Featured BiographyImage source: StarsUnfolded
Quick Info
Date of birth29 April 1970
Age50 Years
BirthplaceIndore, Madhya Pradesh, India
ProfessionLyricist, Playback Singer, Writer, Assistant Director, Actor, Dialogue Writer
NationalityIndian
Marital statusUnmarried
FamilyFather: Chintamani Kirkire; Mother: Neelambari Kirkire; one sister
Swanand Kirkire Biography
Swanand Kirkire is an Indian lyricist, playback singer, writer, actor and theatre artist from Indore. A two-time National Award winner for Best Lyrics, heâ
Early life and backgroundSwanand Kirkire was born on 29 April 1970 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, where he grew up in a household steeped in classical music. Both of his parents were classical singers; his father, Chintamani Kirkire, worked as a bank manager in addition to singing, and his mother, Neelambari Kirkire, was an administrative officer and a vocalist. He completed his schooling at Shri Dayanand Higher Secondary School in Indore and earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from BVM College of Management Education.
After graduation he briefly took a non-artistic job selling home appliances before pursuing theatre. He spent time performing in plays and after an initial rejection gained admission to the National School of Drama, where he completed a course in Design and Direction. During his early theatre career he wrote and directed stage work, including a play inspired by the writings of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, and acted in more than 20 productions across India.
Career
Kirkire entered the film world through a mix of writing, music and on-set work. He moved to Mumbai after being invited to write a television script and subsequently worked as an assistant to filmmaker Sudhir Mishra. A song he had written, which found its way to Mishra via actor Kay Kay Menon, was included in the 2003 film Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi and brought him wider recognition.
He is best known for his work as a lyricist and playback singer. Kirkire won the National Award for Best Lyrics twice: first for the song "Bande Me Tha Dum" from Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006) and later for "Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh" from 3 Idiots (2010). His lyric-writing credits span many popular films, including Parineeta, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, 3 Idiots, Lafangey Parindey, Singham, Kai Po Che!, Parched and Fitoor. He made his debut in film in multiple capacities with Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2003), and later worked as the music director for Striker (2010) and contributed lyrics to television projects such as Satyamev Jayate (2012).
Kirkire has recorded playback vocals for over 40 songs and has appeared as an actor in small roles in films such as Eklavya: The Royal Guard, Crazy Cukkad Family, Saala Khadoos and Badrinath Ki Dulhania. His acting work has been recognized as well: he won the Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor for Chumbak (2018) and received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for the same film in 2019.
Beyond cinema, he has performed on platforms like Coke Studio and The Dewarists and remained active in theatre. He has also worked on TV commercials, short films, web series and print shoots, and undertaken script writing, dubbing and translation of scripts into Hindi. Kirkire has expressed an interest in directing a film in the future and has taken part in fundraising stage shows for underprivileged communities.
Public profile
Kirkire's creative range covers lyric writing, singing, acting, directing for theatre, and script work, and he is known for a strong command of Hindi, English and Marathi. He continues to be associated with both mainstream and independent music and film projects. He published a book of poetry titled Aapkamai in November 2017. In addition to his artistic pursuits, details that have been shared publicly note personal preferences such as a liking for masala dosa and mangoes, and a fondness for cricket and the actress Chitrangada Singh.
Latest updates
Across a career that began on stage and expanded into film and music, Kirkire remains active in multiple creative roles. His awards for lyric writing and acting underline a career that crosses disciplines, and his published poetry and live performances reflect ongoing engagement with both music and literature.
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Recent Work
Poetry book published by Swanand Kirkire
2017Film for which he served as music director
2010Early film that included his song and marked his film debut in multiple roles
2003Career Highlights
- Two-time National Award winner for Best Lyrics
- National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Chumbak (2019)
- Worked as lyricist on major films including 3 Idiots and Lage Raho Munna Bhai
- Performed at Coke Studio and The Dewarists
- Published poetry book Aapkamai (2017)
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Swanand Kirkire born?
Swanand Kirkire was born on 29 April 1970.
What is Swanand Kirkire known for?
Swanand Kirkire is known for lyricist, Playback Singer, Writer, Assistant Director, Actor, Dialogue Writer.
What is Swanand Kirkire’s marital status?
Swanand Kirkire's marital status is listed as Unmarried.

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