Did you know these international pop stars are of Indian origin?

Did you know these international pop stars are of Indian origin?

Undoubtedly, Indians and those of Indian descent are dominant in several fields. Thousands of talented Indians have shaped the world of music for example. Just trying to name the most prominent musicians out of the wealth the country has produced would take hours.

Pop music is no exception to this and there have been several famous international pop stars who are of Indian descent. Here are some of those who have made an impact and become celebrities in the global music industry. 

Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury, the legendary lead singer of Queen, was born Farrokh Bulsara to a Parsi family in Zanzibar. He did his schooling in Panchgani and was apparently influenced by Bollywood singers such as Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar. With his impressive vocal range and charismatic showmanship, he is regarded to be one of the greatest frontmen in music history. Many consider him to be the first Indian singer to dominate popular music on such a scale.

Norah Jones

Norah Jones is the daughter of the legendary sitar maestro, Ravi Shankar. Her debut studio album, Come Away With Me, which was a fusion of jazz, country, blues and pop immediately made her a success. It won her five Grammy Awards, making her the first Indian-origin artist to win so many.

Charli XCX

Charlotte Emma Aitchison aka Charli XCX is one of the most versatile pop singers of our generation who has sung hits like I Love It and Break The Rules. However, did you know that she is half-Indian? Aitchison’s mother is Gujarati and the singer has mentioned that she is proud of her Indian heritage.

Nicki Minaj

Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, better known as Nicki Minaj, is often called the Queen of Rap. What few are aware of is that her father is of Indian descent. Originally hailing from Trinidad, which has a significant Indian-origin population, his name is Robert Maraj, the surname being a variation of ‘Maharaj.’

Jay Sean

We have all danced to Jay Sean hits like Eyes On You and Stolen. His music has featured a lot of fusion between bhangra and R&B, making it incredibly popular with the Indian diaspora. He has collaborated with other major artists such as Sean Paul.

Apache Indian

Steven Kapur, better known as Apache Indian, is one of the most famous reggae artists. His experimental approach made him a pioneer of a new style of music called bhangramuffin, a fusion of Punjabi music and Jamaican dancehall. His hit song, Boom Shack-A-Lak, has been played at millions of parties in India and the rest of the world.

Want a personalised video message from India's pop musicians?

Some of India's pop stars are here to give you a personalised video message for your birthday, anniversary or other occasions! Click below to know more.