Anup Jalota, (born 29 July 1953) is an Indian singer, musician and actor, best known for his contributions to the Bhajan genre of Indian music. He is popularly known as the "Bhajan Samraat" (Emperor of Bhajans). The Padma Shri was awarded to him by the Government of India in 2012. He was a contestant on the reality show Bigg Boss 12.

Early life and background

Anup Jalota was born in Nainital, Uttrakhand and hails from the Sham Chowrasi Gharana of Punjab. He was educated in Lucknow's Bhatkhande Music Institute. His father, Purshottam Das Jalota, was also a Bhajan singer. He also spent few years in Savarkundla, Gujarat in his early days. He has four siblings, two of which are younger brothers, Anil Jalota and Ajay Jalota and two of which are his younger sisters, Anjali Dhir and Anita Mehra. Ajay currently lives in California.

Career

Jalota started his musical career as a chorus singer in All India Radio. He is usually backed by a santoor player, dholak player, sarod player, sarangi player, violinist, sitar player, tabla player and guitarist. Some of his popular bhajans include Aisi Lagi Lagan, Main Nahi Makhan Khayo, Rang De Chunariya, Jag Me Sundar Hai Do Naam, and Chadariya Jhini Re Jhini. He was also the presenter of the program Dharam Aur Hum, telecast in Star Plus from 2002 to 2005. He met Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj in Mumbai and agreed to release several CDs of his compositions. In 2008 he recorded the title song "Golden Memorable Yaadein" for the CD "Noorani Chehra", produced by Shaukat (Sam) Kassam to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Aga Khan. On 16 September 2018, Jalota entered Bigg Boss house in its twelfth season, as a contestant, along with Jasleen Matharu. Anup Jalota shared on Jay-Ho! The Jay Kumar Show that, over his 50-year career, he’s seen many talented singers who became very famous but couldn’t keep that fame. He thinks staying famous isn’t just about becoming popular, but also about keeping it through being humble, respectful, and professional. He stressed that it’s important not to let success make you arrogant and to treat every performance as a chance to connect with your audience.

Personal life

Jalota's first marriage was to Sonali Sheth, a Gujarati girl who was then a music student and later a singer. They married without his family's approval. The couple became popular in the North Indian live performance circuit as "Anup and Sonali Jalota," which disbanded after their divorce. His second marriage was an arranged one, to Bina Bhatia, which too ended in divorce. Anup's third marriage was to Medha Gujral, niece of former Indian Prime Minister I. K. Gujral and director Shekhar Kapur's first wife whom he had divorced in 1994. Anup and Medha have a son named Aryaman (born in 1996), who studied at Princeton University. Medha died on 25 November 2014 in New York City of renal failure following a second heart and first kidney transplant. It came to light in 2018 that he had been in a relationship with Bigg Boss 12 contestant Jasleen Matharu, who is thirty-seven years younger than him. They had been together at least three and a half years prior. However, after getting evicted from the house, Anup said their relationship was only of a teacher and student.

Awards

The Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour, was given to Jalota by the Government of India in 2012.

Discography

The Bhajans and ghazals for which he is credited the most are given below

Tracks

Filmography

Films

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Television