Pankaj Udhas: Pankaj Udhas was born on May 17, 1951, in Jetpur, Gujarat. He was an Indian ghazal and playback singer known for his work in Hindi cinema and Indian pop music. Pankaj sang several famous songs, including ‘Chitthi Aayee Hai’ from the film Naam (1986). In 2006, he was honored with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award. Sadly, on February 26, 2024, Pankaj passed away due to a prolonged illness. His daughter, Nayaab Udhas, shared this tragic news via Instagram. He had been battling cancer and was undergoing treatment at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai.
Pankaj Udhas Biography
| Full Name | Pankaj Udhas |
| Nickname | Pankaj |
| Gender | Male |
| Profession | Ghazal singer and Music director |
| Date of Birth | 17 May 1951 |
| Date of Death | 26 February 2024 |
| Age (at the time of death) | 72 Years |
| Birthplace | Jetpur, Saurashtra, Gujarat, India |
| Hometown | Jetpur, Gujarat, India |
| Death Place | Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai |
| Death Cause | Prolonged Illness |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
| Nationality | Indian |
Physical Status
| Height (approx.) | 5 feet 6 inches |
| Weight (approx.) | 72 kg |
| Body Measurements (approx.) | Chest– 40 Inches Waist– 34 Inches Biceps– 12 Inches |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
Pankaj Udhas Family
| Father | Keshubhai Udhas |
| Mother | Jituben Udhas |
| Brother | Nirmal Udhas (Elder), and Manhar Udhas (Elder) |
| Sister | N/A |
Personal Information
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Farida Udhas |
| Children | Daughter: Nayab Udhas and Reva Udhas Son: N/A |
Favourite Things
| Food | Tandoori chicken and Hyderabadi murgh biryani |
| Actor | Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan |
| Actress | Madhuri Dixit and Priyanka Chopra |
| Musician | Begam Akhtar, Mehdi Hassan and The Beatles |
| Restaurant | China Garden in Mumbai |
Education
| School | Vidya Vihar School, Rajkot |
| College | St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai |
| Qualification | Degree in Science |
Pankaj Udhas Early Life
Pankaj was born in Jetpur, Saurashtra, Gujrat, India. He belongs to a zamindars family. His father, Keshubhai Udhas, was a government servant and his mother’s name is Jituben Udhas. In his childhood, his father used to play ‘dilruba’, a stringed instrument which made him and his brothers inclined towards music. Later, his father enrolled them at the Sangeet Academy in Rajkot. Later, he moved to Mumbai with his tutor and guardian Navrang Nagpurkar, who was a singer from the Gwalior Gharana. He did his schooling from St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai.
Pankaj Udhas Death
Nayaab Udhas, the daughter of Pankaj Udhas, shared the tragic news on Instagram that her father, Pankaj, passed away due to a prolonged illness on February 26, 2024. Condolence messages started pouring in from all over India as soon as this sad news became public.
Pankaj Udhas Career
In 1962, during the Indo-Chinese war, Pankaj gave his first stage performance on the song ‘Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon’ and received Rs. 51 from an audience member as a token of appreciation for his talent. In 1980, he released his debut ghazal album ‘Aahat’. His big break came in 1986 when he featured in the song “Chitthi Aayee Hai” from the film ‘Naam’, which became a huge hit and brought him fame. In 1990, he collaborated with Lata Mangeshkar on “Mahiya Teri Kasam” for the film ‘Ghayal’. Pankaj sang the popular song ‘Na Kajre ki Dhar’ in the film ‘Mohra’ in 1994. By 2011, he had released over fifty albums and sung numerous songs. Later, Pankaj started a talent hunt show called ‘Aadab Aarz Hai’ on Sony Entertainment Television.
Some of Pankaj Udhas Albums & Ghazals
- Aahat (1980)
- Nasha (1997)
- Mukarrar (1981)
- Tarrannum (1982)
- Mehfil (1983)
- Pankaj Udhas Live at Albert (1984)
- Nayaab (1985)
- Khazana
- Aafreen (1986)
- Nabeel
- Aashiyana (1992)
- Ek Dhun Pyar Ki (1992)
- Mahek (1999)
- In Search of Meer (2003)
- Hasrat (2005)
- Shaayar (2010)
- Sentimental (2013)
- Khamoshi Ki Awaz (2014)
- Khwabon Ki Khahani (2015)
- Nayaab Lamhe with Gulzar (2018)
Awards for Pankaj Udhas
| Year | Awards |
| 2006 | Padma Shree. |
| 2006 | “Kalakar” award for “Hasrat” as “Best Ghazal Album of 2005”. |
| 2004 | Special Felicitation at the Wembley Conference Center. |
| 2003 | MTV Immies Award. |
| 2003 | Special Achievement Award. |
| 2003 | Dadabhai Naoroji Millennium Award. |
| 2002 | Award for Excellence in the Music Field. |
| 2002 | Indo-American Chamber of Commerce. |
| 2001 | Vocational Recognition Award for Outstanding Performance. |
| 1999 | Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, USA Award for Extraordinary. |
| 1998 | Indian Arts Awards Gala, presented by the American Academy of Arts in Atlantic. |
| 1996 | Indira Gandhi Priyadarshani Award for Outstanding Service, Achievement, and Contribution. |
| 1994 | Honorary Citizenship of Lubbock, Texas, USA. |
| 1994 | Radio Lotus Award for Outstanding Achievement. |
| 1993 | Giants International Award |
| 1990 | Outstanding Young Person Award (1989-90) |
| 1985 | K.L Saigal Award for the Best Ghazal Singer of the Year |
FAQs
Who is Pankaj Udhas wife?
Farida Udhas is the wife of Pankaj Udhas.
When did Pankaj Udhas died?
Pankaj Udhas died on 26 February 2024.