam is her favorite among today’s singers. She likes that he takes music seriously, knows classical music, and sings confidently. Other singers like Armaan Malik and Ankit Tiwari look up to him too. Shreya Ghoshal, another popular singer, also loves Sonu Nigam’s singing. Palash Sen from Euphoria says Sonu Nigam is the most talented singer in Bollywood. Even S.P. Balasubrahmanyam praised Sonu Nigam’s singing.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
| 1982 | Ustad Ustad Se | young Rajesh |
| 1982 | Kalanchoe | Sonu |
| 1983 | Betaab | Sunny |
| 2002 | Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani | Vivek Saxena |
| 2003 | Kash Aap Hamare Hote | Jai Kumar |
| 2004 | Love in Nepal | Abby |
| 2005 | Navra Maza Navsacha | Guest appearance in a song |
| 2013 | Warning | Guest appearance in the song Takeedein |
| 2016 | Raakh | Guest appearance in song Bas Itna Hai Kahena |
| 2019 | Spotless | Varun |
| 2019 | SP CHAUHAN | Himself |
Family
| Father Name | Agam Kumar Nigam (Singer) |
|---|---|
| Mother Name | Shobha Nigam |
| Brother Name | None |
| Sister Name | Meenal and Neekita (Younger) |
Physical Appearance
Sonu Nigam is 170 centimeters tall, which is equal to 1.70 meters or 5 feet and 7 inches. He weighs around 65 kilograms, which is about 143.3 lbs. His eyes are a deep, dark brown, giving him a mysterious look. His hair is shiny black, making him stand out. All these features together make Sonu Nigam look unique and interesting.
| Height (Approx.) | in centimeters – 170 cm in meters – 1.70 m in feet inches – 5’ 7” |
|---|---|
| Weight (Approx.) | in kilograms – 65 Kg in pounds – 143.3 Lbs |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
Relationship Status
| Marital Status | Married |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Madhurima Nigam |
| Children | Son– Nevaan |
Net Worth & Salary
Sonu Nigam has a ton of money, about ₹403 crores in Indian Rupees, which is roughly $51 million. Each year, he earns over ₹2 crore. He owns lots of fancy cars and bikes like the Range Rover Vogue, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, DC Avanti, Audi A4, and Kia Carnival MPV. Sonu Nigam earns most of his money by singing, making music, and promoting brands. He’s very talented in various aspects of the entertainment industry.
| Net Worth in USD (Approx.) | $51 Million |
|---|---|
| Net Worth in Indian Rupees (Approx.) | ₹403 Crore |
| Salary (Approx.) | ₹2 Crore + |
| Car & Bike Collection | Range Rover Vogue, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, DC Avanti, Audi A4, Kia Carnival MPV |
| Income Source | Singing, Music Composing, Brand Endorsement |
Social Media Handles
| @sonunigamofficial | |
| @SonuNigamSpace | |
| YouTube | @sonunigam |
Favorite Things
| Musicians | Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar, Micheal Jackson, Whitney Houston, George Michael, Michael Bolton, Cliff Richards, Mariah Carey |
|---|---|
| Song | “Duniya Rang Rangeeli Wah Wah” by K.L. Saigal |
| Book | Don’t Sweat the Small Things by Richard Carlson |
| Films | Bollywood: Amar Prem, Kunwara Baap, Half Ticket, Sholay Hollywood: The Sixth Sense |
| Foods | Paneer makhanwala, paneer kofta, gulab jamun, butter chicken and tandoori chicken |
| Actors | Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan |
| Actress | Madhuri Dixit, Marlyn Monroe |
| Destination | Greece, Egypt, New Zealand |
Sonu Nigam Songs Lyrics
- Chal Zero Pe Chalte Hain
- Avanu Sanju Avalu Geetha
- Yaadon Ke Jharokhon Se
- Hukkush Phukkush
- Mere Dholna 3.0
- Yeh Dil Deewana
- Ramleela
- Maa Apne Dware Bula Le Mujhe
- Yeh Mera Hindustan Hai
- Zindagi Maut Na Ban Jaye
- Achutam Keshavam
- Tu Zinda Hai
- Ishq Vishk Pyaar Vyaar
- Sannata
- Maai Meri
- Khuda Tera Bhi Hai
- Payoji Maine Ram Ratan Dhan Payo
- O Mere Humnava
- Bhole Ke Mandir Mein
- हमारे राम आये हैं | Humare Ram Aye Hai
- Shri Ram Lalla
- Avadh Mein Laute Hai Shri Ram
- Afra Tafri
- Sun Zara
- Nikle The Kabhi Hum Ghar Se
Awards
| Year | Awards |
| 2013 | Mirchi Music Award for Male Vocalist of The Year |
| 2013 | Best Playback Singer at the BIG Star Entertainment Awards. |
| 2013 | Zee Cinema Award for Best Male Playback Singer |
| 2013 | 14th IIFA Awards Best Male Playback Singer |
| 2014 | Mirchi Music Awards South – Best Male Vocalist Kannada |
| 2015 | Bharat Ratna Ambedkar Award |
| 2016 | Global Indian Music Academy Awards (GIMA) Best Pop Song: “Saiyaan Bina” by Sonu Nigam and Bickram Ghosh |
| 2017 | 9th Mirchi Music Awards Indie Pop Song of the Year “Aye Jahaan Aasmaan” sung by Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal |
| 2018 | Doctorate from Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the field of music |
| 2018 | Iconic Achievers Awards |
| 2019 | Iconic Performing Arts Award of the 21st Century |
| 2020 | The government of Maharashtra bestows the Bharat Ratna Dr. B R Ambedkar Award. |
| 2021 | Mirchi Music Award for Male Vocalist of the Decade for the song Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin (Agneepath) |
| 2021 | Champions of Change (award) |
| 2022 | “Bheeni Si” from Mera Fauji Calling won the Mirchi Music Award for “Raag-Inspired Song of the Year”. |
| 2022 | Padma Shri |
Quotes By Sonu Nigam
Sonu Nigam has had a very interesting life, full of different experiences and strong determination. When we listen to what Sonu Nigam, the famous singer, says:
“I was a topper till class tenth and wanted to initially be a scientist.”
In the world of education, Sonu Nigam did well. He had big dreams like the vast universe. But life took him on surprising journeys, with some paths familiar and others new.
“I am concentrating on my fitness levels so that I don’t look old.”
As Sonu Nigam walks ahead, he aims to stay healthy, not just physically but mentally too. He believes in keeping fit and lively in all parts of life.
“For me, learning is a continuous process and an all-inclusive one – reading a book, learning a musical instrument, or learning the martial art called taekwondo. Teach myself something new – that’s my prayer.”
In life’s big song, Sonu Nigam finds peace by learning new things. He loves books, music, and martial arts. Each thing he learns shows how much he loves finding out new stuff.
“I was born in Faridabad and I spent a major part of my growing up years in Delhi before shifting to Mumbai. Delhi-NCR is still very special to me.”
Controversy
Sonu Nigam’s new song “Sun Zara,” put out by T-Series on December 2, caused some trouble because Pakistani singer Omer Nadeem said it sounds just like his song “Aye Khuda,” which came out in 2009.
15 Facts About Sonu Nigam
- Sonu Nigam, known as the “Elvis Presley of India,” received the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award.
- At age 3, he performed on the song “Kya Hua Tera Vaada.”
- He started acting at 10, playing young Shatrughan Sinha in the film ‘Taqdeer’ (1983).
- Sonu imitated co-singers well and did the act ‘Roadside Ustaad’ in Juhu disguised as a beggar.
- He’s a popular playback singer, initially trained by Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan.
- His first hit was “Accha Sila Diya” from ‘Bewafa Sanam’ (1995).
- In the ’90s, albums like “Kismat” and “Deewana” were huge hits.
- Sonu Nigam made his lead actor debut in ‘Love in Nepal‘ (2004).
- A fitness enthusiast trained in Taekwondo, Sonu fears cockroaches.
- He enjoys mimicking singers and actors at events.
- Sonu Nigam sang in various languages and did Hindi voice-overs for Hollywood films.
- Sonu hosted singing reality shows and won a National Award for “Kal Ho Naa Ho” (2003).
- In 2016, he did ‘The Roadside Ustaad’ act on Juhu streets.
- Sonu Nigam posted on Instagram in 2020, accusing two music companies of dominating the Indian music industry.
- In 2019, he was hospitalized for a seafood-induced skin allergy.
FAQs
Sonu Nigam believes in Hinduism.
Sonu Nigam makes most of his money from singing songs, doing shows, selling music albums, and promoting products.
Nevaan Nigam is Sonu Nigam’s Son.
Madhurima Nigam is Sonu Nigam’s Wife.