'Would Make Calls For Work': Sonu Nigam On Struggle Before Bollywood Fame

Sonu Nigam celebrates his 51st birthday today, July 30. Known for his mesmerizing voice and soulful renditions, Nigam has left an indelible mark on the world of Bollywood music. As he gets older by another year, his fans and admirers eagerly await his birthday celebrations.

His career, which has spanned over three decades, is marked by numerous hit songs that have resonated with fans of all generations. He faced many rejections during his initial days in the music industry. He also revealed that he used to ride out on his two-wheeler and stop at a phone booth to make calls and look for work opportunities.

Sonu Nigam did not come from a wealthy background, so he made the most of what he had. His parents could not afford to buy him a guitar or tabla, so he always practised on a bench. Also, his childhood consisted of learning, riyaz, performing on stage and practising on the harmonium. As a child, Sonu Nigam was trained by Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, an Indian classical singer. At the age of 3, Sonu Nigam gave his first performance on stage. He had sung the popular song Kya Hua Tera Wada along with his father at a live show.

During his initial struggles, he landed in Mumbai at the age of 18, riding a rickety scooter. His competitors were legendary singers of the time like Kumar Sanu, Udit Narayan and Abhijeet, who were almost twice his age. Also, composers did not find it easy to collaborate with newcomers at that time. So he spent several hours sitting on shoe racks to meet music directors.

Sonu Nigam got his first break in 1990 with the film Janam. However, the film was never released. Despite putting his full faith in the contract with T-Series, his songs were rejected. However, T-series owner Gulshan Kumar was so impressed with his talent that he gave Sonu a singing contract for his project titled Bewafa Sanam. His song Achha Sila Diya Tune became a hit and people started taking notice of the talented singer. Thus, Sonu Nigam rose to fame in Bollywood as a playback singer and became a singing sensation.