Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was born on December 9, 1974, in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan, into a family deeply entrenched in Qawwali and classical music traditions. His father was Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan, and he is the grandson of Qawwali singer Fateh Ali Khan, and the nephew of the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Rahat demonstrated an early affinity for music, beginning his formal training in Qawwali under his uncle Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan at the age of seven. This early rigorous training set the foundation for his future career, preparing him for a life dedicated to music.

Rahat’s public performances began at the age of nine, during his grandfather’s death anniversary, marking the start of a distinguished career. By the age of fifteen, he had become an integral member of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s renowned Qawwali group, touring internationally with his uncle, including a significant UK tour in 1985. Following Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s passing in 1997, Rahat assumed leadership of the group, continuing the family’s musical legacy. His career further diversified with his debut as a playback singer in Bollywood in 2003 for the film “Paap,” performing the song “Mann Ki Lagan.” This milestone opened doors to extensive work in Hindi cinema and the Pakistan film industry.

Throughout his career, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has achieved significant milestones, including sold-out concerts at major venues like Wembley Arena and Manchester Arena in 2012, setting records for ticket sales. His song “Zaroori Tha” from the 2014 album “Back 2 Love” became a landmark, being the first original non-film music video from the Indian subcontinent to achieve over a billion views on YouTube. He has collaborated with notable international artists and composers, such as Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam for the soundtrack of “Dead Man Walking” (1995) and James Horner for “The Four Feathers” (2002). His voice was also featured in Mel Gibson’s film “Apocalypto” in 2006. Rahat made history as the first Pakistani artist to perform at a Nobel Peace Prize concert in 2014, honoring Malala Yousafzai, performing “Tumhe Dillagi,” “Mast Qalandar,” and “Aao Parhao.”