Top 15 Pakistani Singers Who Lent Their Voices For Bollywood Movies

Born in the Sialkot district of Punjab, Ustad Ghulam Ali is one of the most distinguished Ghazal singers alive. A student of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, he is popular for his unique style of singing Ghazals by blending Hindustani classical music with it. Some of his notable works in Bollywood are Chupke Chupke Raat Din (Nikaah), Chamakate Chaand Ko (Awaargi), and Yad Yad Bus Yad Reh Jati Hai (Bewafaa). His most popular ghazals are Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa and Hum Ko Kis Ke Gham Ne Mara. He has sung some of the classic Nepali ghazals as well. Watch the famous Chupke Chupke Raat Din from the movie Nikaah here!

Reshma, devoid of any formal education, is an excellent folk singer, who was a regular face on Pakistani television in the 60s. She has recorded many popular songs for both Pakistani and Indian film industry. Her most popular works are Dama Dam Mast Kalandar and Ankhiyan No Rehen De Ankhyan De Kol Kol, the latter being used by Raj Kapoor in Bobby as Ankhiyon Ko Rehne De Ankhiyon Ke Aas Pass, in Lata's voice. Her most popular & critically acclaimed Bollywood number is Lambi Judaai from the movie Hero.

Known as the Shahenshah-e-Qawwali, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, was known not just for Qawwali, but for his eminence in the Sufi genre of music and his renditions of traditional folk music as well. His work spans across Urdu, Punjabi, Persian, Braj Bhasha and Hindi. Nominated for Grammy Award, he has performed across the globe, the major highlights being WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) in London & Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. Gurus of Peace was an outcome of his collaboration with another legend A R Rahman. Many of his songs have been used in Bollywood, some of which are Kinna Sohna, Piya Re, Dulhe Ka Sehra and many more. Watch few hit songs sung by this legendary singer here!

Abida Parveen is arguably one of the finest Sufi vocalist in the world. She was born in Larkana, Sindh, Pakistan and is a trained vocalist, best known for her Sufi numbers and ghazals. Yaar ko humne and Tere Ishq Nachaya are some of her best known sufi songs. She started her musical journey in India by judging the Indo-Pak musical competition Surkshetra in 2010. She hasn’t really shown a keen interest in playback singing for Hindi films but eventually did happen to sing a number in Muzaffar Ali’s Jaanisaar in 2015.

Salma Agha started her career in Indian films, both as singer and actor in the 1980s. Better known for her ghazals from her debut film ‘Nikaah’ (1982) which had gems like ‘Dil Ke Armaan Aansuon Mein Beh Gaye’, ‘Dil Ki Yeh Aarzoo Thi Koi’, ‘Sama Bhi Hai Jawaan-Jawaan’ and more. The song ‘Dil Ke Armaan…’ from the movie ‘Nikaah’ became so famous that she was presented with the ‘Filmfare Best Female Playback Singer Award’. Salma Agha preferably crooned for most of the films in which she acted that included hits like ‘Jhoom Jhoom Baba’ (Kasam Paida Karnewale Ki), ‘Shah-E-Madina’ (Salma) and ‘Teri Mohabbat Meri Jawani’ (Pati Patni Aur Tawaif) are some of her prominent songs. She fizzed out by the late 80’s as she happened to get married and settle down in Pakistan. Watch some of Salma Agha’s song from the movie ‘Nikaah’ here!

Representing the ninth generation of Patiala Gharana, Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan was primarily known for being the former lead vocalist in the Pakistani band, Fuzon. He is a classical singer, born to a very musical family as the son of Ustad Amanat Ali Khan. Impressed with "Aankhon Ke Saagar", Shankar Mahadevan had introduced Shafqat to Bollywood. And then happened "Mitwa", the famous track from 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna', the music being composed by Shankar-Ehshan-Loy. Later he continues to give a lot of hit numbers, some of which are “Yeh Hosla” (Dor), “Tere Naina” (My Name Is Khan), “Mora Saiyaan” (Hyderabad Blues 2), “Tum Mile - Rock version” (Tum Mile) and“Dildaara”(Ra.One). Enjoy the popular romantic track ‘Mitwa’ from 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna' of Shafqat Amanat Ali here!

Known as the Shahenshah-e-Qawwali, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, was known not just for Qawwali, but for his eminence in the Sufi genre of music and his renditions of traditional folk music as well. His work spans across Urdu, Punjabi, Persian, Braj Bhasha and Hindi. Nominated for Grammy Award, he has performed across the globe, the major highlights being WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) in London & Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. Gurus of Peace was an outcome of his collaboration with another legend A R Rahman. Many of his songs have been used in Bollywood, some of which are Kinna Sohna, Piya Re, Dulhe Ka Sehra and many more. Watch few hit songs sung by this legendary singer here!

A pop icon of the 80s, Zoheb Hassan is a known face across South Asian sub-continents. He has received various awards in his music career. He along with his sister, Nazia Hassan brought a revolution in pop music by composing songs like Disco Deewane which went on to rule the charts in several countries. His romantic folk song Chehra is till date considered as a core romantic anthem. He sang for quite a few Hindi films which include Star (Boom Boom), Dilwala (1985), Ilzaam (1986), Sheela (1987) and others.

A singer, musician, pianist, actor and composer, Adnan Sami, popularly known as the “Lift Karade” guy, is a powerhouse of talent. He can play over 35 musical instruments. He has to his name as the 'Fastest Keyboard player in the world & the Keyboard Discovery of the Nineties' (described by the US based Keyboard Magazine). He has some of the highest selling independent albums of all time in the Indian Subcontinent. The "Kabhi Toh Nazar Milao" singer was an instant hit from his very first album in India in 2000. Ever since, there has been no looking back for this singer in Bollywood or otherwise. He has lent his unusual voice for Bollywood playback to actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh, Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar among others.

Often mistaken for his counterpart singer Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan, Shafqat Ali Khan is considered a master in Ghazal as well as traditional Indian classical music. With a legacy of nearly 500-years, music comes naturally to him as his unique contemporary style of singing has fetched him several accolades, worldwide. His songs and albums are popular among the Indian music lovers. His song, ‘Vichodeya Ne…’ from ‘Dus Kahaniyaan’ was well appreciated by one and all.

Nephew of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and grandson of the legendary Qawwali singer Fateh Ali Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is known as one of the finest Sufi Qawwali singers from Pakistan. He debuted in Bollywood in the year 2004 with the song "Mann Ki Lagan" in the movie ‘Paap’. His success in Bollywood continues till date with hits like “Naina” (Omkara), “Jag Soona Soona Lage” (Om Shanti Om), “O Re Piya” (Aja Nachle), Main Jahan Rahoon (Namaste London), Sajda (My Name Is Khan) and many more. He is one of the first Pakistani artists to be invited to perform at the Nobel Peace Prize last year. He has in a small way contributed to Hollywood as well as a subordinate to his uncle Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in the movie ‘Dead Man Walking’.

An aspiring cricketer with relative success, Atif Aslam had little idea he would be one of the most Pakistani Singers In India. Shot to fame with the song "Aadat", the "Jal" band comprising singer Atif Aslam & composer Gohar Mumtaz was an instant hit in Pakistan. He has a series of hits to his name in the Bollywood chartbusters in recent past. Having sung for music albums, films - Bollywood and Hollywood, performed at various concerts, Aslam has even ventured into acting and been a part of television show 'Sur Kshetra'. “Kuch Iss Tarah” (Doorie) & “Tu Jaane Na” (Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani) are some of his high points.