Who doesn’t know Rahat Fateh Ali Khan! From Mann Ki Lagan to Tere Bin, he has provided Bollywood with some mesmerizing tracks. His voice soothes our minds and brings a sense of calm in any situation. Coming from a family of Qawwals, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has adapted with pretty much every genre of music.
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was born on 9th December 1974. We’re jotting down 20 facts that have shaped his life ever since then:
Amazing Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Facts
His family carries a lineage of Qawwali which is 600 years old.
We all know that Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is the nephew of the legendary Qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan but many of us don’t know that his father Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan and his grandfather Fateh Ali Khan were also Qawwali singers. His family has been schooled in Qawwali and has been carrying a lineage of 600 years.
He chose Harmonium as his primary instrument following his father.
Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan was known as Harmonium Raj Sahib. Following his footsteps, Rahat chose Harmonium as his primary instrument.
He prefers using the stage name Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Rahat always loves to include the first name of his uncle Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in his stage name. It is because it was Nusrat Saab that got Sufi music worldwide recognition. Also, Nusrat Saab was his mentor.
He started singing from the age of 3.
Rahat showed adoration for music from the age of 3. He was taught the art of music accordingly.
He started assisting Nusrat Saab at the age of 7.
Rahat was given the training of Qawwali when he was only 7. Nusrat Saab used to selected him for the training and used to take Rahat to perform with his troupe.
He gave his first performance at the age of 9.
Rahat performed the first time at the somber event of his grandfather, Fathe Ali Khan’s death anniversary. He was only 9 then.
He joined Nusrat Saab’s group when he was 15.
Rahat became an integral part of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s Qawwali group as he began accompanying them right after he turned 15. He even went to the UK with them in 1985.
Before starting his career in Bollywood, he did many solo concerts.
In addition to fulfilling his roles in a Qawwali group, Rahat also has done many solo concerts. Also, these were before he made his debut in Bollywood.
Mukh Tera Sohneya Sharab Nalon Changa Ae was his first ghazal performance.
Here’s a video of his first solo ghazal performance:
He gave music to the Hollywood film, Dead Man Walking.
In 1995, Rahat collaborated with Eddie Vedder of the American rock band, Pearl Jam for the soundtrack of Dead Man Walking. Additionally, in 2002, he worked on the soundtrack of The Four Feathers in collaboration with the American composer of orchestral and film music, James Horner.
He has collaborated with The Derek Trucks Band for their album.
In 2002, Rahat guested for the song “Maki Madni” for The Derek Trucks Band’s album, Joyful Noise. He has also collaborated with Mel Gibson for the soundtrack of Apocalypto.
In 1997, he was officially handed the Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan troupe due to the untimely death of Nusrat Saab.
There was an official ceremony handed where the reins of the Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan troupe was handed over to Rahat.
“Mann Ki Lagan” mad Bollywood Sufi-addicted.
We all know that Rahat debuted with “Mann Ki Lagan” from Paap in 2003. This song ended up being the reason for Bollywood’s Sufi-addiction. It began a new era altogether.
In the last decade, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has given Bollywood 100+ songs.
From Surili Akhiyon Wale to Tanha Hua, this decade has witnessed more than 100 songs sung by Rahat.
He has judged Indian Reality Shows.
Rahat has judged a show called Chhote Ustaad along with Sonu Nigam. In 2008, he judged another show called Junoon on NDTV Imagine.
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has performed at the Nobel Prize concert.
Rahat has been the first Pakistani artist to perform at the Nobel Prize concert after he was invited to the concert at the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. He performed Nusrat Saab’s Qawwalis “Tumhe Dillagi” and “Mast Qalandar”.
Rahat’s “Afreen Afreen” has been the most viewed song of Coke Studio on YouTube.
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan had performed a rendition of “Afreen Afreen” which was originally sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. It became one of the top hits for Coke Studio as it received a record-breaking response from audiences belonging to 190 countries across the world.
He has been awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Music by the University of Oxford.
On 26 June 2019, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music by Oxford University. He has also been given Wembley Arena Award in the same year.
His song “Zaroori Tha” from the album Back 2 Love became the first original non-film music video to receive a record-breaking response.
In 2014, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s “Zaroori Tha” crossed 100 million views on YouTube, making it the first original non-film music video in the Indian subcontinent to receive such a response. Within the next three years, it crossed more than 200 million views. One of the most underrated Rahat Fateh Ali Khan facts.
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has never worked with AR Rahman.
You will find this surprising but throughout his career, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has never worked with AR Rahman. He has mentioned in many interviews that he would love to work with him. We hope that happens.
Over the years, we have been so used to the enchanting voice of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. We hope that we get to hear more of his voice in the future. Check out facts about Lucky Ali by clicking here. So here you have all Rahat Fateh Ali Khan facts.
