Udit Narayan Jha, popularly known as Udit Narayan is a well-established playback singer in the Hindi and Tamil language film industries as well as in Nepali cinema. He was born in a village called Baisi in the Supaul district of Bihar, India.

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Udit began his career by singing Maithili, Bhojpuri and Nepali folk songs for Radio Nepal in the early 1970s. In 1978, he moved to Mumbai on a music scholarship. In Mumbai, he trained in Indian classical music for six years at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.

He got his first break in 1980, when noted music director (composer) Rajesh Roshan asked him to do a song for the Hindi movie Unees Bees, in which he got opportunity to sing with his inspiration, Mohammed Rafi. But the actual success story of his career began in 1988 with the superhit Bollywood movie Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, fetching him a Filmfare Award, the Bollywood equivalent of the Oscar. The film also happened to bring actor Aamir Khan, actress Juhi Chawla and singer Alka Yagnik to stardom. After the success of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, he became one of the leading playback singers in the Indian film industry, lending his voice mostly in Aamir Khan movies like Dil, Jo Jeeta Wohi Shikander, etc. At the same time, he became a well-known celebrity in Nepal and sang in most popular Nepali movies. He even acted in some Nepali movies like Kusume Rumal and Pirati but didn't get that much success.

Throughout the mid-1990s, he was overshadowed by Kumar Sanu, another superstar Indian singer. He got nominated for Filmfare Awards every year from 1992 to 1995, only to go home empty-handed. While Kumar Sanu won the Filmfare Awards for favorite male playback singer for five consecutive years from 1990 to 1994. The turning point of his career came with the movie Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. Even though Kumar Sanu had sung the superhit song "Tujhe Dekha To" in the same movie, it was Udit's song "Mehndi Lagake Rakhna" which won all the accolades including the Filmfare award for best male playback singer it can be more so that Sanu he won't accept any more awards. So, finally he got his second filmfare award after 8 years. And the following year (1996) he got nominated for three songs out of five and won his third award for the song "Pardesi Pardesi" from Raja Hindustani.

He reigned the throne of Bollywood playback singing for the next 10 years and won other major awards. He was the number one pick of all the hit musicians like Anu Malik, Jatin Lalit, A. R. Rahman, Nadeem-Shravan, Rajesh Roshan, Shankar Mahadevan, etc., and all the hit directors like Yash Chopra, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Karan Johar, etc. His collaboration was mostly popular with king Khan Shahrukh Khan, for whom he has sung major hits for superhit movies movies like Darr, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dil To Pagal Hai, Mohabbatein, Swades, Veer Zaara, etc.

Udit Narayan is considered as one of the greatest singers of his generation along with Kumar Sanu and Sonu Nigam, whose singing abilities are often compared with legendary singers like Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar. He is famous for his original voice and not following any of the old singers' clans. Renowned singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Anup Jalota, Pankaj Udhas, etc., have mentioned Udit Narayan to be the best in his generation for his quality in voice and originality.

He has also sung several songs in Kannada, Oriya, Tamil and Malayalam, where he has become popular on account of his distinctive accent. He also sings in many Nepali films, which are ultra-low-budget take-offs on the Bollywood style, in particular for composer Shambhujeet Baskota. In 2004, he released his first private Nepali album "Upahaar", in which he also sang duet songs with his wife Deepa Jha. It became a superhit and one of the best selling albums of all time. He even ended up winning awards in two major categories - Record of the year and Album of the year during Hits FM Awards 2004, the most popular music awards in Nepal for the same album "Upahaar".

His voice suits Shahrukh Khan,Aamir Khan and Salman Khan so perfectly and he has hit songs for all the actors mentioned, just as Mukesh's voice used to suit Raj Kapoor. Many songs of the pair had topped the charts and ruled listeners' hearts as well. Udit last lent his voice to Shah Rukh Khan in Don-The Chase Begins Again (2006) for the song "Khaike Paan Banaraswala" which was a superhit.

Sonu Nigam is replaced by Udit Narayan as a judge for Hit Idol series - Indian Idol 3.

Personal Life

Udit Narayan is married and has one son. His wife Deepa Narayan, whom he married in 1985, is an accomplished Nepali singer, and the two have recorded an album together titled Dil Deewana.

On April 21, Ranjana Jha, a resident of Supual district, created a flutter by claiming to be the singer`s first wife, a charge that Narayan consistently denied. She staged a sit-in at Udit`s suite in a posh hotel during his visit and the singer had to be whisked away by the police to the airport.

On the basis of the "photographs and statements" of people who claimed to have attended the "marriage" in 1984, the women`s commission had prima facie found Ranjana`s claim to be true and sought the singer`s version on the claim and also a clarification about his relations with Deepa.

Later, Narayan accepted Jha as his wife in a written statement to the commission. 'I recognise and accept Ranjana Jha as my wife and promise to look after her and to provide her maintenance,' he told the commission.

Prior to his assurance, Narayan had denied Ranjana's claim and repeatedly told the media that he did not know 'any Ranjana', and had never married her. He alleged it was a conspiracy to defame him.

His son Aditya Narayan has also established himself as the voice of child artists in Hindi movies and acted as child artist in hit movies like Pardes, Rangeela, and Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai. His role as a son of actor Salman Khan in the movie Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai was widely acclaimed. However, Aditya Narayan has grown up and has taken a break from Bollywood since 2001, on account of his changing voice. He's currently doing a course in English contemporary music in London, United Kingdom.

Some of hit songs by Udit Narayan

Papa Kehte Hain - Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988)

Ae Mere Humsafar - Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988)

Mera Dil Tere Liye - Aashiqui (1989)

Mujhe Neend Na Aaye - Dil (1990)

Humne Ghar Chhoda Hai - Dil (1990)

Koyal Si Teri Boli - Beta (1991)

Dhak Dhak Karne Laga - Beta (1991)

Pehla Nasha - Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992)

Jadu Teri Nazar - Darr (1993)

Phoolon Sa Chehra Tera - Anari (1993)

Tu Cheez Badi Hai MAst Mast - Mohra (1994)

Mehndi Lagake Rakhna - Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)

Ho Gaya Hai Tujhko - Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)

Ruk Ja O Dil Deewane - Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995)

Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya - Akele Hum Akele Tum (1995)

Kya Kare Kya Na Kare - Rangeela (1995)

Pardesi Pardesi - Raja Hindustani (1996)

Aaye Ho Mere Zindagi Mein - Raja Hindustani (1996)

Ho Nahin Sakta - Diljale (1996)

Meri Sason Mein Basa Hai - Aur Pyar Ho Gaya (1996)

Ghar Se Nikalte Hi - Papa Kehte Hai (1996)

Jadoo Bhari Aankhon Wali Suno - Dastak (1996)

Dil To Pagal Hai - Dil To Pagal Hai (1997)

Are Re Are - Dil To Pagal Hai (1997)

Bholi Si Surat - Dil To Pagal Hai (1997)

Dholna - Dil To Pagal Hai (1998)

Ae Ajnabi - Dil Se (1998)

Kuchh Kuchh Hota Hai - Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)

Koi Mil Gaya - Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)

ladki badi anjani hai- Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)

Yeh ladka hai deewana - Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)

Chand Chupa - Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999)

Taal Se Taal Mila - Taal (1999)

Mera Mann - Mann (1999)

Kaho Na Pyar Hai - Kaho Na Pyar Hai (2000)

Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Hai Dil Se - Dhadkan (2000)

Aaja Mahiya - Fiza (2000)

Mitwaa - Lagaan (2001)

O Rey Chhori - Lagaan (2001)

Radha Kaise Na Jale - Lagaan (2001)

Udhja Kaale Kawwa - Gadar (2001)

Jaane Kyon - Dil Chahta Hai (2001)

Woh Chand Jaisi Ladki - Devdas (2002)

Tere Naam - Tere Naam (2003)

Koi Mil Gaya - Koi Mil Gaya (2003)

Idhar Chala Main Udhar Chala - Koi Mil Gaya (2003)

Main Yahan Hoon - Veer Zaara (2004)

Aisa des hai mera -Veer Zaara (2004)

Yeh hum aa gaye hai kahan - Veer Zaara (2004)

Yeh Tara Woh Tara - Swades (2004)

Khaike paan banaraswala - Don - The Chase Begins Again (2006)

Awards and nominations

Filmfare Awards for Best Male Playback Singer

1988 Papa Kehte Hai Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak WON

1988 Ae Mere Humsafar Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (nominated)

1992 Pehla Nasha Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander (nominated)

1993 Jadu Teri Nazar Darr(nominated)

1993 Phoolon Sa Chehra Tera Anari (nominated)

1994 Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mohra] (nominated)

1995 Mehndi Lagake Rakhna Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge WON

1995 Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya Akele Hum Akele Tum (nominated)

1996 Pardesi Pardesi Raja Hindustani WON

1996 Ho Nahin Sakta Diljale (nominated)

1996 Ghar Se Nikalte Hi Papa Kehte Hain (nominated)

1997 Dil To Pagal Hai Dil To Pagal Hai (nominated)

1998 Kuch Kuch Hota Hai Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (nominated)

1999 Chand Chupa Badal Mein Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam WON

2000 Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Dhadkan (nominated)

2001 Mitwaa Lagaan WON - National & Filmfare Award

2001 Udhja Kaale Kawwa Gadar (nominated)

2003 Tere Naam Tere Naam (nominated)

2003 Idhar Chala Main Udhar Chala Koi Mil Gaya (nominated)

2005 Yeh Tara Woh Tara Swades (nominated) WON - National Award

2005 Main Yahaan Hoon Veer Zaara (nominated)

Other popular Awards won

National Film Award (Silver Lotus Award) for Best Male Playback Singer-3 times

2002 Mitwaa Lagaan

2003 Chhote Chhote Sapne Zindagi Khoobsurat Hai

2005 Yeh Tara Swades

Star Screen Award Best Male Playback-2 times

1996 Aye Ho Meri Zindagi Mein Raja Hindustani

2002 Woh Chand Jaisi Ladki Devdas

Zee Cine Awards Best Playback Male Singer-1 time

2000 Chand Chupa Badal Mein Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

IIFA Award for Best Male Playback-1 time

2000 Chand Chupa Badal Mein Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

Prabal Gorkha Dakshin Bahu from Late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev in Nepal

Hits FM Music Awards 2004(Nepal)- Record of the Year for the song "Kahile Timro" and Album of the Year for the album "Upahaar"

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