Viji at 21:10, 20 March 2026

2026-03-20T21:10:25Z

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{{Short description|Indian singer (born 1965)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2026}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Alisha Chinai
| image = Alisha Chinai 2009 - still 64293 crop.jpg
| caption = Chinai in 2009
| birth_name =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|3|18|df=y}}<ref name="IndiaToday" />
| birth_place = [[Ahmedabad]], [[Gujarat]], India
| instrument =
| genre = {{hlist|[[Indipop]]|[[Playback singer|playback singing]]}}
| occupation = Singer
| partner =
| years_active = 1985–present
}}
'''Alisha Chinai''' (born 18 March 1965)<ref name="IndiaToday">{{cite web |last1=Goel |first1=Hemul |title=Made in India: Five things every '90s girl can thank birthday girl Alisha Chinai for |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/what-s-hot/story/90s-pop-anthem-made-in-india-singer-alisha-chinai-milind-soman-313775-2016-03-17 |website=India Today |date=17 March 2016 |access-date=27 May 2021}}</ref> is an Indian pop singer known for her [[Indi-pop]] albums as well as [[Music of Bollywood|playback singing]] in [[Hindi cinema]].<ref name=alishapopbook>{{cite book |title=Pop culture India!: Media, Arts, and Lifestyle |last= Kasbekar|first= Asha|year=2006 |publisher= ABC-CLIO|isbn=1-85109-636-1 |page= 34|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Sv7Uk0UcdM8C&q=alisha+chinai&pg=PA34|access-date=27 January 2010}}</ref> She began her singing career with the album ''Jadoo'' in 1985, and by the 1990s she had become known as the 'Queen of [[Indipop]]'.<ref>Asha Kasbekar ''Pop Culture India!: Media, Arts, and Lifestyle'' 2006 1851096361 page 34 "Alisha Chinai (1972– ) is the pioneer and undisputed Queen of Indipop—that's the verdict of the music industry. Her first major hit album was Jadoo (Magic). Further platinum albums included ''[[Aah... Alisha!]]'', ''[[Babydoll (album)|Babydoll]]'', ''Madonna'' and ''Kamasutra'', but it was her most successful and popular album ''[[Made in India (album)|Made in India]]'', released in 1995, that established Indipop as a discrete genre and Chinai its prime proponent."</ref> Her best known songs were collaborations with producers [[Anu Malik]] and [[Biddu]] during the 1990s. She is best known as a solo artist for her song "Made in India", from her [[Made in India (album)|1995 eponymous studio album]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Made In India Hitmaker Alisha Chinai Looks Unrecognisable In Latest Pics |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/made-in-india-hitmaker-alisha-chinai-looks-unrecognisable-in-latest-pics-9535199 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260129045310/https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/made-in-india-hitmaker-alisha-chinai-looks-unrecognisable-in-latest-pics-9535199 |archive-date=29 January 2026 |work=[[NDTV]] |date=29 October 2025 |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref>

==Career==
Chinai's initial albums included ''Jaadoo'', ''[[Babydoll (album)|Babydoll]]'', ''[[Aah... Alisha!]]'', ''[[Madonna (Alisha Chinai album)|Madonna]]'', ''[[Kamasutra (Alisha Chinai album)|Kamasutra]]'', ''Alisha -'' ''Madonna of India'' and ''[[Made in India (album)|Made in India]]''.<ref name=alishapopbook/> Alisha was introduced to Hindi film music by the veteran music director and composer [[Bappi Lahiri]]. They had many disco hits together in many films in the 1980s including ''[[Adventures of Tarzan]]'', ''[[Dance Dance (1987 film)|Dance Dance]]'', ''Commando'', ''Guru'', ''[[Love Love Love (1989 film)|Love Love Love]]'', etc. When she started her career with him, she was [[playback singing]] for many leading actresses, such as [[Karisma Kapoor]], [[Smita Patil]], [[Mandakini (actress)|Mandakini]], [[Sridevi]], [[Juhi Chawla]], [[Madhuri Dixit]], [[Divya Bharti]]. In 1985, Alisha sang two songs with [[Remo Fernandes]], in [[Konkani language|Konkani]], for the album ''[[Old Goan Gold]]''. She also recorded a song for Pankuj Parashar's film ''Jalwa'' (1987), composed by [[Anand–Milind]]. One of her biggest hits during the 1980s was "Kaate Nahin Katthe" from ''[[Mr. India (1987 film)|Mr. India]]'', which she recorded in 1987 with [[Kishore Kumar]] under the music direction of [[Laxmikant–Pyarelal]]. Another successful track, in 1989, was "Raat Bhar Jaam Se" from the film ''[[Tridev]]'', which had music by [[Kalyanji-Anandji]] and [[Viju Shah]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/interview-interview-i-think-my-time-has-come-alisha-chinai-2543734|title=Interview {{!}} I think my time has come: Alisha Chinai|date=8 September 2017|work=DNA|access-date=19 January 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

In the 1990s, Chinai took on working in different films, collaborating with other music directors, such as [[Anu Malik]], [[Anand–Milind]], [[Rajesh Roshan]] and [[Nadeem-Shravan]]. Throughout these years, she had several Bollywood hit songs, including "Dhak Dhak Dhak" with [[Aditya Pancholi]] from ''[[Maha-Sangram]]'', "Jalta Hai Badan" from ''[[Balwaan]]'', "Tere Ishq Mein Nachenge"from ''[[Raja Hindustani]]'', "Chaa Raha Hain Pyaar Ka Nasha" from ''[[Chandra Mukhi]]'', "Roundhe" from ''Pyar Tune Kya Kiya'', "Sona Sona Roop Hai" from ''[[Bollywood/Hollywood]]'', "Mouje Mein" from ''Karobaar'', "De Diya" from ''Keemat'', "Ruk Ruk Ruk" from ''[[Vijaypath]]'' and the controversial "Sexy Sexy Sexy Mujhe Log Bole" from ''Khuddar''.

Chinai recorded an album with [[Lesle Lewis (composer)|Lesle Lewis]], titled ''[[Bombay Girl]]'', which included the hit song "De De" released in 1994.
Simultaneously, she recorded many songs as a pop singer, with accompanying album releases. Chinai was noted for her 1995 hit single and eponymous studio album, titled ''Made in India'', which was composed by [[Biddu]] and went on to become one of the highest-selling pop albums of its time, making Alisha became a household name. It contains well-known songs such as "Aaja Mere Dil Mein", "Ek Baar Do Baar", "Sun O Meri Dhadkan", "Tu Kahan", "Ooh La La", "Tu Jo Mila", "Dhokha Diya Hai Re Tune Mere Dil" and "Lover Girl". With its success, Chinai announced her departure from playback singing and wanted to concentrate only on private pop albums. However, her follow-up releases were less successful. This was also the period when she got embroiled into a major controversy with the man who recorded several hit songs with her, [[Anu Malik]]. During the release of ''Made in India'', Chinai had accused [[Anu Malik]] of molesting her. [[Anu Malik]] and Chinai did not work for several years, only to reunite in 2003 with ''[[Ishq Vishk]]''.
[[File:AlishaChinai1.jpg|thumb|upright|Chinai in 2010]]

Chinai's comeback to film music was with the song "Oh My Darling" in the [[Yash Raj Films|Yash Raj]] film ''[[Mujhse Dosti Karoge!]]''. From 2000 to 2009, she recorded primarily with [[Himesh Reshammiya]], [[Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy]] and [[Pritam]]. After her controversy with [[Anu Malik]] in the 1990s, she patched up with him to record for a number of films, starting with ''[[Ishq Vishk]]'', ''[[Fida]]'', ''[[No Entry]]'', ''[[Love Story 2050]]'', ''Maan Gaye Mughle Azam'', ''[[Ugly Aur Pagli]]'', ''[[Chehraa]]'' and ''Kambakht Ishq''.<ref>India Today International - Volume 2, Issues 27-34 - Page 56 2003 Indipop Rock 'n' Rule 1 QO r It has been in arrival mode ever since Alisha -L-/0 J Chinai's Jaadu hit platinum. Ten years on, her Made in India sparked the music video boom. India believed it had found a Madonna clone, while in Daler Mehndi's energetic warbling, they thought folk – or a reasonable simulacrum – had achieved record-busting status. But film music remains indomitable, accounting for 65-75 per cent of sales</ref>

In 2005, Chinai's career reached a new high when she sang "[[Kajra Re]]" from ''[[Bunty Aur Babli]]''. The song was a hit and won her a [[Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer]]. She was also a judge on ''[[Indian Idol (Hindi TV series)|Indian Idol 3]]'' and is a judge on Zee TV's ''Star Ya Rockstar'' with Anu Malik.

In 2021, Alisha Chinai appeared on ''Jay-Ho! The Jay Kumar Show'', where she talked about her childhood. She shared that her love for music began early, with school performances and her mother's influence, as her mom enjoyed Western pop music. Alisha also mentioned how she challenged the stereotype that Indian girls couldn’t sing pop music with her own work.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 October 2022 |title=Alisha Chinai, A Feisty Singer With An Angelic Voice, Fearless Of Controversies |url=https://jay-ho.com/alisha-chinai-a-feisty-singer-with-an-angelic-voice-fearless-of-controversies/ |website=jay-ho.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Awards==
* Chinai received the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award for the song "Kajra Re", from ''[[Bunty Aur Babli]]'' (2005).<ref name="filmfare">[http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1428474.cms 51st Filmfare Awards] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130103102221/http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1428474.cms |date=3 January 2013 }} filmfareawards.indiatimes.com Retrieved 29 August 2007</ref>
* Previously, she received the International Billboard Award in 1995, around the time ''[[Made in India (album)|Made in India]]'' came out,<ref name="global">[http://www.outlookindia.com/glitterati.asp?fodname=19951206 Alisha going global] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206234409/http://www.outlookindia.com/glitterati.asp?fodname=19951206 |date=6 February 2009 }} outlookindia.com Retrieved 29 August 2007</ref> and also won the Freddie Mercury Award for Artistic Excellence.
Following are the list of awards and nominations in different categories.
{|class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#ebf5ff;"
!Year
!Category
!Song
!Result
|- style="background:#bfd7ff;"
| colspan="5" style="text-align:center;"|'''[[Screen Awards]]'''
|-
|rowspan="2" |1996
|Best Indian Pop Album
|rowspan="2" |"Made in India"
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Music Video
|{{won}}
|}

==Personal life==
Chinai is a [[Gujarati people|Gujarati]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/Priyanka-Chopra-is-Alishas-fan/articleshow/10365688.cms|title=Priyanka Chopra is Alisha's fan|date=16 October 2011|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> She was married to her manager Rajesh Jhaveri and is now separated.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sundaytimes.lk/961208/plus3.html |title=The Sunday Times on the Web – Plus |publisher=Sundaytimes.lk |date=8 December 1996 |access-date=22 September 2011}}</ref> Chinai has been in a relationship with Furkat Azamov, a native of [[Tajikistan]], since 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=Alisha Chinai found love in music producer from Tajikistan, who would always 'dream about meeting her' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/feelings/alisha-chinai-love-music-producer-tajikistan-songs-furkat-azamov-relationship-8031479/ |work=The Indian Express |date=15 July 2022 |access-date=12 September 2024}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main Article|List of songs recorded by Alisha Chinoy}}
===Studio albums===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Album
! Record label
|-
| 1985
|style="text-align:left;"| ''Jadoo''
|style="text-align:center;" rowspan="6" |[[Saregama|His Master's Voice]]
|-
| 1986
|style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Aah... Alisha!]]''
|-
| 1988
|style="text-align:left;"|''[[Babydoll (album)|Babydoll]]''
|-
| 1989
|style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Madonna (Alisha Chinai album)|Madonna]]''
|-
| 1990
|style="text-align:left;"|''[[Kamasutra (Alisha Chinai album)|Kamasutra]]''
|-
| 1992
|style="text-align:left;"| ''Alisha - Madonna of India''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rajeshjhaveri.com/producer-songs/madonna-of-india/|title=Madonna of India :: Music Composer & Producer Songwriter|access-date=12 December 2020|archive-date=8 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808170604/http://www.rajeshjhaveri.com/producer-songs/madonna-of-india/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 1994
|style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Bombay Girl]]''
|style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" |[[Magnasound]]
|-
| 1995
|style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Made in India (album)|Made in India]]''
|-
| 1998
|style="text-align:left;"| ''Om''
|style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1" |[[Saregama|His Master's Voice]]
|-
| 1999
|style="text-align:left;"| ''Dil Ki Rani''
|style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1" |[[Virgin Records]]
|-
| 2001
|style="text-align:left;"| ''Alisha''
|style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1" |[[Tips Industries|Tips]]
|-
|}

===Compilation albums===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Album
! Record label
|-
|rowspan="2" |1993
|style="text-align:left;"|''Best of Alisha Live''
|rowspan="2" |Unknown
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|''Alisha Greatest Hits''
|-
|1995
|style="text-align:left;"|''Born with a Wild Heart''
|Unknown
|-
|1996
|style="text-align:left;"|''Channel Hits''
|[[Magnasound]]
|-
|rowspan="2" |1997
|style="text-align:left;"|''Alisha Unleashed''
|[[Saregama|His Master's Voice]]
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|''Party Zone''
|rowspan="3" |Magnasound
|-
|rowspan="2" |1998
|style="text-align:left;"|''The Ultimate Party Album''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|''The Best of Alisha''
|-
|1999
|style="text-align:left;"|''Now That's What I Call Indipop''
|[[Sony Music India|Sony Music]]
|-
|2001
|style="text-align:left;"|''Alisha: Singer Doll of India''
|Unknown
|-
|2002
|style="text-align:left;"|''Hitz Unlimited''<ref>{{cite web|title=Hitz Unlimited (2002) - Hindi Album, Tracklist, Full Album Details and more |website=Zubeen Garg Discography |url=http://www.zubeendiscography.com/2021/09/3370633522256848326.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920184428/http://www.zubeendiscography.com/2021/09/3370633522256848326.html |archive-date=20 September 2021 |language=en |access-date=22 September 2021}}</ref>
|[[Zee Music Company|Zee Records]]
|-
|2007
|style="text-align:left;"|''Shut Up N Kiss Me<ref>{{Cite news |title=Playback singers are paid very poorly: Alisha Chinai |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/music/playback-singers-are-paid-very-poorly-alisha-chinai/story-EdFXigQRJQZxm4FVYOjw5J.html |work=Hindustan Times |agency=IANS |date=16 June 2008 |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref>''
|[[Tips Industries|Tips]]
|-
|}

===Soundtrack albums===
The following are sales of [[Bollywood soundtrack]] albums featuring songs by Alisha Chinai.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Album
! Year
! Sales
! {{Abbr|Ref|Reference}}
|-
| 1991
| ''[[Phool Aur Kaante]]''
| 6,000,000
| rowspan="5" |<ref>{{cite web |title=Music Hits 1990-1999 (Figures in Units) |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=284&catName=MTk5MC0xOTk5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205042906/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=284&catName=MTk5MC0xOTk5 |archive-date=5 February 2010 |website=[[Box Office India]] |access-date=5 February 2010}}</ref>
|-
| 1992
| ''[[Khiladi (1992 film)|Khiladi]]''
| 2,500,000
|-
| 1995
| ''[[Haathkadi (1995 film)|Haathkadi]]''
| 1,000,000
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1994
| ''[[Main Khiladi Tu Anari]]''
| 3,000,000
|-
| ''[[Khuddar]]''
| 2,800,000
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Aflatoon (1997 film)|Aflatoon]]''
| 2,500,000
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Mujhse Dosti Karoge]]''
| 1,200,000
| rowspan="9" |<ref>{{cite web |title=Music Hits 2000-2009 (Figures in Units) |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=286&catName=MjAwMC0yMDA5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205042845/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=286&catName=MjAwMC0yMDA5 |archive-date=5 February 2010 |website=[[Box Office India]] |access-date=5 February 2010}}</ref>
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Ishq Vishk]]''
| 1,200,000
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2004
| ''[[Murder (2004 film)|Murder]]''
| 2,200,000
|-
| ''[[Fida]]''
| 1,400,000
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Bunty Aur Babli]]''
| 1,900,000
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2006
| ''[[Dhoom 2]]''
| 2,000,000
|-
| ''[[Don (soundtrack)|Don: The Chase Begins Again]]''
| 1,500,000
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2007
| ''[[Jhoom Barabar Jhoom]]''
| 1,700,000
|-
| ''[[Namastey London]]''
| 1,400,000
|-
!
! Total sales
! 30,800,000
!
|}

===Other albums===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Album
! Language
! Record label
|-
| 2001
|style="text-align:left;"|''Santiago Fiesta Latina: Bollywood Goes Latino'' (As a singer)
|Hindi
|[[Virgin Records|EMI Virgin Records]]
|-
|2002
|style="text-align:left;"|''[[Bandhoi]]'' (As a backing vocals)
|Assamese
|Raj Music
|-
|2009
|style="text-align:left;"|''Caminho das Índias'' (As a singer)
|[[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]
|Som Livre
|-
|}

===Select hit songs===
{{div col}}
* "Made in India" (''[[Made in India (album)|Made in India, 1995]]'')
* "Dil Ye Kehta Hai (I Love You)"(''[[Phool Aur Kaante]]'', 1991)
* "Jumbalakka" (''[[Thakshak]]'', 1999)
* "Panch Vorsam" ([[Konkani language|Konkani]], ''Old Goan Gold'', 1985)
* "Rajan Ani Prema" ([[Konkani language|Konkani]], ''Old Goan Gold'', 1985)
* "Dil Mera Todo Na" (''[[Dance Dance (1987 film)|Dance Dance]]'')
* "Zooby Zooby" (''[[Dance Dance (1987 film)|Dance Dance]]'')
* "Let's Do It" (''[[Jalwa]]'')
* "Kaate Nahin" (''[[Mr. India (1987 film)|Mr. India]]'')
* "Raat Bhare Jaam se" (''[[Tridev]]'')
* "Dhak Dhak" (''[[Maha-Sangram]]'')
* "Cha Raha Hain" (''[[Chandra Mukhi]]'')
* "Sexy Sexy" (''[[Khuddar]]'')
* "Tu Shama Main Parwana Tera" (''[[Khiladi (1992 film)|Khiladi]]'')
* "Ruk Ruk Ruk" (''[[Vijaypath]]'')
* "Bambai Se Rail Chali" (''[[Zaalim]]'')
* "My Adorable Darling" (''[[Main Khiladi Tu Anari]]'')
* "Ure Baba" (''[[Bambai Ka Babu (1996 film)|Bambai Ka Babu]]'')
* "Tere Ishq Main Nachenge" (''[[Raja Hindustani]]'')
* "Krishna Krishna" (''[[Insaaf (1997 film)|Insaaf]]'')
* "De Diya Dil Piya" (''[[Keemat – They Are Back|Keemat]]'')
* "Tinka, Tinka" (''[[Karam (film)|Karam]]'')
* "Pyaar Aaya" (''[[Plan (film)|Plan]]'')
* "Mehboob Mere" (''[[Plan (film)|Plan]]'')
* "Oh My Darling!" (''[[Mujhse Dosti Karoge]]'', 2002)
* "Rang Rang Mere Rang Rang Mein" (''[[Bollywood/Hollywood]]'', 2002)
* "Chot Dil Pe Lagi" (''[[Ishq Vishk]]'', 2003)
* "Dil Ko Hazar Bar" (''[[Murder (2004 film)|Murder]]'', 2004)
* "Maine Jisko Chaha Mil Gaya" (''[[Fida]]'', 2004)
* "Hamnasheen" (''[[Dobara]]'', 2004)
* "[[Kajra Re]]" (''[[Bunty Aur Babli]], 2005'')
* "Ishq Di Gali" (''[[No Entry (2005 film)|No Entry]]'', 2005)
* "Dil Chura ke Mere" (''[[No Entry (2005 film)|No Entry]]'', 2005)
* "Yeh Ishq Mein" (''[[No Entry (2005 film)|No Entry]]'', 2005)
* "Abhi toh mein" (''[[The Killer (2006 film)|The Killer]]'',2006)
* "Aaj Ki Raat" (''[[Don - The Chase Begins Again|Don]]'', 2006)
* "Touch Me" (''[[Dhoom 2]]'', 2006)
* "It's Rocking" (''[[Kya Love Story Hai]]'', 2007)
* "Ticket To Hollywood" (''[[Jhoom Barabar Jhoom]]'', 2007)
* "Lover Boy" (''[[Love Story 2050]]'', 2008)
* "Bebo" (''[[Kambakkht Ishq]]'', 2009)
* "Tera Hone Laga Hoon" (''[[Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani]]'', 2009)
* "Jiyara Jiyara" (''[[Prince (2010 film)|Prince]]'', 2010)
* "Dilruba" (''[[Namastey London]]'', 2007)
* "Dil Tu Hi Bataa" (''[[Krrish 3]]'', 2013)
* "You Are My Love" (''[[Krrish 3]]'', 2013)
* "Gori chori cori" (''[[Aflatoon (1997 film)|Aflatoon]]'', 1997)
* "Jalta Hai Kyun Tan Badan" (''[[Bandh Darwaza]]'', 1991)
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.alishachinai.com/ The Official Alisha Chinai Website]
* {{IMDb name|0157958}}

{{FilmfareAwardBestFemaleSinger}}
{{IIFAAwardBestFemalePlaybackSiner}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chinai, Alisha}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian women pop singers]]
[[Category:Konkani-language singers]]
[[Category:Women musicians from Gujarat]]
[[Category:Singers from Ahmedabad]]
[[Category:Indian women playback singers]]
[[Category:Hindi-language playback singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women singers]]
[[Category:Gujarati-language playback singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women singers]]
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards winners]]
[[Category:International Indian Film Academy Awards winners]]

Alisha Chinai - Revision history

Viji at 21:10, 20 March 2026