From Accountant to Bollywood Star: The Journey of Abhijeet Bhattacharya
Abhijeet Bhattacharya, initially aiming to be a chartered accountant, found his true calling in Bollywood music after a tough struggle.
Mumbai, October 29 (Daily Kiran) : Abhijeet Bhattacharya, renowned for his hits like “Badi Mushkil Hai” and “Tum Dil Ki Dhadkan Mein,” never envisioned a career in music. Born on October 30, 1958, in Kanpur to a Bengali family, he initially aspired to become a chartered accountant. After completing his B.Com at Christ Church College, he moved to Mumbai in 1981 to pursue his CA studies. However, his passion for music soon took over.
Upon arriving in Mumbai, Abhijeet quickly realized that his true dream lay in playback singing. He left his CA program to dedicate himself to the challenges of the music industry. His early days in the city were marked by financial struggles, forcing him to live in cramped guesthouses and take on various low-paying jobs. Despite facing numerous setbacks, including returning to Kanpur in despair, he was always drawn back to Mumbai by the allure of music.
During this period, Abhijeet sought out legendary composers like R.D. Burman, Bappi Lahiri, and Rajesh Roshan, often waiting outside recording studios for hours. His persistence paid off when renowned composer Ravindra Jain offered him a place to stay, bringing him closer to the Bollywood scene. Soon, he began working as a chorus singer for big names like Rajesh Roshan and Jagjit Singh.
After two years of hard work, R.D. Burman recognized his talent and gave him his first major break in the film “Anand Aur Anand” (1984), featuring Sunil Anand, Dev Anand’s son. This opportunity allowed him to sing alongside his idols, including Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar. However, the film flopped at the box office, stalling his career once again.
It wasn’t until six or seven years later that Abhijeet gained recognition by recording cover versions of Kishore Kumar’s songs for Gulshan Kumar and T-Series. His performances on Doordarshan helped him establish a foothold in Indian households.
In 1990, the music duo Anand-Milind offered him a chance to sing in the Salman Khan film “Baaghi.” The songs “Ek Chanchal Shokh Hasina” and “Chandni Raat Hai” became massive hits, catapulting Abhijeet to stardom and marking the end of his nine-year struggle in the industry.
