Himesh Reshammiya
A Bollywood music maverick who reshaped the sound of Hindi film scores with his distinctive nasal vocals and synth-heavy, catchy compositions.
Born 1973 (age 53)·Indian music director and actor·Birthday: July 23·Generation X
Biography
Himesh Reshammiya didn't just enter the Bollywood music scene; he disrupted it. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, his sound—a blend of pounding electronic beats, catchy hooks, and his own uniquely high-pitched, nasal singing voice—became inescapable. Tracks from films like 'Aashiq Banaya Aapne' and 'Aap Kaa Surroor' dominated the charts, making him one of the industry's most commercially successful music directors. His style, often polarizing critics, was undeniably popular with a generation of listeners. Never one to shy from the spotlight, he later transitioned to acting, starring in films that often featured his own music. While his sound has evolved, his prolific output and unwavering self-confidence have cemented his status as a singular, bold figure in modern Indian pop culture.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Himesh was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Himesh Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Himesh's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Composed music for over 100 Bollywood films, with a prolific output of more than 1,300 songs as a music director.
- Made a successful transition to acting, starring in and composing music for the 2007 film 'Aap Kaa Surroor', which was a box office hit.
- Won multiple Filmfare Awards and other accolades for his music direction and playback singing.
- Pioneered a distinct, synth-driven pop sound in Bollywood that dominated the charts in the early to mid-2000s.
Did You Know?
He is a trained classical singer and the son of veteran music composer Vipin Reshammiya.
He often wears a signature cap, which became a major part of his public image, especially during his acting career.
He holds a Guinness World Record for the most songs recorded in a single day by a music director (12 songs).
He is a qualified pilot and holds a commercial pilot license.
“I compose what the public wants, and they want my signature sound.”
