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Shabbir Kumar Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 14, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth26 October 1954

Age70 Years

BirthplaceBaroda, Gujarat

ProfessionPlayback singer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusWidower

SpouseMehtaab Shabbir Kumar

FamilySon - Dilshaad Shabbir Shaikh; Daughters - Rubina Mallick, Tehzim

Shabbir Kumar Biography

Veteran Indian playback singer Shabbir Kumar rose from humble beginnings in Baroda to become a prolific voice in Bollywood and beyond, recording thousands

Early life and background
Shabbir Kumar was born Shabbir Shaikh on 26 October 1954 in Baroda, Gujarat. Growing up in a poor neighborhood with limited amenities, he was exposed to music at home through his mother’s singing. As a child he often imitated Mohammed Rafi and would perform for neighbours, gaining early attention and modest rewards. He attended a boarding school at age 14, where he learned to be self-reliant while continuing his studies and nurturing his interest in music.

He later changed his professional name to Shabbir Kumar. He has said the change reflected his wish to emphasize talent over caste or community. His early experiences listening to radio through neighbours and singing at local gatherings set the foundation for a career built on live performance and emulation of his musical inspiration, Mohammed Rafi.

Career
Shabbir Kumar began performing on stage in the 1960s and joined prominent orchestral and tribute groups after being noticed at competitions and local events. Following Rafi’s death in 1980, he participated in and toured with a successful tribute ensemble. His break into film playback came in 1981 when music director Usha Khanna offered him a place on a multi-singer track for the film Tajurba. That same year he recorded his first solo playback song for the film Sardar.

Through the 1980s Shabbir became a regular recording voice for many leading composers of the era, including Laxmikant–Pyarelal, R.D. Burman, Kalyanji–Anandji, Rajesh Roshan, Bappi Lahiri and others. He sang for a wide range of actors and appeared on popular film soundtracks; his visibility increased with hits across the decade and continued into the 1990s and 2000s.

From 2000 onward he concentrated more on live shows and albums while still contributing songs to films such as Ghaath (2000), Awara Paagal Deewana (2002) and Aan: Men at Work (2004). He recorded a song in the 2010 film Housefull, marking a contemporary comeback on the big-screen music front.

Shabbir has performed internationally, giving concerts in the UAE, Europe, South Africa and the United States. He has recorded in many languages beyond Hindi — including Urdu, Marathi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Gujarati, Haryanvi, Odia, Malayalam and English — and is credited with having sung more than 6,000 songs over his career. His recorded achievements have been recognized with numerous discs and awards, including many gold and platinum discs and honors such as a Mohammad Rafi Award and other cultural recognitions.

Public profile
Known for a singing style heavily influenced by Mohammed Rafi, Shabbir Kumar became identified with both film playback and stage performance. Notable film songs in his catalogue include tracks from Woh Saat Din, Pyar Jhukta Nahin, Giraftaar, Tezaab and Radha Ka Sangam. He has been invited as a guest on national television programs and in 2021 appeared on Indian Idol in a tribute to his late wife.

Personal life
Shabbir Kumar’s family includes his late wife, Mehtaab Shabbir Kumar, and their children: a son, Dilshaad Shabbir Shaikh, who is also a singer, and two daughters, Rubina Mallick and Tehzim, who are singers as well. He has a brother named Moiz Shaikh. The biography notes that he is a widower and that his upbringing and early family life involved financial hardship.

Latest updates
In 2021 Shabbir appeared on Indian Idol to honour his wife, who passed away in May of that year. In 2022 he fell ill before a scheduled stage performance and was hospitalized; he later told fans he planned to return for a performance without charging a fee. In early 2023 he was reported to be a guest on a popular television comedy chat show alongside other singers and public figures.

Throughout his career Shabbir Kumar has remained active on stage and in recordings, sustaining a long-standing presence in Indian popular music.

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 Shabbir Kumar, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

I Don't Know What to Do

Song featured in the film Housefull (2010)

2010
Songs in Ghaath, Awara Paagal Deewana and Aan: Men at Work

Playback contributions in films released in 2000, 2002 and 2004 respectively

2000-2004
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Career Highlights

  1. Recorded over 6,000 songs across multiple languages
  2. Performed internationally in the UAE, Europe, South Africa and the USA
  3. Worked with leading music directors of the 1980s and later periods
  4. Received numerous gold and platinum discs and several cultural awards
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Shabbir Kumar born?

Shabbir Kumar was born on 26 October 1954.

What is Shabbir Kumar known for?

Shabbir Kumar is known for playback singer.

What is Shabbir Kumar’s marital status?

Shabbir Kumar's marital status is listed as Widower.

Who is Shabbir Kumar married to?

Shabbir Kumar is publicly listed as married to Mehtaab Shabbir Kumar.