Abhijeet Bhattacharya (born 30 October 1958), professionally known as Abhijeet, is an Indian playback singer who primarily sings in the Hindi film industry. Apart from Hindi, he has also sung in other languages, including Marathi, Nepali, Tamil, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Odia, and his native language Bengali both in West Bengal and Bangladesh. Abhijeet has sung 6050 songs in more than 1000 films. He was nominated for Forbes Popular 100 Indian Celebrity in the year 2014.

Personal life

Abhijeet was born in Uttar Pradesh to a Kanpur-based Bengali Brahmin family, the youngest of four to news editor Dheerendranath Bhattacharya and his wife Kamla Bhattacharya in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. He graduated in commerce (B.Com.) from Christ Church College, Kanpur, in 1977. He started singing on stage in 1970. He left home in 1981 to pursue a career in singing in Bollywood.

Film career

He was launched by R. D. Burman in a Bengali film with a duet song with Asha Bhosle. He did stage shows as a singer with R. D. Burman in his starting career. He has sung for Bollywood actors like Mithun Chakrabarty, Vijay Anand, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Sunny Deol, Sanjay Dutt, Govinda, Akshaye Khanna, Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, Ajay Devgan, Hrithik Roshan, Ranbir Kapoor, Chandrachur Singh, Bobby Deol, Jitendra Kumar and Jimmy Shergill. He has been deeply influenced by the singer Kishore Kumar. His career started with Baaghi (1990). The songs were Ek Chanchal Shokh Haseena, Har Kasam Se Badi Hai, Chandni Raat Hai became his first massive hit composed by Anand-Milind then. In 1992, came Khiladi where he sang songs Waada Raha Sanam, Khud Ko Kya Samajhti Hai, Kya Khabar Thi Jaana composed by Jatin-Lalit following this he gave many massive hits in the 90's. His 2000s career included Red Chillies Entertainment's film Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Dhadkan, Josh, Asoka. Following with Dhoom's Dilbara ,Gangster's Lamha Lamha ,Joru Ka Ghulam with Sunidhi Chauhan, Om Shanti Om's Dhoom Tana Na with Shreya Ghoshal. Later he sang for Ranbir Kapoor in film Besharam. The song was Dil Ka Jo Haal Hai with Shreya Ghoshal. In May 2019, Abhijeet Released Chakde Fatte which is the Cricket World Cup Song for 2019. The song was well appreciated by listeners. Many of his iconic songs are now being remade by new age composers, such as Tan Tana Tan from Judwaa 2, Ole Ole from Jawani Jaaneman where the actor was himself Saif Ali Khan, Main Khiladi Tu Anari from Selfiee, Husnn Hai Suhana from Coolie No. 1, Sheher Ki Ladki from Khandaani Shafakhana and many more in the list. His Salman Khan duo famous song Chunnri Chunnri was recreated by famous South Korea band BTS in 2020 and it became very famous in reels from Instagram. In 2020 his first released song came for the Movie Shukranu, a 70s feel like song "Khwaab hai ya haqeqaat" duet with Indian Idol fame Krishnakali Saha released from Zee Music Company. In September 2021 Abhijeet is judged 'Sangeet er Moha Juddho', a reality show airing on Colours Bangla Channel along with other judges Jeet Ganguli, Ustad Rashid Khan. He did his powerful comeback in 2024 with the song Thame Dil Ko in the season 3 of popular web series Panchayat released in Amazon Prime. Abhijeet came back in Bengali Movie song Top Chart again with 2024 Mithun Chakraborty starrer Shastri song Dhangkurakur Taak, this Pujo song is a massive hit prior to Puja festival release in Kolkata. Abhijeet gave chartbuster song at the end of year 2024 with Bengali Superstar Dev (Bengali actor) film Khadaan song titled "Haye Re Biye", which is Trending on YouTube and other platforms.

Non film music

In his early career he recorded an album with tribute songs to Kishore Kumar. The name of the album was A Tribute To Kishore Kumar, distributed by Gulshan Kumar and T-Series. His show was aired on Doordarshan was a massive famous among Indian homes which was a tribute to the legend Kishore Kumar. Playback singer Anuradha Paudwal also recorded duets opposite Abhijeet in some duet songs. He released Gems of Kishore Kumar singing iconic songs of the legend. Abhijeet along with Anuradha Paudwal and Bhupinder Singh released an album A Tribute To R.D. Burman in honor of the composer recreating his compositions. He released the Yaadein series where he sang many of the songs of Kishore Kumar along with singers Kumar Sanu and Vinod Rathod. He has recorded many non-film pop music Albums. Sham o Saher- Ghazal in 1985, Feelings in 1989 Music by Arjun Daswani. Later He released two albums, Main Deewana Hoon and Tapori No.1 in the early 1990s. He with other singers launched Dil Vil Pyar Vyar as a tribute to R. D. Burman and his compositions to Kishore Kumar. Other singers contributed including Kumar Sanu, Hariharan, Shaan and Kavita Krishnamurthy. Later he launched Aashiqui. In early 2000s, he released an album Salute To Legends singing the iconic songs of singers Manna Dey, Hemant Kumar, Kishore Kumar, Mukesh distributed by T-Series. In 2000s era he released pop albums like, Meri Wafaein (1997), Aashiqui (2000), Tapori No.1 (2001), Main Deewana Hoon (2002), Tu Meri Jaan(2002), Bandhan(Bengali), Tere Bina in (2003), Lamahe(2006), Pranta Juraiya Gelo Re (2013), AB (2014), Chai Chai Tumi Ami (2014). Tere Bina opened the career of Divya Khosla Kumar with the song Kabhi Yaadon Mein Aaon. Abhijeet got MTV Asia Award for the album 'Tere Bina'. Abhijeet also released Two complete Tagore Songs Album 'Oi Asontoler' & 'Shei Bhalo Shei Bhalo', which are well appreciated by Bengali listeners.

Reality Shows

Abhijeet was on the panel of judges of reality show Ek Se Badhkar Ek with choreographer Ahmed Khan anchor was Ravi Kishan in 2008 on Zee Tv.The show was based on bringing several talents together. Abhijeet was on the panel of judges of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs in 2009 with music director, singer Bappi Lahiri and playback singer Alka Yagnik on Zee TV and anchor was Shaan. Abhijeet then was on judges panel with his Baaghi co-singer Kavita Krishnamurti on Zee Bangla TV for Saregamapa Lil Champs Bangla 2010.The reality show was based on the bringing talented singer kids from districts of WB. His comeback as a judge was in 2020 with reality show SuperSinger on Star Jalsha. Then with Sangeeter Mahayuddho in 2021 on Colors Bangla channel. The other judges included singer Ustad Rashid Khan and Aashiqui 2 composer Jeet Ganguly.He attended as special guests in Indian Idol 2022, Saregamapa Zee TV on 2023.Recently attended Indian Idol 2024 on Sony TV in his honor of contribution in the Film Industry.He along with singer Anuradha Paudwal graced the stage of Saregamapa2024 season reality show on Zee TV.

Work with other singers

Abhijeet had sung multiple hit duets with singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Alka Yagnik, Neerja Pandit, K.S.Chithra, Anuradha Paudwal, Sadhana Sargam, Chandana Dixit, Sapna Mukherjee, Poornima, Hema Sardesai, Mahalakshmi Iyer, Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal, Akriti Kakkar, Jaspinder Narula and others. His career started with music composers Anand-Milind and Jatin-Lalit. He also sang many songs for them including A.R. Rahman, Anu Malik, Jagjit Singh, R.D. Burman, Rajesh Roshan, Nadeem-Shravan, Dilip Sen-Sameer Sen and other music composers. His maximum songs were with his friend singer Alka Yagnik.They sang as a successful duet in both 90's and later 2000's.

Discography

As a singer

Accolades

Win Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer Nomination 1995 – Best Male Playback Singer for "Wada Raha Sanam" from (Khiladi) 1995 – Best Male Playback Singer for "Ole Ole" from (Yeh Dillagi) 1997 – Best Male Playback Singer for "Yeh Teri Aankhen Jhuki Jhuki" from (Fareb) 2004 – Best Male Playback Singer for "Suno Na" from (Chalte Chalte)