Lesser Known Facts About Anup Jalota - The Bhajan Samraat

The Legend

Anup Jalota is an Indian singer who is popularly known for his devotional Bhajans and Ghazals. He was born in Nainital, Uttarakhand on 29 July 1953 and is popularly known by the name of "Bhajan Samraat" (Emperor of Bhajans).

Education and Family

Many of you might not know the fact that he completed his education from Lucknow's Bhatkhande Music Institute and his father Purshottam Das Jalota, was also a prominent Bhajan singer. He has three brothers, Ajay Jalota, Anil Jalota & Promod Jalota and two sisters, Anjali Dhir and Anita Mehra. 

Career

He started his musical career as a chorus singer in All India Radio and became popular after he sung bhajans such as Aisi Lagi Lagan, Main Nahi Makhan Khayo, Rang De Chunariya, Jag Me Sundar Hai Do Naam, and Chadariya Jhini Re Jhini. He has recorded and sung over 2000 Bhajans & Ghazals and has performed over 5000 live concerts spread over 300 cities in all five continents. From 2002 to 2005, he also worked as a show presenter for the program Dharam Aur Hum.

Current Work

Currently, he can be seen as a contestant on the very famous Indian TV reality show Bigg Boss season 12, hosted by the Bollywood actor Salman Khan along with his partner Jasleen Matharu. 

Awards

In 2012, the Government of India conferred him with the 4th highest civilian Award Padma Shri. In his entire career, he has recieved many other awards such as Sangeet Natak Academy Award from the U.P Government and Manav Ratna Award.

First Marriage

His first maariage was to a Gujarati girl, Sonali Sheth without his family approval. She was his student then and later became a popular singer. They used to perform in the concert circuit as "Anup and Sonali Jalota".

Second and Third Marriage

After getting a divorce from Sonali, he tied the knot with Bina Bhatia, but that soon ended in divorce, too. Few years later, he met Medha Gujral and got married to her. Together they have a son named Aryaman who was born in 1996, and studied at Princeton University.

Medha Gujral

Medha was was niece of former Prime Minister I.K Gujral. Unfotunately, she died on 25 November 2014 at a hospital in New York City of liver failure following a second heart and first kidney transplant.

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