MUMBAI: In a recent interview, renowned Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam gave credit for his successful career to the legendary Pakistani folk singer Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi, stating that Esakhelvi’s songs played a vital role in helping him establish his identity in the Indian music industry.
During his appearance on journalist Fardoon Shahryar’s podcast, Nigam expressed heartfelt gratitude to those who contributed to his journey, particularly highlighting Esakhelvi’s influence. He revealed that his early breakthrough came with the rendition of the emotional classic “Acha Sila Diya”, originally sung by Esakhelvi. The song became a defining moment for the young singer.
Recalling his first conversation with the Pakistani legend, Nigam said, “He (Attaullah Esakhelvi) was certainly a beautiful person. He holds great importance in my life. My career had just started, and it was with his songs.
He called me and said, ‘Mr. Sonu, I am Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi from Pakistan, and I want to tell you that you sang it very well.’” Nigam, who was only 19 years old at the time, added, “I pray for all those legendary singers who contributed to my success. I am indebted to them, and ‘Acha Sila’ was a major turning point in my career.”
Over the course of his illustrious career, Sonu Nigam has sung more than 2,000 songs in over a dozen languages, including Hindi, Kannada, Bengali, Tamil, and Telugu.
He has won numerous awards, including a National Film Award, two Filmfare Awards, and several IIFA and Zee Cine Awards. Among his most famous songs are “Kal Ho Naa Ho,” “Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin,” “Suraj Hua Maddham,” “Saathiya,” “Main Agar Kahoon,” and “Sandese Aate Hain.” Widely regarded as one of the most versatile and melodious voices of Indian cinema, Nigam continues to be celebrated across generations.