Harshdeep Kaur (born 16 December 1986) is an Indian playback singer known for her Bollywood Hindi, Punjabi, English and Sufi songs. She is popularly known as "Sufi Ki Sultana" because of her soulful Sufi renditions. After winning titles in two reality shows, Kaur established herself as a lead singer in Bollywood soundtracks. Kaur was sixteen years old when she released her first Bollywood song, "Sajna Mai Haari". Kaur is known to perform in a traditional Sufi attire, and a turban.
Kaur has recorded songs for film music in multiple Indian languages, including Hindi, Punjabi, Malayalam, Tamil and Urdu, and has established herself as a leading playback singer of Indian cinema. She has worked with leading music directors (including A R Rahman, Pritam Chakraborty, Vishal–Shekhar, Salim–Sulaiman, Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, Amit Trivedi, Shantanu Moitra, Tanishk Bagchi, Himesh Reshammiya, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Sohail Sen. She's one of the very few Indian singers to have sung for a Hollywood film. Her track R.I.P., composed by AR Rahman, was a part of Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle's film 127 Hours. She has also sung a few songs for the Pakistani film and television industry.
Some of her popular songs include "Katiya Karun" from Rockstar; "Dilbaro" from Raazi; "Heer" from Jab Tak Hai Jaan; "Ik Onkar" from Rang De Basanti; "Zaalima" from Raees; "Nachde Ne Saare" from Baar Baar Dekho; "Bari Barsi" from Band Baaja Baaraat; "Kabira" from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani; "Jugni Ji" from Cocktail; and "Twist Kamariya" from Bareilly Ki Barfi.
In 2019, Kaur received the IIFA Award for Best Female Playback Singer award at the 20th IIFA Awards for the song "Dilbaro" from the film Raazi. She also won the Star Screen Award, Zee Cine Award for the same song Dilbaro.
Early life Kaur was born on 16 December 1986 to Savinder Singh Sohal in Delhi. She is from a musical background. Her father, Savinder Singh Sohal, owns a factory of musical instruments. She attended Springdales School in New Delhi. Apart from studying, she started learning music at the age of six. She learned Indian classical music from Mr. Tejpal Singh, popularly known as the Singh Brothers, and Western classical music from George Pullinkala, Delhi Music Theatre. Later, at the age of twelve, to explore the world of music, she joined the Delhi School of Music to learn piano.
Career Television Kaur won the singing competition MTV’s Video Ga Ga in 2003. In 2008 she won Junoon – Kuch Kar Dikhaane Ka. She competed from the Sufi Ki Sultan genre with Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan as her mentor.
She sang the title song of TV series Bani – Ishq Da Kalma in 2013. Kaur is the only singer who has appeared on all four seasons of Coke Studio (India) from 2011 to 2015.
Harshdeep Kaur became a judge on StarPlus singing reality show The Voice India. She was joined by Adnan Sami, Kanika Kapoor and Armaan Malik as the other coaches and by "Super Guru" A. R. Rahman.
Personal life Kaur married her childhood friend Mankeet Singh in a traditional Sikh wedding ceremony on 20 March 2015 in Mumbai. The couple's first child, Hunar Singh was born on 2 March 2021.
Television appearances Coke Studio (India) on MTV: Season 1 – Hoo (Music recreated by Leslie Lewis) in 2011 Season 2 – Nirmohiya (Music by Amit Trivedi) & Hey Ri (Music by Hitesh Sonik) in 2012 Season 3 – Dinae Dinae with Papon in 2013 Season 4 – Teriyan Tu Jaane (Amit Trivedi) in 2015 As a judge on The Voice, a singing reality show on StarPlus in 2019. Her team won the reality show. The opening ceremony of IPL in 2017. Special performance at the Global Indian Music Academy Awards in 2016. MTV Unplugged: "Aaj Din Chadeya" with Pritam Featured multiple times on The Kapil Sharma Show
Concerts and tours Year Concerts and Tours City(s) / Country(s) Notes 2010 A. R. Rahman Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour USA, Canada, UK, South Africa, & Singapore 2011 Rockstar Concert India, London Film promotional Concert
2013 In April she headlined the Southbank Centre Music Festival in London, alongside Soul/Bollywood singer Ash King. In August she headlined the Mosaic Festival held in Mississauga, Canada. In September she performed at the London Mela in Gunnersbury Park.
2014 AAS Concert at Purana Qila with Attaullah Khan. MTV Unplugged Concert with Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan Live in Concert with Pritam at Wembley Arena, London, Dubai & Singapore Infinite Love Concerts with AR Rahman in Singapore and Malaysia
2015 Performed with her band at the Stardust Concert held at the Royal Festival Hall in London in September 2015
2016 Performed at the Heart of Asia Conference held in Amritsar in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Asian leaders in 2016 Hazaaron Khwahishein Aisi with Shekhar Ravjiani at The Esplanade in Singapore in September 2016
2017 First Indian singer to become a headliner at the Manchester International Festival in June 2017. Headlined "Sounds Of Sufi" Concert at the Esplanade in Singapore in November 2017 Leading performers of the AR Rahman Encore tour in India 2017 Her Solo UK tour in March 2018 was a huge success and garnered a lot of appreciation from the music industry and her fans. She has performed with the Legendary Punjabi singer "Gurdas Mann" in 2015 & 2018 in New Delhi.
2018 She was the leading performer on Pritam's First-ever North American Tour in April 2018. She opened for Bryan Adams' on his India tour on 12 October(Mumbai) and 14 October (Delhi) in 2018. Performed for Ranveer Singh & Deepika Padukone's Wedding in Lake Como, Italy.
2019 Headlining performer at the "Jashn-e-Rekhta" Festival held in Delhi. Headlined Konark Festival in Orissa
Discography Film songs Year Film(s) No. Song(s) Co-artist(s) Notes 2003 Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai 1 "Sajna Main Haari" Nikhil–Vinay Oops! 2 "Alag Alag" Ravi Pawar 3 "Uljal Baat Hai Duniya Ki" 2005 Karam 4 "Le Jaa" Vishal Dadlani 2006 Rang De Basanti 5 "Ik Onkar" A. R. Rahman Taxi No. 9211 6 "Udne Do" Vishal–Shekhar 2007 1971 7 "Saajana" Akash Sagar 8 "Saajana" (Remix) Red: The Dark Side 9 "Dil Ne Ye Na Jaana" Himesh Reshammiya 2008 Halla Bol 10 "Is Pal Ki Soch" Karzzzz 11 "Lut Jaaon Lut Jaaon" Himesh Reshammiya 2010 Kajraare 12 "Aafreen" 13 "Woh Lamha Phir Se Jeena Hai" 14 "Woh Lamha Phir Se Jeena Hai" (Party Mix) Guzaarish 15 "Chaand Ki Katori" Band Baaja Baaraat 16 "Baari Barsi" Labh Janjua, Salim Merchant Khatta Meetha 17 "Sajde Kiye" (Film Version) Roopkumar Rathod 18 "Sajde Kiye" (Remix) KK, Suzanne D'Mello 2011 Desi Boyz 19 "Jhak Maar Ke" Neeraj Shridhar 20 "Jhak Maar Ke" (Remix) Rockstar 21 "Katiya Karoon" A.R. Rahman 2012 Cinema Company 22 "Sonee Lagdee" Alphons Joseph, Manjari Malayalam film Cocktail 23 "Alif Allah (Jugni)" Arif Lohar Jab Tak Hai Jaan 24 "Heer" A.R. Rahman Khiladi 786 25 "Tu Hoor Pari" Javed Ali, Shreya Ghoshal, Chandrakala Singh Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana 26 "Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana" Shahid Mallya 27 "Luni Hasi" (Female) 2013 Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani 28 "Kabira" (Encore) Arijit Singh Phata Poster Nikhla Hero 29 "Mere Bina Tu" (Film Version) Rahat Fateh Ali Khan 2014 Ennathan Pesuvatho 30 "Nenje Nenje Nee" Tamil film 31 "Pennaga Pirathu" Dhilip Varman Dil Vil Pyaar Vyaar 32 "Saanu Te Aisa Mahi" Sunidhi Chauhan Punjabi film Punjab 1984 33 "Rabb Meri Umar" (Lori) Pora Pove 34 "Nee Adugu Venaka" Telugu film Bang Bang! 35 "Uff" Benny Dayal 2015 Bin Roye 36 "Ballay Ballay" Shiraz Uppal Urdu film Prem Ratan Dhan Payo 37 "Jalte Diye" Anweshaa, Shabab Sabri, Vinit Singh 2016 Saadey CM Saab 38 "Mere Vich Teri" Harbhajan Mann Punjabi film 31st October 39 "Rabb De Bande" Sultan 40 "Sachi Muchi" Mohit Chauhan Happy Bhag Jayegi 41 "Happy Oye" Shahid Mallya Baar Baar Dekho 42 "Nachde Ne Saare" Jasleen Royal, Siddharth Mahadevan Parched 43 "Mai Ri Mai" Neeti Mohan Befikre 44 "Khulke Dulke" Gippy Grewal 2017 Raees 45 "Zaalima" Arijit Singh Irada 46 "Mahi" Shabab Sabri Flat 211 47 "Tere Lams Ne" (Unplugged) Bareilly Ki Barfi 48 "Twist Kamariya" Yasser Desai, Altamash Faridi 2018 Hichki 49 "Oye Hichki" 50 "Soul of Hichki" Raazi 51 "Dilbaro" Vibha Saraf, Shankar Mahadevan Lashtam Pashtam 52 "Rab Rakha" Sukhwinder Singh Manmarziyaan 53 "Grey Walaa Shade" Jazim Sharma 54 "Chonch Ladhiyaan" 55 "Jaisi Teri Marzi" Bhanu Pratap Singh Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi 56 "Happy Bhag Jayegi" Daler Mehndi, Suvarna Tiwari 2019 Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga 57 "Gud Naal Ishq Mitha" Navraj Hans Composed by Rochak Kohli Parey Hut Love 58 "Ik Pal" Hadiqa Kiani, Suhas Sawant Urdu film 59 "Behka Na" Ali Tariq 2020 Happy Hardy and Heer 60 "Ishqbaaziyaan" Asees Kaur, Alamgir Khan, Jubin Nautiyal 61 "Le Jaana" Asees Kaur, Himesh Reshammiya, Navraj Hans Bhangra Paa Le 62 "Sacchiyaan" Amit Mishra Panga 63 "Le Panga" Divya Kumar, Siddharth Mahadevan Tanhaji 64 "Tinak Tinak" Jawaani Jaaneman 65 "Mere Baabula" (Madhaniyaa) Akhil Sachdeva 2022Bal Naren66"Ram Ji Aayenge"Manish S2025Love in Vietnam67 "Burrah Burrah" Meet Bros, Malkit Singh, Ninja
Other songs Year No. Album(s) / TV Show(s) Song Notes 2010 1 Channel Divya "Barse Channel Divya" (Theme Song 1) 2013 2 Bani – Ishq Da Kalma "Saaiyaan" TV show 3 Mohabat Subh Ka Sitara Hai "Ye Jo Subha Ka Ik Sitara Hai" Pakistani TV Show2015 4 "Jutti Kasuri" Punjabi Folk (Single) 5 Save the Girl Child "Nanak di Soch" Single2016 6 "Saaun Da Mahina" Tribute to Jagjit Singh 7 Shabad "Lakh Khushiyaan" 8 "Nanak Naam Mile" 9 Strumm Sufi Album "Wali Allah" 10 Educate the Girl Child Anthem "School ki Ghanti" For Nestle 11 100 Days "Joban Madhuban" TV show 12 Ek Shringaar-Swabhiman "Ek Shringaar Swabhimaan" 13 MTV Unplugged "Aaj Din Chadeya" with Pritam 14 350th Birth Anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh "Guru Gobind Singh Ji" 2017 15 "Waho Waho Gobind Singh" 16 Social Song "Hawa Badlo Anthem" Campaign against Air Pollution 17 Collaboration "Lovers Quest Medley 5" 18 Single "Dil Di Reejh" Punjabi Single 19 T Series Mixtapes "Ehna Akhiyaan / Yaar Mangeya Si" 20 Simran for meditation "Satnam Waheguru Ji" Guru Nanak Jayanti Special2018 21 T Series Mixtapes Punjabi "Chhalla / Ni Mai Kamli" 22 Single "Chamba Kitni Duur" Himachali Folk Song (Single) 23 Song for Virushka "Peer Vi Tu" Wedding Song of Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma 24 Shabad "Satguru Nanak Aaye Ne" 550 years of Guru Nanak Jayanti Special2020 25 Prayer "Taati Vaao Na Lagai" 26 Prayer "Chaupai Sahib" Prayer written by Guru Gobind Singh 27 Title song India Wali Ma Sony TV 28SinglePyaar MileyaSingle on her own music label202129SingleBehaal 30SingleJannatCollaboration with UK Based artist Ezu31PrayerTegh Bahadur Simriye400 years of Guru Tegh Bahadur Jayanti Special32BhoomiJallianwalaReleased in Album Bhoomi by Salim Suleiman 2022 33 Himesh Ke Dil Se "Tenu Pyyarr Kardaa" Music Album34BhoomiKoi Bole ramReleased in Album Bhoomi by Salim Suleiman35SingleNi Main JaanaFeatured at Times Square for Spotify Equal36PrayerMere Maalik Ji37SingleWaah SajnaSingle on her own music label38PrayerLakh Khushian Patshahian39PrayerPurab Mubarak40PrayerJithe Jaaye Bahe Mera Satguru202441SingleBhala SipahiyaDogri Song42PrayerNaasro Mansoor Guru Gobind SinghReleased on her own music label43PrayerRam Siya RamReleased on the occasion of Ram Mandir opening at Ayodhya44SingleO SajnaCollaboration with Abhijit Vaghani45PrayerAnand SahibReleased on her own music label46SingleYaar Banaaya TennuCollaboration with Kunaal Vermaa & Abhijit Vaghani47SingleDuaCollaboration with ShameerTandon and released on Zee Music48SinglePardesiyaCollaboration with Kanwar Grewal49SingleTeri Ban JaanaReleased on Zee Music
Awards and nominations