Vinod Rathod

Vinod Rathod, born on 12 September 1962 in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), Maharashtra, is a well-known Indian playback singer and dubbing voice artist, primarily associated with Hindi cinema. He comes from a musically rich family; his father, Pandit Chaturbhuj Rathod, was a respected classical musician. His brothers include Shravan Rathod, part of the famous composer duo Nadeem-Shravan, and Roopkumar Rathod, a noted singer and music director. 

Vinod Rathod developed an early interest in music under the influence of his father and family environment. His professional career began in the mid-1980s when music composer Usha Khanna noticed his voice and gave him an opportunity to sing a qawwali in the film Do Yaar. During his initial years, he recorded several songs with different composers, gradually establishing himself in the playback singing industry. 

His major breakthrough came in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He gained recognition after working with the composer duo Shiv-Hari, singing songs like “Zindagi Har Janam Pyar Ki Dastan” in Vijay (1988). However, his career reached new heights in 1992 when he sang for the film Deewana. The song “Aisi Deewangi,” sung with Alka Yagnik, became extremely popular and brought him nationwide fame. 

Throughout the 1990s, Vinod Rathod became one of the leading playback singers in Bollywood. He collaborated with major music directors such as Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Anu Malik, Bappi Lahiri, Anand-Milind, and Nadeem-Shravan. He lent his voice to many prominent actors, including Shah Rukh Khan and Govinda. His popular songs include “Nayak Nahin Khalnayak Hoon Main,” “Kitabein Bahut Si,” and “Dholi Taro Dhol Baaje,” among many others. 

Apart from playback singing, Rathod also worked as a dubbing artist. He provided his voice for several South Indian actors in Hindi-dubbed films, including stars like Nagarjuna, Mahesh Babu, and Jr. NTR. This aspect of his career showcased his versatility beyond singing. 

Over his career, Vinod Rathod has sung thousands of songs in multiple languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bhojpuri, and others. His singing style is known for its versatility, energy, and ability to suit different film situations, from romantic melodies to energetic dance numbers. 

He received nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for songs like “Aisi Deewangi” and “Nayak Nahin Khalnayak Hoon Main.” Despite a decline in Bollywood playback opportunities in later years, his songs remain popular among audiences. 

Vinod Rathod is remembered as an important voice of 1990s Bollywood music. His contributions to Indian cinema, especially through memorable songs and collaborations, have left a lasting impact on the industry.