Neeraj Shridhar is an Indian singer, songwriter, music composer who is best known for being the lead vocalist of the Indian pop and rock band ‘Bombay Vikings.’ In 2000s, Neeraj Shridhar came into the limelight with the remakes of old Bollywood hit songs, such as Kya Soorat Hai, Woh Chali, and Chod Do Anchal.
Wiki/Biography
Neeraj Shridhar was born on Friday, 23 June 1978 (age 42 years; as of 2020) in Jalandhar, Punjab. Since Neeraj belonged to a family with a musical background, he got inclined towards music at a very young age. In an interview, he said,
There’d be a lot of mehfils at home. My mother would sing and my father would play the tabla. My parents discovered the musician in me when I was just three or four years old.”
At the age of eleven, he got a bongo and a guitar. Thereafter, he started spending long hours playing his guitar. Later, in 1992, his parents decided to send him off to Sweden, Europe. In an interview, he said,
I started spending eight hours playing guitar. Slowly, I got cut off from the world… it was just music and me. I’d make a lot of noise at home and my parents decided to pack me off to Sweden.”
Although, in Sweden, he felt terribly homesick, he started spending his time playing guitar in music bands at school, and later, he also collaborated with professional bands. By the age of nineteen, he became a full-fledged musician who earned his living in Sweden.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 6″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family & Ethnicity
Neeraj Shridhar was born into a Punjabi family. [1]The Kapil Sharma Show
Parents & Siblings
Neeraj Shridhar’s father was a producer at All India Radio.
Relationships, Wife & Children
On Sunday, 1 July 2012, Neeraj Shridhar got married to Nikila Shridhar. Neeraj Shridhar’s son’s name is Nevan Shridhar.
Neeraj Shridhar with his wife and son
Career
Neeraj Shridhar began his musical journey in 1994, with the formation of the music group Bombay Vikings. Neeraj along with his fellow members and Swedish musicians Oscar Söderberg and Mats Nordenborg established Bombay Vikings in Stockholm, Sweden. Neeraj was the lead vocalist and back-up guitarist. Mats Nordenborg, being a jazz specialist, played the saxophone. Later, Mats Folke and Johan Folke joined the group who were the keyboard specialists. Thereafter, the group was joined by Morgan as a drummer, Par as a bass controller, and Staffan as the lead guitarist. Bombay Vikings began performing live shows in Sweden and Norway. After a few years, after gaining immense recognition in Sweden, most of the band members disbanded, but, Neeraj chose to keep the name of the band, and he formed another band with the remaining members. In 1999, Neeraj released his debut music album, Kya Soorat Hai.
The project got postponed for almost four years because the Indian music companies doubted the success of such songs among the Indians due to its strong English and Western influence. Finally, Sony BMG Music Entertainment agreed to produce the album in India without any changes. The album consisted of eight tracks, all of which were remakes of old Indian songs. The album gained immense popularity in India which led to the westernisation of music in the country. In 2000, soon after the success of Kya Soorat Hai, Neeraj recorded another successful music album, Woh Chali. In 2002, Bombay Vikings released another album,’ Hawa Mein Udati Jaaye’ in which Neeraj worked with guest singers Linnea Spores and Falguni Pathak to produce songs. In 2004, another prominent music album, Chhod Do Aanchal’ was released by Bombay Vikings.
In 2003, Neeraj started working as a Bollywood playback singer, and he made his Bollywood debut with the song ‘Pyar Ke Naam Pe’ in the film ‘Rules: Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula.’ Thereafter, Neeraj tasted immense prosperity in Bollywood with his hit songs like Ticket To Hollywood (2007), Heyy Babyy (2007), Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2008), Race Saanson Ki (2008), Ragupati Raghav (2013), etc.
Awards/Honours
- Nominated for the Stardust Awards in the category of New Musical Sensation (Male) in 2008 for the song Ticket To Hollywood
- Nominated for the Stardust Awards in the category of New Musical Sensation (Male) in 2008 for the song Bhool Bhulaiyaa
- Nominated for the IIFA Award in the category of Best Playback Singer (Male) in 2008 for the song Bhool Bhulaiyaa
- Nominated for the Screen Awards in the category of Best Playback Singer (Male) in 2010 for the song Tum Mile
Favourite Things
- Food: Chole Bhature
- Rock Bands: Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple
Facts/Trivia
- In 2000, Neeraj recorded another successful music album ‘Woh Chali’ which included the popular Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar’s song ‘Main Chali.’ Lata Mangeshkar was so impressed by the remake of her song that she invited Neeraj to perform at her birthday party.
- He has an Swedish nationality.