She is considered to be the greatest playback singer
There have been hundreds of incredible Bollywood singers over the years but only a few have left their mark in terms of wealth.
Whilst the cinematic industry is hard to survive in, these artists have shown that with great dedication can come great success.
But, a big part of their achievements is down to their musical prowess and creative abilities. Not to mention their brash and diverse voices that can suit any movie genre.
However, which singers have shone the brightest in Bollywood and become the richest? We take a look at the most triumphant artists and their net worth.
A R Rahman
One of the most popular Bollywood singers of all time and the artist with the highest net worth is A R Rahman.
The composer, singer and musician started his career in 1992 with the Tamil movie Roja.
From there, he’s gone on to form an impressive career by using his unique fusion of electronic, operatic and classical Indian sounds.
Rahman has composed music for numerous successful movies, including Rangeela, Guru, Taal and Lagaan.
Some of his most popular hits include ‘Jai Ho’ from Slumdog Millionaire, ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ from Dil Se and ‘Humma Humma’ from Bombay.
However, the singer is not just loved because of his contribution to the Indian film industry.
He’s also composed music for Hollywood movies such as Slumdog Millionaire for which he won two Oscars.
Adding to his list of accomplishments are two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA award, over five National Film Awards and over 14 Filmfare Awards.
Approximate net worth: £233 million.
Sonu Nigam
Born in 1973, Sonu Nigam’s career started when he was just 19 years old.
His breakthrough song was ‘Accha Sila Diya’ from the 1995 movie Bewafa Sanam which starred Krishan Kumar and Aruna Irani.
What makes Sonu such a legend and by default, one of the richest Bollywood singers of all time, is his ability to sing in multiple languages.
These include Gujarati, Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi and Telegu. He can even bellow out vocals in Urdu and Marathi.
This versatility has led to some of the most loved Bollywood tracks ever.
His rich, soulful and emotive vocals are heard over songs like ‘Suraj Hua Maddham’ and ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’.
Similar to A R Rahman, Sonu has won a long list of prizes during his expansive career, including National Film Awards and Filmfare Awards.
The musician has also starred in a few movies and TV shows, making him one of the most successful singers in Indian cinema.
Approximate net worth: £41.7 million.
Lata Mangeshkar
It’ll come as no surprise that the Nightingale of India makes it to the list of the richest Bollywood singers.
Whilst it’s easy to tell that Lata was never in the media industry because of the money/fame, her catalogue of songs just cannot be overlooked.
Born in 1929, Lata’s career spanned over 75 years.
According to thousands of fans, she is considered to be the greatest playback singer of all time.
Her big breakthrough came with the 1942 movie Kamal, and since then she went on to record songs in more than 36 Indian languages.
Mostly known for her angelic and harmonious voice, Lata sang over 30,000 songs.
Some of her most-loved songs include ‘Lag Ja Gale’ from Woh Kaun Thi, ‘Kabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein’ from Kabhi Kabhie and ‘Aaja Re Pardesi’ from Madhumati.
For her effortless and awe-inspiring vocals, Lata has won industry awards as well as the highest civilian honours in India such as the Padma Bhushan.
Whilst her untimely death in 2022 sparked worldwide mourning, she is forever remembered as one of the most influential singers, not just in Bollywood, but in history.
Approximate net worth: £41.7 million.
Asha Bhosle
Of course, no Bollywood singers list is complete without the iconic Asha Bhosle.
As the sister of the late Lata Mangeshkar, Asha had no problem making a name for herself within Indian cinema.
The musician has been gracing soundtracks for over 60 years but started her career in 1943 with the movie Majha Bal.
Having collaborated with famous composers like R D Burman and Shankar-Jaikishan, Asha has developed a rare style that spans pop, folk and classical music genres.
Having recorded thousands of songs, some of her most beloved tracks are ‘Kahi Deep Jale’ from Bees Saal Baad, ‘Dil Cheez Kya Hai’ from Umrao Jaan and ‘Yeh Mera Dil’ from Don.
Similarly to her sister, Asha has received global recognition for her vocal performances.
Amongst her accolades are the BBC Lifetime Achievement Award, Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award – India’s highest award in cinema.
Approximate net worth: £33.4 million.
Shreya Ghoshal
Shreya Ghoshal shot to fame aged 16 when she won the popular singing show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee TV in 2000.
Only two years later, she made her Bollywood debut at just 18 years old with the iconic blockbuster, Devdas.
At such a young age, Shreya showed no signs of intimidation and she ended up winning the Best Female Playback Singer award for ‘Bairi Piya’.
As the artist started to gain a lot of attention from composers and music directors, her voice started to appear in more Bollywood hits.
Some of these include ‘Agar Tum Mil Jao’ from Zeher, ‘Saans’ from Jab Tak Hai Jaan and ‘Deewani Mastani’ from Bajirao Mastani.
Her rare take on music fuses the emotion of vintage Bollywood and the brightness of modern Indian cinema. It makes her one of the most followed musicians in the world.
Emphaising this, even more, is her growing list of achievements that include National Film Awards, Filmfare Awards and the Royal Albert Hall Honourary Award.
No wonder, she’s one of the wealthiest Bollywood singers of all time.
Approximate net worth: £20.8 million.
Arijit Singh
As one of the most naturally talented musicians in Indian cinema, Arijit Singh has been at the top of Bollywood since his breakthrough in the 2011 movie Murder 2.
His track ‘Phir Mohabbat’ really showcased the depth of vocal range Arijit has and it wasn’t long until he was in high demand.
Similar to most playback artists, Arijit can sing in various languages such as Tamil, Bengali and Kannada.
However, his most impressive attribute is the way he can manipulate any track to fit the mood of the movie, scene and actors involved.
He’s highly aware of what directors want and can deliver the final product effortlessly.
Examples of his emotional tone can be heard and seen in Aashiqui 2 for ‘Tum Hi Ho’, Dilwale for ‘Gerua’ and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil for ‘Channa Mereya’.
Arijit has several awards for his work including the Filmfare RD Burman Award, Mirchi Music Awards and Filmfare Awards.
However, he’s also received immense praise from his Bollywood colleagues. Legendary actor Shah Rukh Khan has expressed:
“Arijit Singh is the future of music. He is a very versatile singer and has a unique voice. I am a big fan of his.”
Indian director and presenter, Karan Johar, also adds:
“Arijit Singh is one of the most talented singers we have in the industry.”
“He has an amazing voice and can sing any kind of song with ease.”
Approximate net worth: £20.8 million.
These Bollywood singers are amongst some of the wealthiest musicians on the planet.
With careers that span decades, their songs not only depict the skill they have as artists but also the longevity they have to survive in such a demanding industry.
They continually shine in movies, even though it’s just their voices that are heard – which actually makes them more impressive.
It’ll be interesting to see if any future stars can match or even surpass the historical numbers that these singers have achieved.
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