Shailendra Singh is an Indian playback singer and actor. He sang a number of famous Hindi and Marathi songs back in the early 1970s and 1980s. One of his evergreen songs includes the famous Bollywood melody “Main Shayar Toh Nahin”. 

Born in a Punjabi family in Mumbai, India, Shailendra Singh did his schooling at Hill Grange High School in Peddar Road, Mumbai. After finishing up with his school, Shailendra Singh went on to pursue his degree from St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai. His real passion though, remained in acting which led him to get admissions to the Film And Television Institute Of India or popularly known as FTII in Pune. That is where he got his first-ever break in Bollywood.  

Shailendra Singh was in his second year of the Film And Television Institute Of India when he got his first big break with Raj Kapoor in the movie Bobby. He took the offer to do playback singing in Raj Kapoor’s film Bobby. Years later in an interview, Shailendra Singh shared his views on his big Bollywood break saying, he was lucky to have been introduced in the industry by Raj Kapoor, starting with a film that had all hit songs. According to Shailendra Singh, Raj Kapoor had an eye for music and he was one of the greatest romantic filmmakers. That is why when the opportunity presented itself, instead of pursuing acting like he had wanted ever since he was a child, he went into the world of Indian playback singing.  

Even though it was a childhood passion of Shailendra Singh to become an actor. A passion that took him all the way to the Film And Television Institute of India, he was also trained in Indian Classical Music. Shailendra Singh accepts that though he wanted to become an actor, his career path down the playback singing also gave him immense happiness as he always found more satisfaction in singing.  

Shailendra Singh went on to give some really popular, and evergreen Bollywood numbers like, Main Shayar Toh Nahin from the movie Karz, Teri Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi from the original Amitabh Bachchan Don movie, Dikhtna Pt. 2 from the movie Hum Aapke Hai Kaun, Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate from Bobby, Humne Tumko Dekha from the movie Khel Khel Mein; a song that went on to become a national rage song upon its release. Hum Tum Ek Kamre Mein Band Ho from Bobby, Tere Mere Pyaar Mein from Shola Aur Shabnam, Aaya Mausam Dosti Ka from Maine Pyaar Kiya, Jaane Do Na from the movie Saagar, Pyaar Mein Kabhi from Chalte Chalte, Tumko Mere Dil Ne Pukara from Rafoo Chakkar, Humne Tumko Dekha from Teen Ikke, amongst other songs. You can download Shailendra Singh hit mp3 songs from Saregama.

Unfortunately, in 1994, Shailendra Singh got hospitalized due to some health complications; a result of his diabetes. He said that due to this, the talk in the industry was that he had passed away and although his hospitalization didn’t kill him, it surely killed his career.  

Apart from singing, Shailendra Singh has also tried acting, working in movies like Do Jasoos, Ginny Aur Jhonny, Janta Hawaldar, Naukar, and Agreement. Although his acting roles didn’t receive the same stardom his songs did. Shailendra Singh also considers himself better at singing than at acting.  

In 1974, Shailendra Singh was nominated for the Filmfare Awards for Best Male Playback Singer for his song – Main Shayar Toh Nahin from the movie Bobby.  

On the occasion of Shailendra Singh’s birthday, Saregama wishes him a Happy Birthday and celebrates his contribution to the Indian Entertainment Industry. 

Now you can listen to the top hits of Shailendra Singh on Saregama Carvaan. Saregama Carvaan is a portable digital audio player that comes with 5000 preloaded evergreen Hindi songs that you can enjoy anytime, anywhere without ad breaks or an internet connection. It also consists of other features like Bluetooth, FM/AM radio, USB, and AUX connectivity.