Alka Yagnik is a legendary Indian playback singer born on March 20, 1966, in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. She is recognized as one of the most prolific and successful playback singers in Bollywood history, having recorded over 2,400 songs in multiple languages during her four-decade career. Yagnik holds the Guinness World Record for being the most-streamed artist globally for three consecutive years (2020-2022), surpassing international artists like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.
Alka Yagnik Biography / Wiki
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Alka Yagnik (अलका याग्निक) |
| Date of Birth | March 20, 1966 |
| Age | 59 years (as of January 2026) |
| Birthplace | Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Height | 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Profession | Playback Singer |
| Years Active | 1980–present |
| Languages Sung | Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Kannada, and others |
| Total Songs | Over 2,400 songs |
| Guinness World Record | Most-streamed artist globally (2020, 2021, 2022) |
Alka Yagnik Education
Alka Yagnik attended Modern High School for Girls in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Specific details about her higher education have not been publicly disclosed. Her formal education was significantly influenced by her early entry into professional singing, which began when she was just six years old.
Early Life
Alka Yagnik was born on March 20, 1966, in Kolkata, West Bengal, into a modest Gujarati family. Her father, Dharmendra Shankar, and her mother, Shubha Yagnik, who is trained in Indian classical music, recognized Alka’s musical talent from an early age. She has a brother named Samir Yagnik, who is also musically inclined.
At the age of six, Yagnik began singing devotional songs for Akashvani (All India Radio) Calcutta. When she was 10 years old, her mother brought her to Mumbai to pursue a professional singing career. Initially, prominent music directors Kalyanji-Anandji appreciated her voice but advised her to wait until it matured, as they found it too soft and immature for film playback singing.
Yagnik gave her first stage performance at Kala Mandir in Kolkata before moving to Mumbai. Her mother’s training in Indian classical music played a crucial role in shaping her early musical foundation.
Alka Yagnik Career Journey
Alka Yagnik made her playback singing debut with the song “Thirkat Ang” in the film “Payal Ki Jhankaar” in the early 1980s. However, she struggled initially, as her voice was considered too immature for mainstream cinema. During the early 1980s, she sang several songs for films but did not achieve significant recognition.
Her major breakthrough came in 1988 with the song “Ek Do Teen” from the film “Tezaab,” which became a nationwide sensation. This song won her first Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer and established her as a leading playback singer in Bollywood. The song’s success marked the beginning of her dominance in the 1990s, often referred to as the “Alka Yagnik era” in Bollywood music.
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Yagnik became the voice of choice for leading Bollywood actresses and collaborated with legendary music composers including Nadeem-Shravan, Jatin-Lalit, Anu Malik, A.R. Rahman, Kalyanji-Anandji, and many others. Her notable songs from this period include “Gali Gali Mein” (Tridev, 1989), “Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai” (Khalnayak, 1993), “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” (1998), “Taal Se Taal Mila” (Taal, 1999), and hundreds of other chartbusters.
Most of Yagnik’s songs have been recorded at the iconic Mehboob Studio in Mumbai. She has worked with almost every major music director in the Indian film industry and has sung in over 1,114 films. In 2012, on the occasion of 100 years of Hindi Cinema, her song “Taal Se Taal Mila” was voted the best song of the century in a poll conducted by DesiMartini, Hindustan Times, and Fever 104.
In January 2023, she was featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for the third consecutive year as the most-streamed singer globally. Her songs recorded 15.3 billion streams in 2022 (averaging 42 million streams per day), 17 billion in 2021, and 16.6 billion in 2020.
In June 2024, Yagnik revealed on Instagram that she had been diagnosed with sensorineural nerve hearing loss due to a viral attack, which occurred during a personal visit to Goa in May 2024. This rare condition significantly affected her hearing and required medical treatment. In January 2026, she was honored with the Padma Award for her contribution to Indian music.
Alka Yagnik Songs
Alka Yagnik has recorded over 2,486 Hindi songs in 1,114 films, making her the fifth most prolific Bollywood singer. Notable songs include:
1980s:
- “Ek Do Teen” (Tezaab, 1988)
- “Gali Gali Mein” (Tridev, 1989)
1990s:
- “Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai” (Khalnayak, 1993)
- “Ghoongat Ki Aad Se” (Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, 1993)
- “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, 1998)
- “Taal Se Taal Mila” (Taal, 1999)
- “Chamma Chamma” (China Gate, 1998)
2000s:
- “Mera Dil Bhi Kitna” (Saajan)
- “Saanso Ko Saanso Mein” (Hum Tum, 2004)
- “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” (2006)
2010s:
- “Agar Tum Saath Ho” (Tamasha, 2015)
Her song “Chamma Chamma” was featured in the 2001 Hollywood film “Moulin Rouge” in the category “Hindi Sad Diamonds”.
Alka Yagnik Profession
Alka Yagnik is a professional playback singer specializing in Bollywood film music. She has worked across multiple genres including romantic ballads, dance numbers, devotional songs, and classical fusion tracks. Her vocal range and versatility have allowed her to sing in various Indian languages beyond Hindi, including Bengali, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, and Kannada.
In addition to playback singing, Yagnik has served as a judge on television singing reality shows including “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champs” on Zee TV and “Indian Idol” on Sony TV. She is involved in various projects pertaining to the empowerment of the girl child.
Alka Yagnik Achievements
Alka Yagnik has won two National Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singer: for “Ghoongat Ki Aad Se” from “Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke” (1993) and “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” from the film of the same name (1998). She has won seven Filmfare Awards for Best Female Playback Singer, sharing the record with Asha Bhosle for the highest number of Filmfare Awards in this category.
Her Filmfare Awards were won for “Ek Do Teen” (1989), “Ghoongat Ki Aad Se” (1994), “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” (1998), “Taal Se Taal Mila” (2000), “Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Hai Dil Se” (2001), “Koi Mil Gaya” (2002), and “Saanso Ko Saanso Mein” (2005). She shared her 1993 Filmfare Award with Ila Arun for the song “Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai,” marking the first time a Filmfare Award was shared between two playback singers.
Yagnik holds the Guinness World Record for being the most-streamed artist globally for three consecutive years (2020-2022), surpassing international superstars including Taylor Swift, Drake, Beyoncé, and BTS. She has won three Zee Cine Awards, multiple Screen Awards, IIFA Awards, and numerous other accolades during her career.
She received the National Film Award from President K.R. Narayanan on February 15, 2000, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. In January 2026, she was honored with the Padma Award for her outstanding contribution to Indian music. She has also received the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar National Award for Outstanding Contribution to Indian Music.
Alka Yagnik Controversies
In 1993, more than 42 politicians opposed Yagnik’s song “Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai” from the film “Khalnayak” on the grounds of using vulgar words. The song was banned from being played on Doordarshan and All India Radio. Despite the controversy, the song became immensely popular and won her a shared Filmfare Award.
Yagnik once accused fellow playback singer Anuradha Paudwal of stealing her songs and dubbing them in her own voice. This allegation created tension within the playback singing community, though specific details of the dispute have not been extensively documented.
In a Doordarshan interview, Yagnik revealed a #MeToo moment when an anonymous film director fixed a meeting at her home and attempted to grab her inappropriately. Fortunately, her mother was present at home, forcing the director to leave. She has spoken about the challenges faced by female singers in the male-dominated film industry during her early career.
Alka Yagnik Personal Life
Alka Yagnik enjoys hobbies including singing, reading, and traveling. Her favorite cuisines include Gujarati, Maharashtrian, Italian, and Chinese food. She admires actors Salman Khan, Raj Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, and Aamir Khan, and actresses Aishwarya Rai, Raveena Tandon, Rekha, and Alia Bhatt.
Her favorite singers include Lata Mangeshkar, Sadhna Sargam, Sonu Nigam, Kumar Sanu, and Shreya Ghoshal. She owns a black Range Rover and reportedly earns approximately Rs. 12 lakh per song. Yagnik’s estimated net worth is approximately $8 million.
In June 2024, Yagnik was diagnosed with sensorineural nerve hearing loss due to a viral attack, which she experienced during a personal visit to Goa in May 2024. She lost hearing in her right ear within 24 hours and felt her left ear getting affected as well. The condition was diagnosed as rare sensory neural nerve hearing loss and has been described by doctors as hard to reverse. She has publicly cautioned fans and young colleagues about exposure to very loud music and headphones.
Alka Yagnik Boyfriend, Husband, Wife, Girlfriend
Alka Yagnik married Neeraj Kapoor, a Shillong-based businessman, in 1989. The couple met through family connections—Neeraj’s aunt was Alka’s mother’s classmate. They first met at his house and fell in love.
However, their relationship faced initial opposition from Yagnik’s parents because of the distance between their cities—Neeraj lived in Shillong while Alka’s music career was firmly rooted in Mumbai. Despite the objections, the couple insisted on getting married, and their family members eventually agreed. Their initial plan was to divide time between Shillong and Mumbai.
The couple has maintained a long-distance marriage for over 28 years, with Neeraj primarily residing in Shillong and Alka in Mumbai due to her professional commitments. They have one daughter together, Syesha Kapoor. Despite the geographical distance, their marriage has endured for more than three decades.
Alka Yagnik Family
| Relation | Name |
| Father | Dharmendra Shankar |
| Mother | Shubha Yagnik (trained in Indian classical music) |
| Brother | Samir Yagnik |
| Husband | Neeraj Kapoor (Shillong-based businessman, married 1989) |
| Daughter | Syesha Kapoor |
