Rajesh Roshanlal Nagrath (born 24 May 1955), known professionally as Rajesh Roshan, is an Indian music director and composer.
Personal life
Rajesh was born to music director Roshanlal Nagrath and singer Ira Nagrath on 24 May 1955 in Bombay, Bombay Presidency. His father is Punjabi and his mother is Bengali. He is younger brother to actor, director and producer Rakesh Roshan, thus making him uncle to latter's children, Sunaina Roshan and actor Hrithik Roshan. He is married to Kanchan with whom he has two children – a son, Eshaan Roshan, married to actor and model Aishwarya Singh in 2025 and a daughter, Pashmina Roshan, also an actress.
Career Rajesh Roshan had a frequent successful collaboration with Kishore Kumar, Basu Chatterjee, Dev Anand, Mohammed Rafi, Amit Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle. He shot to fame with the score for the 1974 film Kunwara Baap and the 1975 film Julie; for the latter he won the Filmfare Best Music Director Award.
Rajesh scored for Kunwara Baap (1974) and then in three back-to-back hit films: Des Pardes, Man Pasand, Lootmaar. He went on to compose melodious tunes and made Kishore Kumar sing them in films like Mama Bhanja, Doosra Aadmi, Swami, Priyatama, Yehi Hai Zindagi, Ek Hi Raasta, Swarag Narak, Inkaar, Khatta Meetha, Baton Baton Mein, Do Aur Do Paanch, Kaamchor, Hamari Bahu Alka, Jaag Utha Insan, Bhagwaan Dada, Ghar Sansar followed by films with Rajesh Khanna like Janta Hawaldar, Nishaan, Babu and Aakhir Kyon?.
In the 1990s, he worked in albums like Karan Arjun (1995), Sabse Bada Khiladi (1995), Papa Kehte Hai (1996), Koyla (1997), Keemat – They Are Back, Daag: The Fire (1999), Dastak (1996), Kya Kehna (2000) and Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000).
Critics believe that several of his most popular songs are closely based on popular songs from other countries.
Rajesh has been the recipient of several prestigious awards for his contributions to Hindi cinema music. He has won multiple Filmfare Awards and other accolades for Best Music Director for films like Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai and Koi... Mil Gaya.
In 2025, Netflix released a four-part documentary series titled The Roshans. The series traces the artistic lineage from composer Roshan to his sons Rakesh and Rajesh, and to actor Hrithik, reflecting on how the family’s creative output helped shape mainstream Bollywood music and cinema.
Plagiarism claims Rajesh Roshan has often been accused of plagiarism; veteran journalist Karan Thapar talks of at least 39 copied tunes. Indian music critic Karthik Srinivasan, on his website ItwoFS, which tracks plagiarism in the Indian film music industry, lists 41 such tunes. These include some of Roshan's best-known titles, such as "Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaye" (Jurm, 1990) being inspired by "Hear The Whistle Blow A Hundred Miles" from Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs (released in 1967) and "Aye Dil Laya Hai Bahaar" (Kya Kehna, 2000) inspired by Neil Sedaka's 1959 single "Oh! Carol".
In 2008, the Bombay High Court obligated the Roshan brothers to pay up to ₹2 crore to music composer Ram Sampath following his accusations of their film Krazzy 4, produced by Rakesh and having Rajesh as music director, containing Sampath's plagiarised music score.
Filmography
As Music Director
Year Film Notes Sales2017 Kaabil 2013 Krrish 3 2010 Kites 2008 Krazzy 4 2006 Krrish 1,300,000 2004 Aetbaar 2003 Koi... Mil Gaya Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director2,100,000 Love at Times Square Title Track Only 2002 Na Tum Jaano Na Hum 900,000 Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe 2001 Moksha Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachaao 2000 Karobaar Kya Kehna 2,000,000 Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai Winner, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director 10,000,000 Mela 2 songs composed 1999 Trishakti Laawaris Daag: The Fire 2,200,000 1998 Kudrat Khote Sikkey Mere Do Anmol Ratan Main Solah Baras Ki Jaane Jigar Dand Nayak Keemat Yugpurush Hafta Vasuli 1997 Ghulam-E-Mustafa Tarazu Koyla 1,800,000 Kaun Sachcha Kaun Jhootha 1996 Dastak Papa Kehte Hai Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director3,000,000 Chhota Sa Ghar 1995 Sabse Bada Khiladi Karan Arjun Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director3,000,000 1994 Insaniyat 1993 Aasoo Bane Angaarey Gunaah Zakhmo Ka Hisaab Prateeksha King Uncle 1992Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi Khel Lambu Dada Kasak 1991 Jeevan Daata Do Pal Swarg Yahan Narak Yahan Shiv Ram Karz Chukana Hai Vishnu-Devaa Begunaah1990 Bahaar Aane Tak Jurm Kishen Kanhaiya 1,200,000 1989 Kala Bazaar Daddy Asmaan Se Ooncha Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharnii 1988 Dharamyudh Khoon Bhari Maang Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Dariya Dil Jungle Ki Beti Maar Dhaad Kabzaa 1987 Kaash Khudgarz Dil Tujhko Diya 1986 Anubhav Ghar Sansar Ek Aur Sikander Bhagwaan Dada Maqaar 1985 Babu Aakhir Kyon? Ek Daku Shaher Mein Ulta Seedha Telephone 1984 Inteha Jaag Utha Insan Yadoon Ki Zanjeer Zindagi Jeene Ke Liye 1983 Nishaan Rishta Kagaz Ka 1982 Kaamchor Johny I Love You Khud-daar Waqt Waqt Ki Baat Shriman Shrimati Hamari Bahu Alka 1981 Yaarana Sannata Shakka 1980 Lootmaar Man Pasand Unees-Bees Swayamvar Aap Ke Deewane Do Aur Do Paanch Aakhri Insaaf 1979 Kaala Patthar Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Duniya Meri Jeb Mein Mr. Natwarlal Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Janta Hawaldar Baton Baton Mein 1978 Swarag Narak Muqaddar Des Pardes Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Vishwanath Tumhari Kasam Dillagi Ek Baap Chhe Bete 1977 Jay Vejay Doosara Aadmi Mama Bhanja Charandas Ek Hi Raasta Khatta Meetha Inkaar Yehi Hai Zindagi Zindagi Priyatama Swami Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director 1976 Udhar Ka Sindur Ginny Aur Johnny 1975 Julie Winner, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director 1974 Kunwara Baap Total sales 27,500,000
Television The Roshans (2025)
References
External links