Alka Yagnik

Yagnik is displeased that notable songs of her are being remixed. She went on to say, "these days composers can't compose good original songs. They, therefore,reprise old super hit songs and then claim they’ve made hits".

Yagnik is cited as "the queen of playback singing". On Mother's Day 12 May 2019, Yagnik became the most-streamed Indian artist-mom on Spotify. The Times of India cited her as 'honey-voiced singer'. Mid Day included her in the list of notable 90s playback singers.

In 2015, she sung 'Agar Tum Saath Ho' for which she informed that the music director of the song, A.R. Rahman wasn't present in the studio but he was giving instructions on Skype video call and after giving some instructions, he gave power to Yagnik to do any of own style of singing in 'Agar Tum Saath Ho' song.

Yagnik has also been involved in various projects to empower girls. In 2014, Yagnik again teamed up with Sonu Nigam to sing the song "Phool Khil Jayenge" for child health awareness. She also sang a song titled "Maine Li Jo Angdai" for the album Women's Day Special: Spreading Melodies Everywhere. It was composed by Farid Sabri, Harish Chauhan, and Gurudatt Sahil; and penned by Sudhakar Sharma.

Yagnik credits her mother as her first guru. who began singing at the age of four. Besides her mother, Yagnik learned singing from Kalyanji-Anandji and Laxmikant–Pyarelal. Although, she has sung many genres of songs but according to Yagnik, her voice suits the romantic genre best. Yagnik has acknowledged veteran singer Lata Mangeshkar as her inspiration, with whom Yagnik says audiences compare her. She has sung romantic, sad, peppy, seductive and item number songs.

She has worked with Indian composers such as Kalyanji–Anandji, Rahul Dev Burman, Laxmikant–Pyarelal, Rajesh Roshan, Nadeem–Shravan, Jatin–Lalit, Anu Malik, A. R. Rahman, Anand–Milind, Himesh Reshammiya, Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, Ismail Darbar, Aadesh Shrivastava, Viju Shah, M. M. Keeravani, Sajid–Wajid, Bappi Lahiri, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Sandesh Shandilya and many others.

Composers Laxmikant–Pyarelal created several musical songs with her in movies such as Coolie, Tezaab, Hum, Khalnayak, Khuda Gawah, Agneepath, Rajkumar and many others.

Alka Yagnik's significant collaborations with Nadeem–Shravan over the years include movies such as Saajan (1991),Phool Aur Kaante (1991), Deewana (1992), Dil Ka Kya Kasoor (1992), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Rang (1993), Dilwale (1994), Raja (1995), Andolan(1995), Barsaat (1995), Jeet (1996), Raja Hindustani (1996), Pardes (1997), Sirf Tum (1999), Dhadkan (2000), Kasoor (2001), Raaz (2002), Andaaz (2003), Dil Hai Tumhaara (2003), and Barsaat (2005).

Alka Yagnik has often collaborated with Jatin–Lalit in movies such as Khiladi, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman,Fareb, Khamoshi: The Musical, Ghulam, Yes Boss, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Sarfarosh, Dil Kya Kare, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham..., Chalte Chalte and Hum Tum.

Alka has worked in several films with Anand–Milind notably Teesra Kaun, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Laadla, Gopi Kishan,Anjaam, Anari, Suhaag, Aaj Ka Goonda Raj, Coolie No.1, Army, Lootere, Loafer, Mr. Bechara, Jaan, Rakshak, Ajay, Hero No. 1, Sanam, Mrityudand, Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate, Chal Mere Bhai and Jaanwar.

Alka's collaboration with Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy in notable films such as Mission Kashmir, Dil Chahta Hai, Armaan, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Lakshya and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna.

In 2012 she along with Sonu Nigam sang a song 'Shiksha Ka Suraj' as part of the National Literacy Mission of India for which she was felicitated by Union Minister For Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal. Also in 2012, on the occasion of 100 years of Hindi Cinema, her song "Taal Se Taal Mila" from the movie Taal was voted as the best song of the century in a poll conducted by DesiMartini, Hindustan Times and Fever 104. Also, her song "Choli Ke Peeche" from the movie Khalnayak was voted as the hottest song of the century in a poll conducted by Sanona.

Alka's collaborations with Anu Malik over the years has yielded several songs in films such as Baazigar, Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee, Imtihaan, Refugee, Vijaypath, Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Akele Hum Akele Tum, Duplicate, Soldier, Aarzoo, Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega, Asoka, Yaadein (2001), Umrao Jaan, Fiza, Josh, Ishq Vishk, LOC Kargil.

In 1994, she sang another seductive song "Din Mein Leti Hai" from the film Amanaat with co-singer Kumar Sanu and Ila Arun, composed by Bappi Lahiri and lyrics by Anwar Sagar. Besides the duet version, she also sang the female version of the song with Ila Arun. She has performed several shows with Kalyanji-Anandji and Laxmikant-Pyarelal.

In 1993, Yagnik sang a seductive song "Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai" with Ila Arun. The song created controversy because of the lyrics written by Anand Bakshi. She got a second Filmfare award for the song, which she shared with Ila Arun.

Yagnik married Shillong-based businessman Neeraj Kapoor in 1989 and has a daughter named Syesha Kapoor. She and her husband were separated for four to five years but they later reunited. She compliments her husband for understanding her career in singing.

A classically trained Yagnik began singing bhajans for Akashvani (All India Radio), Calcutta at the age of six. Her first song was for the film Payal Ki Jhankaar in (1980). This was followed by Laawaris (1981) with the song "Mere Angane Mein", followed by the film Hamari Bahu Alka (1982). She got her big break with the song "Ek Do Teen" from the film Tezaab (1988). She has said that she had a high fever on the day she recorded "Ek Do Teen". The song won her the first out of seven Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer. Besides Hindi, she has sung in more than twenty languages including Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu except Kannada. She has also performed in live concerts around the world. In an interview with Mid Day, Yagnik told that she records five songs daily during her time. During her start of career in the 80s, her biggest rivals was Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle.

Alka Yagnik (born 20 March 1966) is an Indian playback singer. She is noted in Indian cinema for a career spanning over three decades. She holds a record of being the only nominee in the category of Female Playback Singer, as in the year 1994 she had three solo nominations and the fourth one was with Ila Arun. She is a record seven-time winner from a record of 36 nominations of the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer, a two-time recipient of the National Film Award as well as several other music awards and honours listed below. Further, as many as twenty of her tracks feature in BBC's "Top 40 Bollywood Soundtracks of all time" review. She is one of prolific female playback singer who has sung maximum number of female solos in her Bollywood career. She is ranked No. 1 in the YouTube's Music Charts & Insights list of top global artists as of 12 March 2020. She has been on the chart for 182 weeks with 348 million views.

Yagnik was born in Kolkata on 20 March 1966 to a Gujarati family. Her father's name is Dharmendra Shankar. Her mother Shubha was a singer of Indian classical music. In 1972 at age six, she started singing for Akashvani (All India Radio), Calcutta. At age 10, her mother brought her to Mumbai as a child singer. She was advised to wait until her voice matured, but her mother remained determined. On a subsequent visit, Yagnik got a letter of introduction to Raj Kapoor from his Kolkata distributor. Kapoor heard the girl and sent her with a letter to noted music director Laxmikant. Impressed, Laxmikant gave her two alternatives – an immediate start as a dubbing artist or a later break as a singer; Shubha chose the latter for her daughter. Yagnik mentioned that she was a bright student but didn't like studies.