Bollywood actors who started their career with music and singing

While some of them didn’t succeed, a few of these singers have managed to balance their singing and acting career.

In the safehouse of talent, called Bollywood, there are entertainers who are jack of multiple trades. They started off with playback singing but soon grabbed limelight with their acting chops and camera presence. Most professions become more flexible when people try their hands at different kinds of roles. While some of them didn’t succeed, a few of these singers have managed to balance their singing and acting career.

Here are the top singers turned actors who have proved that careers in Bollywood are no longer defined by any boundaries.

Kishore Kumar

One of the most successful singers of the Indian film industry, Kishore Kumar was also an acting star. His role in ‘Padosan’ is a benchmark for comic timing and screen presence. Kumar made his acting debut in 1946 in ‘Shikari’. It was the 1951 release of ‘Andolan’, however, that propelled him to stardom as a singer-actor. In his early years of on-screen celebrity, Kumar appeared principally in slapstick comedies, like ‘New Delhi, “Chalti Ka Naam Gadhi’ which revealed his flair both for humorous roles and for singing.

Diljit Dosanjh

He is recognized as one of the leading artists in the Indian music industry. Dosanjh’s popularity soared with the release of his third album, Smile. 2011 saw Dosanjh’s entry into mainstream Punjabi movies. His later collaboration with Honey Singh lent a different dimension to his music. He made his Bollywood debut in 2016 and was seen in movies like ‘Good Newzz’, ‘Phillauri’.

Meiyang Chang

Meiyang Chang rose to fame after his stint on the Indian Idol. Post that, besides singing, he has also dipped his toes in acting with films like Badmaash Company and Detective Byomkesh Bakshy.

Himesh Reshammiya

Music producer turned singer turned actor Himesh Reshammiya continues to act in films – ‘Happy Hardy and Heer’, ‘Karz’, ‘Khiladi 786’. He started his career as music director in the film Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya in 1998 and made his acting debut with the film Aap Kaa Surroor in 2007.As a singer, Reshammiya has recorded multiple popular songs, such as ‘Aashiq Banaya Aapne’, ‘Tera Suroor’, ‘Zara Jhoom Jhoom’ and ‘Jhalak Dikhlaja’.

Aditya Narayan

Son of the Indian singing legend Udit Narayan, Aditya is a known face in Bollywood since his childhood. Narayan’s first Hindi playback song was for ‘Rangeela’ with Asha Bhosle. Later in 1995 he performed a song for ‘Akele Hum Akele Tum’ along with his father. He worked with Aamir Khan in ‘Rangeela,’ Shahrukh Khan in ‘Pardes’ and Salman Khan in ‘Jab Pyaar Kisi se Hota Hai.’ However, his debut as a lead actor was in the movie “Shaapit” in 2010.