Overview
Himesh Reshammiya is an Indian music composer, singer, lyricist, film producer and actor associated primarily with Hindi cinema. Active as a composer since the late 1990s, he gained widespread popularity in the mid-2000s with the soundtrack of Aashiq Banaya Aapne (2005) and went on to become one of the most commercially successful Bollywood music directors of that decade. He is known for his distinctive nasal singing style and for popularising a sound that fused electronic arrangements with Indian melodic phrasing.
Key facts
| Full name | Himesh Reshammiya |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 July 1973, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Father | Vipin Reshammiya, music composer |
| Occupation | Music composer, singer, lyricist, actor, producer |
| Active since | 1998 (as composer); 2005 (as singer); 2007 (as lead actor) |
| Production house | HR Musik Limited |
| Notable albums | Aap Kaa Surroor (2006) |
| Notable films (acting) | Aap Kaa Surroor (2007), Karzzzz (2008), Radio (2009), The Xpose (2014), Teraa Surroor (2016), Happy Hardy and Heer (2020) |
Background
Himesh Reshammiya was born into a Gujarati family in Mumbai. His father, Vipin Reshammiya, was a film and stage music composer, and Himesh was exposed to film music and live performance from an early age. He entered the film industry initially as a music director, working on television serials produced by Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms before transitioning to Hindi feature films.
Career
Early work as composer
Reshammiya began composing for Hindi films in the late 1990s, with early credits including Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998). Through the early 2000s he scored films such as Hello Brother (1999), Tere Naam (2003), Hungama (2003), Aitraaz (2004) and Phir Hera Pheri (2006). The soundtrack of Tere Naam, in particular, became commercially influential.
Singing breakthrough
Reshammiya took up playback singing with the title song of Aashiq Banaya Aapne (2005), which became a major hit and established his recognisable vocal style. His non-film album Aap Kaa Surroor (2006), released by T-Series, was among the best-selling Indian pop albums of its time and led to extensive international concert tours.
Acting
He made his acting debut with Aap Kaa Surroor: The Real Luv Story (2007), directed by Prashant Chadha. Subsequent acting credits include Karzzzz (2008), a remake of the 1980 film Karz; Radio (2009); The Xpose (2014), set in the 1960s film industry; Teraa Surroor (2016); and Happy Hardy and Heer (2020). He has continued to compose for and perform in his own productions.
Television and reality shows
Reshammiya has been a judge on several Indian musical reality shows, including multiple seasons of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee TV and Indian Idol on Sony Entertainment Television, where he is associated with mentoring contestants who have transitioned to playback singing in Hindi cinema.
Production
He founded HR Musik Limited, through which he has produced films, music albums and live tours. The company has been involved in several of his own starring vehicles and music releases.
Timeline
- 1973: Born in Mumbai.
- 1998: Early Hindi film composing credits including Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya.
- 2003: Composed the soundtrack of Tere Naam.
- 2005: Singing breakthrough with Aashiq Banaya Aapne.
- 2006: Released the album Aap Kaa Surroor.
- 2007: Acting debut in Aap Kaa Surroor: The Real Luv Story.
- 2008: Lead role in Karzzzz.
- 2009: Starred in Radio.
- 2014: The Xpose released.
- 2016: Teraa Surroor released.
- 2020: Happy Hardy and Heer released.
Musical style
Reshammiya's compositions are characterised by prominent synthesiser-driven arrangements, repetitive hooks, and integration of qawwali, Sufi and dance-pop elements within a mainstream Hindi film idiom. His own singing voice—high-pitched and nasal—became a recognisable signature and the subject of considerable popular and critical discussion during the mid-2000s.
Significance
Himesh Reshammiya is regarded as a defining figure of mid-2000s Hindi film music, a period in which he composed for a large number of commercially successful films simultaneously. The success of Aap Kaa Surroor demonstrated the continued commercial viability of Hindi non-film pop albums during a period when that market had largely contracted. His move from behind-the-scenes composer to performing star also influenced later crossover careers in the Hindi film industry.
Personal life
Reshammiya was first married to Komal Reshammiya, with whom he has a son, Swayam. The couple later divorced. He subsequently married actress Sonia Kapoor.