| Rekha Bhardwaj | |
| Birth Place: | Delhi, India |
| Genre: | Playback singing in Bollywood and regional films |
| Occupation: | Singer |
| Years Active: | 1997–present |
Rekha Bhardwaj is an Indian singer and live performer. She has received two Filmfare and one National Awards.[1] [2] In addition to Hindi, she has also sung in Bengali, Marathi, Punjabi and Malayalam languages.[3]
Bhardwaj was born in Delhi and is one of six siblings (5 sisters and a brother).
She married the noted film director, composer and playback singer Vishal Bhardwaj in 1991.[4] She first met him in 1984 when preparing for the annual function of Hindu College in New Delhi.[5]
Bhardwaj was initially trained in music by her older sister at their home. She went on to receive formal training under Pandit Amarnath.[6]
Bhardwaj's first album titled 'Ishqa Ishqa' was released in 2002, ten years after its conception. Its success got her recognition and helped bag her career-defining songs like "Namak Ishq Ka" in the 2006 film Omkara (composed by her Husband Vishal Bharadwaj) followed by "Sasural Genda Phool" (a Chhattisgarhi folk song recreated by AR RAHMAN) in 2009 film Delhi-6.[4] [7]
Bhardwaj has been a playback singer for various films in various languages.
| Release year | Film | Track title | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Ishq Vishk Rebound | Rehmat (Rebound) | with Rochak Kohli | |
| 2023 | Khufiya | Mat Aana | with Vishal Bhardwaj (released on Netflix) | |
| Kuttey | Kuttey (Title Track) | with Vishal Bhardwaj | ||
| 2022 | Mismatched (Netflix Web Series) | Aise Kyun (Ghazal Version) | with Anurag Saikiya | |
| 2021 | Dhindora (YouTube Web Series) | Saazish | with Bhuvan Bam | |
| Hum Do Hamare Do | Vedha Sajjeyaa | with Sachin–Jigar and Vishal Jain (released on Disney Plus Hotstar) | ||
| 2020 | Angrezi Medium | Laadki | with Sachin-Jigar | |
| 2018 | Pari | So Ja So Ja | ||
| Pataakha | Balma | with Sunidhi Chauhan and Vishal Bhardwaj | ||
| Hello Hello | with Vishal Bhardwaj | |||
| Love per Square Foot | Raaz Apne Dil Ke (Indian), | released on Netflix | ||
| Raaz Apne Dil Ke (Western) | ||||
| Vodka Diaries | Sakhi Ri | with Ustad Rashid Khan | ||
| 2017 | Rangoon | Mere Miyan Gaye England | with Vishal Bhardwaj | |
| Chori Chori | ||||
| Yeh Ishq Hai (Female Version) | ||||
| 2016 | Dobara Phir Se | Rasta Tham Gaya | ||
| Tum Bin 2 | Teri Fariyad | with Jagjit Singh and Ankit Tiwari | ||
| Teri Fariyad Extended Version | ||||
| Jugni | Bolladiyaan | with Clinton Cerejo | ||
| 2015 | Drishyam | Dum Ghutta Hai | with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Vishal Bhardwaj | |
| Talvar | Zinda | with Vishal Bhardwaj | ||
| Badlapur | Judaai | with Arijit Singh and Sachin-Jigar | ||
| Bajrangi Bhaijaan | Zindagi Kuch Toh Bata | with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Pritam | ||
| Bin Roye | Chan Chariya | |||
| 2014 | Happy Ending | Mileya Mileya | with Jigar Saraiya and Priya Andrews | |
| The Xpose | Sheeshe Ka Samundar (reprise) | with Himesh Reshammiya | ||
| Haider | Aaj Ke Naam | with Vishal Bhardwaj | ||
| Revolver Rani | Banna Banni | |||
| Dedh Ishqiya | Hamari Atariya Pe | with Vishal Bhardwaj | ||
| Jagaave Saari Raina | with Pandit Birju Maharaj and Vishal Bhardwaj | |||
| 2013 | Ek Thi Daayan | Lautungi Main | ||
| Maazii | Mora Jiya Lagge Na | Nominated for Radio Mirchi Awards for Best Rag Based Song | ||
| D-Day | Ek Ghadi | with Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy | ||
| Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani | Kabira | with Tochi Raina and Pritam | ||
| "Ghagra" | with Vishal Dadlani and Pritam | |||
| Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola | Oye Boy Charlie | with Mohit Chauhan, Shankar Mahadevan and Vishal Bhardwaj | ||
| "Badal Uthiya" | with Vishal Bhardwaj | |||
| 2012 | Barfi! | Phir Le Aya Dil | with Pritam | |
| 2011 | 7 Khoon Maaf | Darling | with Usha Uthup and Vishal Bhardwaj | |
| Doosri Darling | with Usha Uthup, Clinton Cerejo, Francis Castellino and Vishal Bhardwaj | |||
| 2010 | Veer | Kanha | with Sajid-Wajid | |
| Sadiyaan | Waqt Ne Jo Beej Boyaa | |||
| Raavan | Ranjha Ranjha | with Javed Ali, Anuradha Sriram and A. R. Rahman | ||
| Ishqiya | Ab Mujhe Koi | with Vishal Bhardwaj | ||
| Badi Dheere Jali | ||||
| 2009 | Radio | Piya Jaise Ladoo Motichoor Wale | with Himesh Reshammiya | |
| Kaminey | Pehli Baar Mohabbat | with Sunidhi Chauhan, Kunal Ganjawala, Suresh Wadkar, Earl E D and Vishal Bhardwaj | ||
| Gulaal | Ranaji | |||
| Beedo | ||||
| Delhi-6 | Genda Phool | with A. R. Rahman | ||
| Aarti (Tumhare Bhavan Mein) | with Kishori Ashok Gowariker, Sujata Majumdar, Shraddha Pandit and A. R. Rahman | |||
| 2008 | Haal-E-Dil | Haal-E-Dil-2 | ||
| Superstar | Aankhon Se Khawab Rooth Kar | with Ustad Sultan Khan | ||
| 2007 | Red Swastik | Sadiyon ki Pyaas | ||
| 2006 | Omkara | Namak Ishq Ka | with Vishal Bhardwaj | |
| "Laakad" | ||||
| 2003 | Maqbool | Rone Do | ||
| Chingari | ||||
| 2002 | Makdee | Chutta Hai | ||
| 1999 | Jahan Tum Le Chalo | Ye Kaisi Chaap | ||
| Godmother | Daaru Rum | |||
| 1997 | Chachi 420 | Ek Woh Din Bhi |
| Release year | Film | Track title | Language | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Kuni Mulgi Deta Ka Mulgi | Unn Matlabi | Marathi | Her first song in the language | |
| 2012 | Doshomi | Swapno Bheja Alo | Bengali | ||
| 2018 | Carbon | Doore Doore | Malayalam |
In addition to films, Bhardwaj has also sung for TV serials, etc.
| Release year | Work | Track title | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Humnasheen | Kabhi Ashna Kabhi Ajnabi | Title track for Pakistani TV serial | |
| 2002 | Ishqa Ishqa | Her first music album consisting of Ghazals. |