Celebrating Daler Mehandi: The Singer Who Popularised Bhangra Worldwide

Daler Mehandi, whose birth name is Daler Singh, celebrates his birthday on August 18. He was born in 1967 in Patna, the capital of Bihar, into a family that blended artistic and athletic excellence. His father, Ajmer Singh Chandan, enjoyed a reputation as a classical vocalist, while his mother, Balbir Kaur, excelled as a state‑level wrestler.

Having five siblings, Daler was surrounded by music from an early age. His younger brother Meeka Singh later emerged as a popular playback singer, continuing the family’s musical lineage. Daler began studying classical ragas and the devotional hymns of gurbani while still a child, setting the stage for a versatile singing career.

The inspiration behind his first name came from a cinematic bandit, ‘Daku Daler Singh’, a movie character that his parents admired. As he grew into the music industry, he adopted the suffix ‘Mehandi’ in homage to the eminent composer Parvez Mehandi, creating the moniker that fans now recognize.

The year 1995 marked a turning point when Daler released his debut pop album “Bolo Ta Ra Ra…”. The album’s runaway success turned him into a household name, both in India and abroad. Following this, a string of Bhangra hits — including “Tunak Tunak Tun”, “Ho Jayegi Balle Balle”, “Dhol Bajaa”, “Rang De Basanti”, “Jiyo Re Baahubali”, “Kudiyaan Shehar Diyan”, and “Jor Ka Jhatka” — solidified his reputation as a global ambassador for the genre.

Beyond the microphone, Daler enjoys a family life with his wife, Taranpreet Kaur, and their four children. Their daughter, Ajeet Kaur Mehandi, recently wed Navraj Hans, the son of veteran Punjabi singer Hans Raj Hans, linking two influential musical dynasties.