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Altaf Raja Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 28, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth15 October 1967

Age57 Years (as of 2024)

BirthplaceNagpur

ProfessionQawwali singer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyFather - Ibrahim Iqbal (musician); Mother - Rani Roop Lata (musician); Brother - Name not known; Two sisters

Altaf Raja Biography

Altaf Raja is an Indian qawwali singer best known for the 1997 hit 'Tum To Thehre Pardesi'. Over a career that spans playback singing, album releases, film

Early life and background

Altaf Raja was born on 15 October 1967 in Nagpur. He grew up in a musical household: both his parents, Ibrahim Iqbal and Rani Roop Lata, were musicians, and his family included at least three siblings. He began formal music training around the age of 18 and credits his father as a key inspiration for pursuing qawwali.

Raja attended Antonio De Souza High School in Mumbai and later studied at the University of Mumbai. He is Indian by nationality and follows Islam. His zodiac sign is Libra.

Career

Altaf Raja emerged into public attention with the 1997 release of the song 'Tum To Thehre Pardesi.' The single became a massive commercial success and was noted for exceptionally high cassette sales at the time. The popularity of that early hit established him as a recognizable voice in the qawwali and Hindi music scene.

Following his breakthrough, Raja recorded albums through the 2000s and 2010s. Album titles attributed to him include Dil Ke Tukde Hazaar Huye (2000), Taaza Hawa Lete Hain (2001), Tere Ishq Ne Maalamaal Kiya (2006), Ashqon Ki Baraat (2012), and Ae Sanam (2020). He has described himself primarily as a qawwali singer, though he has also embraced opportunities in playback singing.

As a playback vocalist, Raja contributed songs to several Bollywood films. Noted film credits include the tracks ‘Ishq Aur Pyar Ka Maza Lijiye’ for Shapath (1997), ‘Hayo Rabba Pyar Ho Gaya’ for Tirchhi Topiwale (1998), ‘Tumse Kitna’ for Company (2002), ‘Jholu Ram’ for Ghanchakkar (2013), and ‘Dil Lagana’ for Hunterrr (2015).

Beyond singing, Raja has appeared on screen in a handful of Hindi films. Acting credits listed for him include Shapath (1997), Yamraaj (1998), Mother (1999), and Ghanchakkar (2013). He has also worked as a music composer on projects such as Market (2003) and Dukaan: Pila House (2004).

Public profile

Raja has maintained a public image tied closely to his breakthrough qawwali style. His first major single’s extraordinary cassette sales were widely reported in the late 1990s and became a defining element of his early fame.

He has spoken about continuing to develop music around his signature hits. In 2015 he announced work on a follow-up project to ‘Tum To Thehre Pardesi,’ indicating plans for multiple new songs and an album release timed for Diwali. More recently, the song from his breakthrough era drew attention when it was announced in 2021 that a remake would feature actors Sonu Sood and Nidhi Agerwal.

Raja’s popularity has also led to television appearances. In January 2023 reports indicated he was slated to appear as a guest on a prominent comedy variety show alongside other singers and public figures.

Personal life

Altaf Raja is listed as unmarried. His parents are both musicians and he has at least one brother and two sisters. Physical characteristics included in public information note his height at approximately 170 cm (about 5 feet 7 inches), with black hair and black eyes.

Latest updates

In the years after his initial success Raja continued releasing albums and lending his voice to films. Announcements in 2015 signaled work on a second part to his signature song, and his music has remained culturally visible through remakes and television guest appearances reported into 2023.

He remains known primarily for his contributions to qawwali and for a distinctive late-1990s hit that brought him to nationwide attention.
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Recent Work

Ae Sanam

Album release listed among his later albums (2020).

2020
Dil Lagana

Playback song for the film Hunterrr.

2015
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Career Highlights

  1. Broke through with the 1997 hit 'Tum To Thehre Pardesi'
  2. Recorded multiple albums between 2000 and 2020
  3. Provided playback vocals for several Bollywood films
  4. Acted in films and worked as a music composer
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Altaf Raja born?

15 October 1967

What is Altaf Raja known for?

Qawwali singer

What is Altaf Raja’s marital status?

Unmarried