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Jagjit Kaur (Khayyam's Wife) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth1931

Age93 Years (at death)

BirthplacePunjab

ProfessionSinger

NationalityIndian

Marital statusWidow (at time of death)

SpouseMohammed Zahur Khayyam

FamilySon - Pradeep Khayyam (deceased)

Jagjit Kaur (Khayyam's Biography

Jagjit Kaur was an Indian playback singer whose career spanned Punjabi and Hindi films. Best known for a handful of enduring songs and for her long life in

Early life and background

Jagjit Kaur was born in 1931 into a Punjabi family and raised with an early passion for music and films. From childhood she participated in school cultural programs and developed the musical foundation that would later lead her into playback singing. She came from an affluent Punjabi zamindar household and followed an interest in classical and folk material that suited her naturally rustic vocal quality.

Career

Kaur began her professional singing career in Punjabi cinema, making her debut with a song for the film Posti in 1950. Her first recorded song for a Hindi film followed in 1953 for Dil-E-Nadaan. Over the next three decades she recorded a modest but memorable body of work, often associated with composer Mohammed Zahur Khayyam.

Her repertoire included songs that ranged from folk-inflected numbers to softer, classical-leaning pieces. Notable tracks in her career include the early Dil-E-Nadaan recording “Kahmosh zindagi ko afsaanaa mil gayaa,” romantic and bridal pieces such as “Pehle to ankh milana” from Shola Aur Shabnam (1961) and “Tum apna ranj–o-gham apni pareshani mujhe de do” from Shagoon (1964), and later traditional pieces like “Kaahe ko byahi bides” from Umrao Jaan (1981). She also contributed memorable songs to Bazaar (1982) and Kabhi Kabhi (1976).

Jagjit Kaur’s voice was noted for a rustic timbre and an ability to move between high and low registers with a mellow close. Although she recorded fewer songs than some contemporaries, several of her performances—particularly “Tum Apna Ranj-O-Gham”—came to be regarded as career-defining. Her association with Khayyam began after he heard her sing a classical song at a concert; he then offered her work on film soundtracks, and many of her most celebrated recordings were for films he scored.

Personal life

In 1954 Jagjit Kaur married composer Mohammed Zahur Khayyam. Their marriage was inter-communal at a time when such unions were uncommon in the industry, and Kaur’s father was reportedly opposed to the match. The couple had one son, Pradeep Khayyam, who worked as an actor and music composer and who died in 2012.

Kaur and Khayyam maintained a close personal and artistic partnership. Several of her most praised tracks were composed by Khayyam, and the pair remained publicly linked throughout their lives. When Khayyam turned 90, they decided to direct their earnings to a charitable foundation, the Khayyam Jagjeet Kaur KPG Charitable Trust, intended to support artists and technicians in need.

Public profile

Jagjit Kaur was known within music circles for her versatility: she handled rustic folk numbers, traditional wedding songs, and softer classical material with equal facility. Music commentators highlighted her ability to impart emotional weight with a restrained delivery, and the handful of songs she left behind have been described as enduring contributions to film music. She counted poets and lyricists such as Kaifi Azmi and Sahir Ludhianvi among her favourites and admired singers including Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi, and Lata Mangeshkar.

Later years and death

Jagjit Kaur lived in Mumbai in later life. In August 2019, when her husband Khayyam was hospitalised following a fall, the couple were accommodated in adjoining rooms; Khayyam died on 19 August 2019. Their son Pradeep had predeceased them in 2012. Jagjit Kaur herself died on 15 August 2021 at her residence in Mumbai at the age of 93. Her death was attributed to age-related illness, and her cremation took place at the Pawan Hans Crematorium on SV Road in Vile Parle, Mumbai.

Latest updates

Jagjit Kaur’s musical legacy is preserved through the select but widely admired songs she recorded across Punjabi and Hindi cinema. Her association with Khayyam and the couple’s decision to channel their resources into a charitable trust are among the lasting aspects of her public life.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Jagjit Kaur (Khayyam's, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Kaahe ko byahi bides

Song from the film Umrao Jaan

1981
Chale aao saiyan rangeele main vaari re

Duet with Pamela Chopra from the film Bazaar

1982
Dekh lo aaaj humko jee bhar ke

Song from the film Bazaar

1982
Saada chidiya da chamba vai

Song from the film Kabhi Kabhi

1976
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Career Highlights

  1. Debuted in Punjabi cinema with Posti (1950)
  2. First Hindi film song in Dil-E-Nadaan (1953)
  3. Recorded the enduring song “Tum Apna Ranj-O-Gham” for Shagoon (1964)
  4. Collaborated extensively with composer Mohammed Zahur Khayyam
  5. Donated earnings to the Khayyam Jagjeet Kaur KPG Charitable Trust
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Jagjit Kaur (Khayyam's born?

1931

What is Jagjit Kaur (Khayyam's known for?

Singer

What is Jagjit Kaur (Khayyam's’s marital status?

Widow (at time of death)

Who is Jagjit Kaur (Khayyam's married to?

Mohammed Zahur Khayyam