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{{short description|Indian rapper}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Baba Sehgal
| image = Baba Sehgal shoots for his album 'Mumbai City' 03.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Baba Sehgal at a photoshoot promoting his album ''Mumbai City''
| birth_name = Harjeet Singh Sehgal
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|11|23|df=y}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nullwala |first1=Murtaza |title=Birthday Special: Top 5 songs of Baba Sehgal |url=https://www.easterneye.biz/birthday-special-top-5-songs-of-baba-sehgal/ |access-date=23 May 2022 |work=EasternEye |date=23 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/hindi/music/news/Baba-Sehgals-extra-marital-woes/articleshow/15471885.cms |title=Baba Sehgal: Baba Sehgal's extra-marital woes| website=[[The Times of India]]|author=Vickey Lalwani|date=14 August 2012|access-date=27 April 2018}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Lucknow]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]
| genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]], [[Indipop]], [[Bollywood music|Bollywood]], [[Tamil songs|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
| occupation = Singer, rapper, actor, comedian
| instrument =
| years_active = 1990–present
}}
'''Harjeet Singh''' "'''Baba'''" '''Sehgal''', is an Indian [[rapper]].<ref name="nair"/><ref name="m.huffingtonpost.in">{{cite web|url=https://m.huffingtonpost.in/2016/04/04/baba-sehgal_n_9607440.html |title=12 Baba Sehgal Life Lessons To Keep You Thanda Thanda All Day |website=[[HuffPost]] |author=Anurag Verma |date=15 July 2016 |access-date=18 November 2018}}</ref> He is widely acclaimed to be the first Indian rapper.<ref name="Dalrymple2004">{{cite book|author=William Dalrymple|title=The Age of Kali: Indian Travels and Encounters|url=https://archive.org/details/ageofkaliindiant00|url-access=registration|access-date=11 December 2017|year=2004|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-303109-3|pages=[https://archive.org/details/ageofkaliindiant00/page/135 135]–}}</ref><ref name="Inc.1992">{{cite book|title=Billboard|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_KRAEAAAAMBAJ|access-date=11 December 2017|date=28 November 1992|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_KRAEAAAAMBAJ/page/n69 44]–|issn=0006-2510}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Verve: The Spirit of Today's Woman|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z1rfAAAAMAAJ|access-date=11 December 2017|year=1996|publisher=Indian and Eastern Engineer Limited|pages=25–26}}</ref> He is also involved in various other areas of the entertainment industry, and works in several different languages' media. He was a contestant in the reality show ''[[Bigg Boss (Hindi TV series)|Bigg Boss]]'' in 2006.

==Life and career==
===Early career===
Born and raised in [[Lucknow]], Baba Sehgal graduated with a B.Tech from [[G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology]], [[Pantnagar]], [[Nainital]].<ref>{{cite tweet|user=OnlyBabaSehgal|number=666596571463618560|title=this is for all CURIOUS ppl>> I did my http://B.Tech from G B Pant University, Pantnagar, Nainital & not from BITS, pilani tks..|date=17 November 2015|access-date=17 October 2020}}</ref> His entertainment career began in the 1990s, when he emerged as part of the [[Indipop]] scene,<ref>{{cite news |title=A sip of Indi-pop |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19981118/32252254.html |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=18 November 1998 |access-date=6 October 2008 }} {{dead link|date=January 2017}}</ref> and released an album which got frequent airplay on MTV India.<ref>{{cite book |title=Internationalizing Cultural Studies |author-link=Ackbar Abbas| first=M. Ackbar |last=Abbas |author2=John Nguyet Erni |author3=Wimal Dissanayake |year=2005 |publisher=[[Blackwell Publishing]] |isbn=978-0-631-23623-8 |url=https://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?um=1&num=100&q=%22Baba%20Sehgal%22%20%2B%22mtv%22&sa=N&tab=ps |format=link to Google snippet |access-date=6 October 2008}}</ref> Since then he has been a popular figure on the rap scene,<ref>{{cite book |title=All Music Guide to Hip-hop |last=Hunt |first=Ken |editor=Vladimir Bogdanov |editor2=Chris Woodstra |editor3=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |editor4=John Bush |year=2003 |publisher=Backbeat Books |isbn=978-0-87930-759-2 |page=427 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wr1lmklsD8QC&q=%22Baba+Sehgal%22&pg=PT438 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> with hits such as 'Thanda Thanda Paani' (which [[Sampling (music)|sampled]] [[Vanilla Ice]]'s "[[Ice Ice Baby]]", which in turn sampled [[Queen (band)|Queen]]'s "[[Under Pressure]]")<ref>{{cite book |title=Field Work |last=Garber |first=Marjorie |author2=Paul B. Franklin |author3=Rebecca L. Walkowitz |year=1996 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-0-415-91454-3 |page=58 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H2zAcuKobu4C&pg=PA58}}</ref> 'Manjula' and 'Dil Dhadke'.<ref>{{cite news |title=Baba unplugged |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/03/01/stories/2008030151510400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306012154/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/03/01/stories/2008030151510400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 March 2008 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=1 March 2008 |access-date=6 October 2008 }}</ref>

===Music===
Sehgal's first album was ''Dilruba'' (1990),<ref name="nair">{{cite news |title=Arre Baba, he's back! |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/delhi-times/arre-baba-hes-back/articleshow/22423.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=14 June 2003 |access-date=6 October 2008 |first1=Vinod |last1=Nair}}</ref> followed by ''Alibaba'' (1991).<ref>{{cite book |title=Cultures of the Commonwealth |year=1998 |publisher=Université de Cergy-Pontoise |page=11 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WkBnAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Baba+Sehgal%22+%2B%22alibaba%22 |access-date=6 October 2008}}</ref> Then came his biggest hit album ''Thanda Thanda Pani'' (1992),<ref>{{cite news|title=Baba unplugged |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/03/05/stories/2008030550540100.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=5 March 2008 |access-date=6 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103071447/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/03/05/stories/2008030550540100.htm |archive-date=3 November 2012 }}</ref> which sold 5{{nbsp}}million cassettes, making it the first successful [[Indian rap]] album.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pop no more |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/pop-no-more/story-ma10CUVJAvQZMpmguM6chP.html |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=2 October 2010}}</ref>

His next albums were ''Main Bhi Madonna'' (1993), ''Baba Bachao na'' (1993),<ref>{{cite book |title=Globalization |last=Robertson |first=Roland |author2=Kathleen E. White |year=2003 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |isbn=978-0-415-30222-7 |page=234 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OrwysvL0jssC&q=%22Baba+Sehgal%22+%2B%22madonna%22&pg=PA234 |access-date=6 October 2008}}</ref> ''Dr.Dhingra'' (1994), ''Miss 420'' (1994) movie soundtrack, ''Double Gadbad'' (1994) movie soundtrack, ''Indian Romyo'' (1995), ''Tora Tora'' (1995), ''Loomba Loomba'' (1996), ''na aariya hai na jaroya hai'' (1997), ''America mein indian dhaba'' (1997), ''d.j. mix blue'' (1997), ''dhak dhak dil in culcutta'' (1997), ''A Reason to Smile'' (1997), ''meri jaan hindustan'' (1998), ''jugni mast kalandar'' (1998), ''abb mein vengaboy'' (1999), ''pinga pinga'' (2001), ''Pump up your Style'' (2003), ''Welcome to Mumbai'' (2005), ''Babe di gaddi'' (2009), ''Woh beete din'' and ''The Magic of Dandiya'', among others. He writes the majority of the music for his albums himself.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}} He was the music director of the movie ''Dance Party'' (1995), featuring the popular song "kapurthala se aaya hoon, tere liye laaya hoon, Orange kurta peela pajama..".<ref>{{cite web|title=Dance Party |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/audiolisting/6020/index.html |work=Bollywood Hungama |access-date=6 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004133546/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/audiolisting/6020/index.html |archive-date=4 October 2011 }}</ref> He was the first Indian artist to have a music video broadcast on [[MTV Asia]],<ref>{{cite news |title=India's Turning 'Asian Kool' Into Very Hot Sounds Pop music: Record chiefs bet the next global hits will be rap monologues tinged with a Punjabi folk genre known as bhangra |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1994-12-26/entertainment/ca-13155_1_pop-music |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=26 December 1994 |access-date=6 October 2008 |first=Amitabh |last=Sharma}}</ref> which was broadcasting out of Hong Kong at the time. He was also the presenter of the TV show ''[[Superhit Muqabla]]'' which was aired on DD2 at primetime.<ref>{{cite news |title=Baba Sehgal is back |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/05/21/stories/2005052101320400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051227053325/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/05/21/stories/2005052101320400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 December 2005 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=21 May 2005 |access-date=6 October 2008 }}</ref> He has also worked as a stage performer.<ref>{{cite news |title=Straight Answers |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bombay-times/straight-answers/articleshow/1281831.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |author=TNN |date=1 November 2005 |access-date=6 October 2008 }}</ref>

He was in New York from 2001 to 2005.<ref>{{cite news |title=Baba Sehgal comes back in a new player movement
|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/26/stories/2005082604800200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103071737/http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/26/stories/2005082604800200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 November 2012 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=26 August 2005 |access-date=6 October 2008 }}</ref> When he came home to Mumbai, he released his album ''Welcome to Mumbai'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Welcome To Mumbai – Baba Saigal |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/albumreview/3109.html |work=IndiaGlitz |date=8 January 2007 |access-date=6 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922175149/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/albumreview/3109.html |archive-date=22 September 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which was his 22nd album.

He also directed the music for the [[Bollywood]] film ''Bhoot Unkle'' (2006) and ''Nalaik'' (2005).<ref>{{cite news |title=Straight Answers |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bombay-times/straight-answers/articleshow/1491490.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=15 April 2006 |access-date=6 October 2008 |first1=Priyanka |last1=Deladia}}</ref> He also anchored the TV show 'Santa and Banta news unlimited' on [[Zoom (Indian TV channel)|Zoom]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Baba and I are like husband and wife |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-05-19/tv/27751382_1_siddharth-kannan-comedy-entertainment-channel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021220141/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-05-19/tv/27751382_1_siddharth-kannan-comedy-entertainment-channel |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 October 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=19 May 2008 |access-date=6 October 2008 |first1=Amrita |last1=Mulchandani}}</ref> His Song Trump Ka Mania supporting the then Republican nominee [[Donald Trump]] was a hit.<ref name="m.huffingtonpost.in"/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/baba-sehgal-donald-trump-trump-ka-mania-chicken-fried-rice/1/752844.html | title=From Mumbai to Kenya, Baba Sehgal raps Trump Ka Mania | publisher=[[India Today]] | work=Ashna Kumar | date=30 August 2016 | access-date=11 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Baba-Sehgal-impressed-by-Donald-Trump/articleshow/54003601.cms | title=Baba Sehgal impressed by Donald Trump | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=28 January 2017 | access-date=11 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/music/i-am-really-impressed-with-donald-trump-baba-sehgal/story-6LxloSTMDRhsKysDwTJlGJ.html | title=I am really impressed with Donald Trump: Baba Sehgal | website=[[Hindustan Times]] | author=Samarth Goyal | date=10 November 2016 | access-date=11 December 2017}}</ref>
Now, he makes and releases his singles on his YouTube channel "Baba Sehgal Entertainment". Some of them are ''Aloo ka Parantha, Going to the Gym, Swacchh Bharat''. His song "Mumbai City" is a dark hip hop rap song on Mumbai.<ref name="Highonscore The Score Magazine 2012">{{cite web | title=Baba Sehgal Back With His New Single Mumbai City - The Score Magazine | website=Highonscore {{!}} The Score Magazine | date=25 June 2012 | url=https://highonscore.com/baba-sehgal-back-with-his-new-single-mumbai-city/ | access-date=4 June 2023}}</ref>

===Acting===
In 1998, Sehgal made his acting debut in the Bollywood film ''[[Miss 420]]'' alongside [[Sheeba Akashdeep]] . He also sang four songs for the film's soundtrack which was released in 1994, four years before the film's theatrical release. In 1999, he played dual roles in the television film ''Double Gadbad''. In 2009, he had a part in the [[SAB TV]] comedy series ''[[Jugni Chali Jalandhar]]''. In 2011, he appeared in the drama serial ''[[Rang Badalti Odhani]]'' on [[STAR One|Star One]]. Sehgal also made his Telugu film debut in ''[[Rudhramadevi (film)|Rudhramadevi]]'', with [[Anushka Shetty]] in the lead. It was directed by National award winner [[Gunasekhar]]. Baba Sehgal was signed to play a major negative role in another Telugu film titled ''Overdose''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://zoot.mtsindia.in/artist-Baba%20Sehgal-biography-835 |title=Baba Sehgal Biography: Baba Sehgal Bio Online at MTS |website=zoot.mtsindia.in |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909125131/http://zoot.mtsindia.in/artist-Baba%20Sehgal-biography-835 |archive-date=9 September 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2016, he played a cameo as himself in ''[[Bank Chor]]''. In the same year, he made his debut in Tamil cinema playing the role of a corrupt cop in ''[[Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada]]''.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}} He was a contestant on the first season of ''[[Bigg Boss (Hindi season 1)|Bigg Boss 1]]'' in 2006.

==Filmography==
=== As actor ===
{{Colbegin}}
* ''[[Helicopter Eela]]'' (2018)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lohana |first1=Avinash |title=Helicopter Eela: Kajol jams with Anu Malik, Ila Arun, Shaan and Baba Sehgal |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/helicopter-eela-kajol-jams-with-anu-malik-ila-arun-shaan-and-baba-sehgal/articleshow/65314654.cms |access-date=25 January 2021 |work=Mumbai Mirror |date=8 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''[[Bank Chor]]'' (2017)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news18.com/news/movies/baba-sehgal-has-an-interesting-take-on-his-bank-chor-experience-1416711.html|title=Baba Sehgal Has An Interesting Take On His Bank Chor Experience|publisher=[[News18 India]]|author=IANS|date=30 May 2017|access-date=27 April 2018|author-link=Indo-Asian News Service}}</ref>
* ''[[Achcham Enbadhu Madamaiyada]]'' (2016)
*''[[Sahasam Swasaga Sagipo]]'' (2016)
* ''[[Rudramadevi (film)|Rudramadevi]]'' (2015)
* ''[[My Friend Ganesha 3]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Miss 420]]'' (1998) Vicky
{{Colend}}

=== As playback singer ===

==== Telugu ====
{{Colbegin}}
* ''[[Rikshavodu]]'' (1995) - "Roop Tera Mastana"
* ''[[Jalsa]]'' (2008) - "Jalsa"
* ''[[Arya 2]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Adhurs]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Don Seenu]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Mr. Perfect (film)|Mr. Perfect]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Ragada]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Gabbar Singh (film)|Gabbar Singh]]'' (2012) - "Dekho Dekho Gabbar"
* ''[[Shadow (2013 film)|Shadow]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Om 3D]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Action 3D]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Adda (2013 film)|Adda]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Alludu Seenu]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Sankarabharanam (2015 film)|Sankarabharanam]]'' (2015)
* ''[[Pelli SandaD]]'' (2021)
{{Colend}}

==== Hindi ====
*''[[Roja(hindi version)]]'' (1992)
*''[[Hum Hain Bemisaal]]'' (1994)
*''[[Miss 420]]'' (1998)
*''[[Bhoot Unkle]]'' (2006) (also music director)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/nm10/jagoo-dada-s-new-avataar/article1-95158.aspx |title=Jagoo dada's new avataar |publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |agency=IANS |date=8 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520220057/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/nm10/jagoo-dada-s-new-avataar/article1-95158.aspx |archive-date=20 May 2014 |access-date=2 June 2023}}</ref>
*''[[Yavarum Nalam|13B]]'' (2009)

==== Kannada ====
*''[[Gajakesari]]'' (2014)

==== Tamil ====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Film !! Song name !! Composer !! Co-singer(s)

|-
| 2009 || ''[[Villu (film)|Villu]]'' || "Jalsa Jalsa" & (Remix) || [[Devi Sri Prasad]] || [[Devi Sri Prasad]], [[Rita Thyagarajan|Rita]]
|-
| 2010 || ''[[Singam]]'' || "Kadhal Vandhale" || [[Devi Sri Prasad]] || Priyadharshini
|-
| 2011 || ''[[Osthe]]'' || "Osthe Maamey" || [[S. Thaman]] || [[Ranjith (singer)|Ranjith]], [[Rahul Nambiar]], Naveen
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2012 || ''[[Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal]]''|| "Sokku Podi" || [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]] || [[Shruti Haasan]]
|-
| ''[[Saguni]]''|| "Vella Bambaram" || [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]] || [[Priya Himesh]]
|-
| 2013 || ''[[Alex Pandian]]'' || "Bad Boy" || [[Devi Sri Prasad]] || [[Priya Himesh]]
|-
| 2013 || ''[[Singam II]]'' || "Singam Dance" || [[Devi Sri Prasad]] || [[Devi Sri Prasad]], [[Anuradha Sriram]]
|-
|}

==== Bengali ====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Film !! Song name !! Composer !! Co-singer(s)

|-
| 2013 || ''[[Khiladi (2013 film)|Khiladi (2013 Film)]]'' || "Heartbeat" || [[Shree Pritam]] || Saberi Bhattacharya
|}

==== Television/Web series ====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1994
|''[[Superhit Muqabla]]''
|Anchor
|
|-
|1996
|''Colgate Top 10''
|Khare
|
|-
|1999
| ''[[Double Gadbad]]''
|Vijay Johny Mendes
|Television film
|-
|2006
|''[[CID (Indian TV series)|CID]]''
|Himself
| Episodes: "Killer Whistle Part I and II"
|-
|2006–2007
|''[[Bigg Boss (Hindi season 1)|Bigg Boss 1]]''
|Contestant
|
|-
|2009–2010
|''[[Jugni Chali Jalandhar]]''
|Balwinder
|
|-
|2011
|''[[Rang Badalti Odhani]]''
|Bhai
|<ref>{{Cite web|author=Bushra Khan|date=14 March 2011|title=Baba Sehgal to do an Anil Kapoor?|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/tv/news-interviews/Baba-Sehgal-to-do-an-Anil-Kapoor/articleshow/7701119.cms|access-date=27 April 2018|website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
|-
|2016
|''Soadies''
|Sodhi
|<ref>{{cite news |title=Baba makes a digital entry |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/baba-makes-a-digital-entry-212743 |access-date=1 June 2023 |work=Tribune |date=24 March 2016}}</ref>
|-
|2019
|''Bhoot Purva''
|Yamraj
|<ref>{{cite news |title=ZEE5 premieres horror-comedy 'Bhoot Purva' |url=https://zeenews.india.com/television/zee5-premieres-horror-comedy-bhoot-purva-2201944.html |access-date=23 May 2022 |work=Zee News |date=8 May 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Twitter}}
* {{IMDb name|0782242}}

{{Bigg Boss 1}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sehgal, Baba}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Bollywood playback singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Indian male playback singers]]
[[Category:Indian male voice actors]]
[[Category:Indian rappers]]
[[Category:Tamil playback singers]]
[[Category:Telugu playback singers]]
[[Category:Telugu film score composers]]
[[Category:Male actors from Lucknow]]
[[Category:Singers from Lucknow]]
[[Category:Bigg Boss (Telugu TV series) contestants]]
[[Category:Male film score composers]]

Baba Sehgal - Revision history

WikiDwarfBOT at 04:33, 22 July 2023