Top 16 Pakistani Singers Who Lent Their Voices For Bollywood Movies

The soulful singer of Bollywood and king of romantic and heart touching songs, Atif Aslam is not a new face or voice to introduce. The songs which Atif sings are always a mirror of emotions one feels. His first Bollywood song was ‘Aadat’ from Kalyug, and since there was no looking back for him. Under the halo of his soulful voice, Atif has given us some beautiful songs like ‘Pehli Nazar’ from Race, ‘Tere Sang’ from Rustom, ‘O Saathi’ from Baaghi 2, etc. Check out some new Bollywood songs sung by Atif Aslam.

Ali Zafar is a treasure of talents. Hailing from the neighbouring country Pakistan, Ali is a composer, singer, actor, songwriter and painter. Ali has also acted in Bollywood films like Tere Bin Laden, London, Paris, New York, etc. The handsome and charming Ali has blessed Bollywood with some melodious songs like ‘Tu Hi Hai’ from Dear Zindagi, ‘Madhubala’ from Mere Brother Ki Dulhan. Check out his latest Bollywood song ‘Tu Hi Hai’ from Dear Zindagi movie.

Who doesn’t know this gem of a singer? From giving us our childhood hippie song ‘Lift Kara De’ we have always loved his voice. Adnan Sami may hails from Pakistan but has a huge fanbase here in India. Adnan has a mixed ancestral history and his skills are impeccable as he can play over 35 musical instruments. Few of his notable songs are ‘Tu Sirf Mera Mehboob' from Ajnabee, etc. The latest song of Adnan which leaves us awestruck and lost in his beautiful voice is ‘Bhar Do Jholi Meri’ from Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Check out some hits songs of Adnan Sami below.

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.

Popularly known for his traditional Punjabi folk music, Arif Lohar was born in the Gujarat District of Punjab in Pakistan. After getting trained by his father and brother he took to acting but went back to playback singing by lending his voice for several Pakistani films. He became equally popular in India after people started taking note of his songs on the Pakistani Coke Studio. Later, he did playback singing for the hit number ‘Jugni’ from Saif Ali Khan’s ‘Cocktail’.

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’.

Born in Lahore, Mustafa was into music at a very early age. He started giving stage performances before turning singer. He formed the Roxen music band group which performed at live concerts and created musical albums at will. His tryst with Bollywood got noticed with Emraan Hashmi’s ‘Awarapan’ in 2008 where he lent his vocals for the chartbuster - Tera Mera Rishta and Toh Phir Aao…He also sang in ‘Khuda Ke Liye’ (2009), ‘Blood Money’, ‘Murder 3’, ‘Shootout At Wadala’, ‘Aashiqui 2’, ‘Heropanti’, ‘Ek Villain’ and others. Watch the melodious Tera Mera Rishta from ‘Awarapan’ (2008).

Born in Lahore, Pakistan, Adeel Chaudhry has come a long way from being a dentistry student to the world of music. He baptised in Bollywood by acting in the film Rhythm which went unnoticed. But his playback singing got him all the fame and recognition he needed in Bollywood by churning out numbers in ‘Kismat Konnection’ (2008), ‘Jugaad’ (2009) and ‘Rhythm’ (2012).