Rajesh Roshan
He gave Bollywood some of its most hummable and enduring melodies, shaping the sound of mainstream Indian cinema for decades.
Born 1955 (age 71)·Indian music director and composer·Birthday: May 24·Baby Boomers
Biography
Rajesh Roshan, born into the illustrious Roshan family, carved his own distinct path in Hindi film music, sidestepping the shadow of his legendary father. His career ignited in the mid-1970s, but it was the 1980s and 90s where his signature style—a blend of catchy, accessible tunes and sophisticated orchestration—became a box-office staple. Roshan possessed a knack for creating instantly recognizable musical identities for films, from the playful synth-driven romance of 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai' to the grand orchestral themes of 'Koi... Mil Gaya'. His work, often in partnership with director Rakesh Roshan, demonstrated a consistent ability to evolve with changing tastes while maintaining a core of melodic purity that ensured his songs became national anthems.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Rajesh was born in 1955, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rajesh Was Born
The biggest hits of 1955
#1 Movie
Lady and the Tramp
Best Picture
Marty
#1 TV Show
The $64,000 Question
Rajesh's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1955Born
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1960Started school
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1968Became a teenager
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1971Could drive
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1973Could vote
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
1976Turned 21
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1985Turned 30
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 40
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 50
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 60
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 70
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 71 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for the blockbuster sci-fi film 'Koi... Mil Gaya'.
- Created the iconic score and songs for 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai', launching Hrithik Roshan's career and defining a generation's musical taste.
- Received multiple Filmfare Awards, including for the soundtrack of the hit film 'Krrish'.
- Composed the memorable music for the landmark film 'Karan Arjun', known for its dramatic and popular songs.
Did You Know?
He is the younger brother of filmmaker Rakesh Roshan and the uncle of actor Hrithik Roshan.
He made his composing debut with the film 'Julie' in 1975.
He is a trained tabla player.
He took a significant break from composing after the 1990s before making a major comeback in 2000.
“A tune must catch the ear in the first three seconds.”
