Wikipedia

Mohit Chauhan

This article is about the playback singer. For the Bollywood actor, see Mohit Chauhan (actor).

Mohit Chauhan (born 11 March 1966) is an Indian playback singer, known for his work in Hindi films. He was a part of the Silk Route band. Chauhan has received two Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer and three Zee Cine Award For Best Male Playback Singer awards.[1] He has recorded several songs for films and albums many different languages, and is one of the most prominent Indipop singers.

Mohit Chauhan
Chauhan at the 59th Filmfare Awards in December 2014
Chauhan at the 59th Filmfare Awards in December 2014
Background information
Born (1966-03-11) 11 March 1966 (age 58)
Nahan, Himachal Pradesh, India
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • lyricist
  • composer
  • philanthropist
InstrumentsHarmonica, Guitar, Flute
Years active1998–Present

Early life

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Mohit Chauhan was born in the town of Nahan, Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh, on 11 March 1966 in a Rajput family.[2] He has an elder brother and a younger sister. Because of his father's transferable job, he studied in various schools of Himachal Pradesh, including Our Lady of Snows Highschool in Kullu, and St. Luke's Senior Secondary School, Solan.[2] Chauhan earned a Master of Science in Geology from a government college at Dharamshala affiliated to Himachal Pradesh University.[3] He has not received any formal training in music, but he often practiced singing with his brother. He got influenced by his grandfather who was a classical singer and played harmonium. He was also influenced by legendary singer Kishore Kumar.[4] He wanted to become an actor before his debut in the music industry.[5]

Career

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Chauhan, Kem Trivedi, Atul Mittal and Kenny Puri formed the band Silk Route.[6][7] Chauhan was the vocalist, while Kem played the keyboards, Atul Mittal was the lead guitarist and Kenny Puri played the drums. Their first album, Boondein, was released in 1998 and featured the popular songs "Dooba Dooba" and "Pehchan". The second album was released in 2000. After Silk Route was discontinued in 2008, he released another album "Fitoor" in 2009.[8]

Chauhan's film singing career began in 2002 when he sung "Pehli Nazar Mein Dari Thi" from the film Road. His songs "Khoon Chala" from Rang De Basanti and "Tum Se Hi" from Jab We Met are regarded as his most notable.[9][10] He won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer prize in 2010 for the song Masakali.[11]

In 2011, he was featured in the third episode of The Dewarists for his song "Maaya". He was also featured on MTV Unplugged in the same year.[12] In 2017, he made his Gujarati language debut with the song "Jaag Re Banda" from the movie Last Chance.[13] He sang for the first Himachali movie "Puchhe Amma" and "Deva Mere" from the film Saanjh.[14]

Bollywood Debut:2002-07

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After the massive success of "Dooba Dooba" and "Boondein", which earned him awards and recognition, Chauhan was approached by composer Sandesh Shandilya to sing in films. Chauhan made his debut with Shandilya's composition of the song "Pehli Nazar Me Dari Thi" from the 2002 film Road.[citation needed] The next year, he sang for the films Main Madhuri Dixit Banana Chahati Hoon and Kyun, but didn't get any recognition.

This was followed by "Sabse Peeche Hum Khade" for the 2004 film Let's Enjoy, "Paintra" and "Guncha Koi" for the 2005 film Main Meri Patni aur Woh in which he also served as composer, and the song "Angna" and "Rowan Akhiya" for the film Adharma.

A.R. Rahman, who had noticed Chauhan at the award win for Silk Route, called him to sing "Khoon Chala" for the film Rang De Basanti. The song proved to be a breakthrough for him, and in 2007, he followed this up with his first major hit song in the Pritam-composed romantic ballad "Tum Se Hi" for the film Jab We Met, penned by Irshad Kamil; both Pritam and writer-director Imtiaz Ali wanted Chauhan to lend his voice for this romantic track.

2008-10

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Chauhan followed the success of "Tum Se Hi" with the song "Kuchh Khaas Hai" in 2008, composed by Salim–Sulaiman, for Fashion. He reunited with Pritam for Kismat Konnection where he performed "Kahi na Lage Man (Is This Love) " along with Shreya Ghoshal. "Ankhon Hi Ankhon Mein", a soft romantic number from EMI, had him appear on screen for the first time in the song's music video. He also sang for his first animated film Bolt where he sang the Hindi version of "I Thought I Lost You".

2009 was the most successful year in Chauhan's career, as of the 8 songs he recorded, 4 of them — "Masakali" from Delhi-6, "Yeh Dooriyan" from Love Aaj Kal, "Pehli Baar Mohabbat" from Kaminey and "Tune Jo Na Kaha" from New York — were huge chartbusters, establishing him as an audience favourite among the younger generation. 2010 proved to be a moderately successful follow-up to Chauhan's success from the previous year, as his songs became popular. Among his 2010 songs, the romantic number "Pee Loon" from Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, picturized on Emraan Hashmi, was a rage.

2011

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Ranbir Kapoor and Mohit Chauhan performing during Rockstar movie promotional event

Chauhan had his biggest rise to national prominence in 2011 as he attracted mainstream attention for his contribution to the soundtrack of Rockstar, which reunited him with Ali and Rahman after almost half-a-decade; the 9 songs he recorded for the film as the voice of the protagonist Jordan played by Ranbir Kapoor were all massive chartbusters at the time of release, and continue to be treated as cult songs till date. Among other successful songs he recorded that year, "Abhi Kuch Dino Se" from Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji and "Khwabon Ke Parinday" from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, "Acha Lagta Hai" from Aarakshan were highly popular.

2015-Present

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In 2020, Chauhan sang "Dheere Dheere Se" for the film Guns of Banaras, composed by Sohail Sen and written by Sameer.[15] He sang "Yeh Dooriyaa" which is composed by Pritam from the film Love Aaj Kal (2020).[16] This song is new version of "Yeh Dooriyaan" chartbuster from the film Love Aaj Kal (2009). Both the version are written by Irshad Kamil There is a remix version too which is released by Sony Music India. He sang "Meethi Meethi Gallan", "Kisi Gair Ka Nahi", and "Salaam". Salaam is a tribute to corona warriors by Chauhan. He also features in a video of " Hum Haar Nahi Maanenge" composed by AR Rahman.

In 2019 Chauhan performed at Kargil Vijay Diwas, he sung "Khoon Chala" his song from Rang De Basanti, as a tribute to the brave Indian Soldiers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi & Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were present. The event held at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.[17]

Discography

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Mohit Chauhan during recording session of a song
Main article: List of songs recorded by Mohit Chauhan

Personal life and philanthropy

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Mohit Chauhan and his friend (now wife) Prarthna Gehlot with the then President of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam during a meeting related to his work on Kalam poetry

Chauhan married Prarthna Gehlot on 29 June 2012.[18]

Mohit is an active participant in the not-for-profit public limited companies National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), which encourages young people to follow beneficial vocational training initiatives.[19][20][21][22]

Chauhan regularly feeds 250+ stray dogs in Delhi which started at the time of Lockdown in India due to COVID-19 pandemic. "Before the Lockdown, there were people who would feed the strays. But now, they've stopped. The stray dogs in Delhi don't hunt and depend on humans to feed them. So, I've been going around giving them food and water", says Chauhan.[23] These efforts evolved into his own charity by the name of Animals Are People Too, registered under 80G & 12A.[24]

Filmography

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Year Name Role Notes Ref
2008 Ankhon Hi Ankhon Mein Himself Appearance in a song titled "Ankhon Hi Ankhon Mein" from film EMI
2009 Kuchh ish Tarah Himself Appeared with Tulsi Kumar in the song Kuchh Is Tarah from film 8X10 Tasveer
2016 Bolo Har Har Himself Appeared in song Bolo Har Har from movie Shivaay it also features Mithoon, Badshah
2012 Main Hoon Shab Himself Appeared in the song Main Hoo Shab from film Tezz
2019 Kyun Dil Mera Himself Appeared in the song "Kyun Dil Mera" from film Paharganj
2024 Baaja Himself Appeared in the song "Baaja" from the film Amar Singh Chamkila

Awards and honours

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Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Mohit Chauhan

Chauhan has received two Filmfare Awards, one IIFA Award, three Zee Cine Awards, and one Screen Award. He was listed in the Forbes Celebrity 100 of 2012.

References

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  1. ^ "When Mohit Chauhan wanted to be an actor". 17 February 2016. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Exclusive biography of #MohitChauhan and on his life". FilmiBeat. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Mohit Chauhan complete his PG in Geology from Dharamsala College". Archived from the original on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Mohit Chauhan Will Not Recreate Kishore Kumar Tracks; Calls It 'Blasphemy'" https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/entertainment-news-mohit-chauhan-refused-to-recreate-kishor-kumar-tracks-did-you-know-kumar-refused-to-cover-kl-saigal-songs/399540/amp
  5. ^ "Mohit Chauhan wanted to be an actor". 17 February 2016. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Mohit Chauhan - Forbes India Magazine". Forbes India. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  7. ^ "The sounds of silk". The Times of India. 16 March 2003. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  8. ^ Roy, Dhaval (30 September 2018). "Make music that comes from deep within: Mohit Chauhan". DNA India. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  9. ^ "The Mountain Song -". 20 May 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  10. ^ Hungama, Bollywood (24 October 2009). "Mohit Chauhan – The Man with the Silk Voice : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  11. ^ MairaS (10 December 2011). "Bollywood Awards: 2010 Filmfare Awards Winners (55th Filmfare Awards)". Film and Movies. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  12. ^ "Mohit Chauhan Jad Se Judien L'Oreal Paris India Song". Archived from the original on 20 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  13. ^ "Mohit Chaunan first Gujarati track". The Times of India. 28 February 2017. Archived from the original on 18 April 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  14. ^ "Mohit Chauhan sings for first ever Himachali movie Saanjh – Lokmarg". lokmarg.com. 9 April 2017. Archived from the original on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  15. ^ "Guns of Banaras". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  16. ^ "Love Aaj Kal (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Pritam". Apple Music. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  17. ^ Kumari, Surbhi (27 July 2019). "Kargil victory is an inspiration to future generation, says PM Modi at Kargil Vijay Diwas". www.indiatvnews.com. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  18. ^ "Mohit Chauhan And Prarthna Gehlot, A Perfect Couple: They Were Just Friends Before Marriage". BollywoodShaadis. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Mohit Chauhan join Skill India Mission". Archived from the original on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  20. ^ "PadMan song Saale Sapne: This Akshay Kumar-Mohit Chauhan's track is about chasing your dream". 13 January 2018. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  21. ^ "ROZANA LYRICS - Phir Se - Mohit Chauhan & Tulsi Kumar". Archived from the original on 25 February 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  22. ^ "Hafiz Hafiz song detail". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018.
  23. ^ "Mohit Chauhan: Have to take care of animals around us". Hindustan Times. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  24. ^ https://www.animalsarepeople.org/ [bare URL]
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