✦ Celebrity stories, facts and career updates. Explore F4U now →

Home › Biography › Reshma

Reshma biographyFeatured Biography

Image source: StarsUnfolded

Celebrities

Reshma Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 1, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth1947

Age66 (at time of death)

BirthplaceBikaner, Rajasthan

ProfessionSinger

NationalityPakistani

Marital statusMarried

FamilyChildren: Sawan Ali, Umair Reshma, Khadija

Reshma Biography

Reshma was a Pakistani folk singer known for her deep, distinctive voice and memorable songs recorded for radio, Pakistani and Indian films. Born in 1947,她

Early life and background

Reshma was born in 1947 in Bikaner, Rajasthan, into a Banjara household. Her family moved to Karachi during the partition of India and Pakistan. She grew up without formal musical training and with little emphasis on formal schooling, but she developed a strong singing voice that found an early audience at the Sufi shrines of Sindh.

Career

Her public musical journey began very young. At about 12 years old she recorded Laal Meri Pat Rakhio for Pakistan Radio, a performance that brought her to wider attention. A local producer who heard her at a shrine arranged for that first radio recording, and the success of the track launched her career as a singer.

Reshma became celebrated for a series of songs that showcased the depth and raw power of her voice. Some of her best-known numbers include Ankhiyaan Nu Rehn De, Oh Laal Meri, Haaye Oh Rabba, and Sada Chidiyaan Da Chamba Vey. Her voice also crossed into South Asian cinema: filmmaker Subhash Ghai invited her to sing Lambi Judai for the Bollywood film Hero, and one of her recordings was adapted in the Indian film Bobby.

She recorded for both Pakistani and Indian films and continued to perform live for audiences in Pakistan and, when artist exchanges were permitted, in India. In 2004 she contributed a song, Ashkan Di Gali Vich Mukaam De Gaya, to the Bollywood film Woh Tere Namm Tha.

Public profile

Reshma was widely respected across borders for her artistry. She was given high civilian honours by the government of Pakistan, receiving the Pride of Performance award in 1982 and the Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) in 2008. Her music and stature led to invitations to significant public events; she met political leaders and was recognised as an important cultural figure in both countries. She was also the inaugural passenger on the Lahore–Amritsar bus, a symbolic moment during a period of people-to-people exchanges.

Personal life

Reshma was married and had three children: two sons, Sawan Ali and Umair Reshma, and a daughter named Khadija. Her father was Haji Muhammad Mushtaq, described as a trader of camels and horses. She had a sister named Kaneez Reshma. Her family background was Banjara; the household had converted to Islam.

Health and death

Reshma suffered from throat cancer and was admitted to Doctors Hospital in Lahore in April 2013. The government of Pakistan covered her medical bills, and financial aid was provided to assist with outstanding loans. She fell into a coma during her illness and died on 3 November 2013 in Lahore at the age of 66.

Latest updates

Reshma’s recordings and live performances remain part of South Asia’s musical memory. Her legacy is reflected in the awards she received and in the continued recognition of her songs in Pakistan and India.
◈

Recent Work

Ashkan Di Gali Vich Mukaam De Gaya

Recorded for the Bollywood movie Woh Tere Namm Tha

2004
✦

Career Highlights

  1. Recorded Laal Meri Pat Rakhio for Pakistan Radio at about age 12, launching her singing career
  2. Sang Lambi Judai for the Bollywood film Hero
  3. Received Pride of Performance award (1982) and Sitara-i-Imtiaz (2008) from the Government of Pakistan
  4. Performed widely in Pakistan and in India during cultural exchange periods
?

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Reshma born?

1947

What is Reshma known for?

Singer

What is Reshma’s marital status?

Married