Pankaj Udhas

Updated: March 14, 2026

Name: Pankaj Udhas
Date of Birth: May 17, 1951
Date of Death: February 26, 2024 (aged 72)

Biography & Career:

Pankaj Udhas (17 May 1951 – 26 February 2024) was a legendary Indian ghazal and playback singer, celebrated for bringing the art of ghazal to mainstream Bollywood audiences and for timeless songs such as “Chitthi Aayee Hai.” He passed away in Mumbai at the age of 72 after a prolonged illness, leaving behind an irreplaceable legacy in the world of Indian classical and popular music.

He started his career with the release of a ghazal album titled Aahat in 1980 and subsequently recorded many hits like “Mukarar” (1981), “Tarrannum” (1982), “Mehfil” (1983), “Pankaj Udhas Live at Royal Albert Hall” (1984), “Nayaab” (1985), and “Aafreen” (1986).

After his success as a ghazal singer, he was invited to appear and sing for a film by Mahesh Bhatt, Naam. Udhas rose to further fame for singing in the 1986 film Naam, in which his song “Chitthi Aayee Hai” (the letter has arrived) became an instant hit. He did playback singing for many Hindi films after that. His albums and live concerts around the globe brought him fame as a singer. In 2006, Pankaj Udhas was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award.