# Badshah (rapper)

Aditya Prateek Singh (born 19 November 1985), better known by his stage name Badshah, is an Indian rapper, singer, songwriter, music producer, television personality and businessman. Badshah has recorded his songs in Hindi, Punjabi, English and Haryanvi languages.
Badshah gained widespread recognition after his 2012 single, "Saturday Saturday", was featured in the soundtrack of the 2014 movie, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. His notable works in Bollywood films include "Kar Gayi Chull" from Kapoor and Sons, "Garmi" from Street Dancer 3D, "Naina" from Crew, "Proper Patola" from Namaste England. He has also collaborated with international artists such as J Balvin and Tainy for the song "Voodoo" with a guest verse from Lil Baby.
Badshah has appeared as judge on MTV Hustle, Indian Idol, Dil Hai Hindustani, India's Got Talent, and India's Got Latent.

## Early life and education

Aditya Prateek Singh was born on 19 November 1985 in Delhi. His father, from Delhi, was a government officer, and his mother, from Punjab, was a teacher. He has a younger sister named Aprajita Singh.
He completed his schooling from Bal Bharati Public School, Pitampura, Delhi where he performed with his school choir. Prior to becoming a full-time musician he enrolled as a student of civil engineering at the Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Chandigarh, where he was exposed to new Punjabi music which prompted him to take on rap writing.

## Career

Badshah started his career in the music industry with the name "Cool Equal", but then changed his name to Badshah on the Indian singer Yo Yo Honey Singh's advice. He is further known for his catchphrase "it's your boy Badshah", often stylized as "Ish yo boy Baad-uh-sh-aa-ah".
In November 2006, he produced his first song "Soda Whiskey".
Then in January 2011, he produced a song "Paanch Begam" with Yo Yo Honey Singh, Raftaar, Alfaaz and J Star.
He broke into the mainstream after his 2012 single, "Saturday Saturday", was featured in the soundtrack of the 2014 movie, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania.
Badshah released his debut album, O.N.E. (Original Never Ends), on August 17, 2018.
He made his acting debut in August 2019 in the movie, Khandaani Shafakhana.
On 7 August 2020, the rapper released a pop and hip-hop album, The Power of Dreams of a Kid, which had eight tracks and included features from various artists such as Lisa Mishra, Sikander Kahlon, Fotty Seven, Bali and music producer Andy Grewal. The mastering and mixing of the album was done by Aditya Dev.
His 2019 song "Paagal" reached 74.8 million views on YouTube within 24 hours, setting the record for the most-viewed video in 24 hours on YouTube. YouTube did not confirm the record. Badshah's label then Sony Music, confirmed that they had used the help of advertisements from Google AdSense to promote the song.
An explanation for YouTube not acknowledging the record was that Badshah's record label Sony Music India had purchased advertisements from Google and YouTube that embedded the video or directed fans to it in some way. However, it has emerged that this is a common practice in the global music industry, and that similar practices had previously been used by the record labels of previous record holders such as Ariana Grande and Blackpink. This has cast doubt on some of the 24-hour viewership records on YouTube.
His song "Genda Phool" was released by Sony Music India in 2020. It had mixing with a Bengali folk song "Boro Loker Biti Lo". Ratan Kahar, a Bengali artist, claimed to be the original writer and composer of the folk song. Though Badshah later released a statement saying that it was a traditional Baul folk song which was not copyrighted, since folk music does not fall under copyright protections and is thus in the public domain.
Badshah released a four-track EP on 14 March 2022, Retropanda - Part 1.
Badshah collaborated with Jacqueline Fernandez in the song Pani Pani, the song is sung by Aastha Gill along with him. He further released the Bhojpuri version of the song, rapping in Bhojpuri language, by collaborating with Khesari Lal Yadav. The Bhojpuri version got more than one million views in less than an hour and became the first Bhojpuri song to do so.
He released his third studio album Ek Tha Raja on 18 March 2024, released by Universal Music Group. It features several artists including Raftaar, Karan Aujla, Ikka, Dino James, Nora Fatehi, Raga, Seedhe Maut, Aastha Gill, Arijit Singh, MC Stan, KR$NA and Nikhita Gandhi. He also announced the Pagaal World Tour 2024.

## Personal life

Badshah married Jasmine Masih in 2012. In January 2017, they had a daughter together named Jessemy Grace Masih Singh. They divorced in 2020.

## Discography
### Film songs

| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Movie | Song | Singer(s)/co-singer(s) | Composer(s) | Language | Label |
| 2014 | Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania | "Saturday Saturday" | Akriti Kakkar, Indeep Bakshi | Sharib-Toshi | Hindi | Sony Music India |
| 2014 | Fugly | "Dhup Chik" | Aastha Gill, Raftaar | Raftaar | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2014 | Khoobsurat | "Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai" | Aastha Gill | Badshah | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2015 | Bajrangi Bhaijaan | "Selfie Le Le Re" | Vishal Dadlani, Nakash Aziz, Pritam | Pritam | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2015 | ABCD 2 | "Vande Mataram" | Daler Mehndi, Tanishka Sanghvi and Divya Kumar | Sachin–Jigar | Hindi | Zee Music Company |
| 2015 | Second Hand Husband | "Bad Baby" | Gippy Grewal | | Hindi | Zee Music Company |
| 2015 | All Is Well | "Chaar Shanivaar" | Vishal Dadlani, Armaan Malik | Amaal Mallik | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2015 | Jazbaa | "Aaj Raat Ka Scene" | Shraddha Pandit | Badshah | Hindi | Zee Music Company |
| 2015 | Vedalam | "Aaluma Doluma" | Anirudh Ravichander | | Tamil | Sony Music India |
| 2016 | Sanam Re | "Akkad Bakkad" | Neha Kakkar | Badshah | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2016 | Teraa Surroor | "Teri Yaad" | Himesh Reshammiya | Himesh Reshammiya | Hindi | HR Musik Limited and T-Series |
| 2016 | Kapoor & Sons | "Kar Gayi Chull" | Fazilpuria, Sukriti Kakar, Neha Kakkar | Amaal Mallik, Badshah | Hindi | Sony Music India |
| 2016 | Kapoor & Sons | "Let's Nacho" | Benny Dayal | Nucleya, Benny Dayal | Hindi | Sony Music India |
| 2016 | Sultan | "Baby Ko Bass Pasand Hai" | Vishal Dadlani, Shalmali Kholgade, Ishita, Neeti Mohan | Vishal–Shekhar | Hindi | YRF Music |
| 2016 | Baar Baar Dekho | "Kala Chashma" | Amar Arshi, Neha Kakkar, Indeep Bakshi | Badahah, Prem-Hardeep | Hindi | Zee Music Company |
| 2016 | Ae Dil Hai Mushkil | "The Breakup Song" | Arijit Singh, Jonita Gandhi and Nakash Aziz | Pritam | Hindi | Sony Music India |
| 2016 | Shivaay | "Bolo Har Har Har" | Mithoon, Mohit Chauhan, Sukhwinder Singh Megha Sriram Dalton, Anugrah and The Vamps | Mithoon | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2017 | OK Jaanu | "The Humma Song" | A. R. Rahman, Jubin Nautiyal, Shashaa Tirupati, Tanishk Bagchi | A.R. Rahman, Tanishk Bagchi, Badshah | Hindi | Sony Music India |
| 2017 | Badrinath Ki Dulhania | "Tamma Tamma Again" | Bappi Lahiri, Anuradha Paudwal | Tanishk Bagchi | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2017 | Noor | "Move Your Lakk" | Diljit Dosanjh, Sonakshi Sinha | Badshah | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2017 | Mubarakan | "Mubarakan (Title Track)" | Juggy D, Yash Narvekar, Sukriti Kakar | Rishi Rich, Badshah | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2017 | Bhoomi | "Trippy Trippy" | Neha Kakkar, Benny Dayal, Brijesh Shandilya | Sachin–Jigar | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2018 | Blackmail | "Happy Happy" | Aastha Gill | Badshah | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2018 | Veere Di Wedding | "Tareefan" | Badshah | Qaran | Hindi | Zee Music Company |
| 2018 | Nawabzaade | "Tere Naal Nachna" | Sunanda Sharma | Badshah | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2018 | Stree | "Aao Kabhi Haveli Pe" | Nikhita Gandhi, Sachin–Jigar | Sachin–Jigar | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2018 | Loveyatri | "Aakh Lad Jaave" | Asees Kaur, Jubin Nautiyal | Tanishk Bagchi | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2018 | Namaste England | "Bhare Bazaar" | Vishal Dadlani, Payal Dev, B Praak | Rishi Rich, Badshah | Hindi | Sony Music India |
| 2018 | Namaste England | "Proper Patola" | Diljit Dosanjh, Aastha Gill | Badshah | Hindi | Sony Music India |
| 2018 | Villain | "Bholey Baba" | Nikhita Gandhi | JAM8 | Bengali | SVF Entertainment |
| 2019 | Aladdin | "Sab Sahi Hai Bro" | | Badshah | Hindi | Disney India |
| 2019 | Khandaani Shafakhana | "Koka" | Jasbir Jassi, Dhvani Bhanushali | Tanishk Bagchi | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2019 | Khandaani Shafakhana | "Sheher Ki Ladki" | Tulsi Kumar | Tanishk Bagchi | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2019 | Khandaani Shafakhana | "Saans To Le Le" | Rico | Badshah | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2019 | Saaho | "Bad Boy" | Neeti Mohan | Badshah | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2019 | Saaho | "Bad Boy" | Neeti Mohan | Badshah | Telugu | T-Series |
| 2019 | Saaho | "Bad Boy" | Benny Dayal, Sunitha Sarathy | Badshah | Tamil | T-Series |
| 2019 | Saaho | "Bad Boy" | Benny Dayal, Sunitha Sarathy | Badshah | Malayalam | T-Series |
| 2019 | Dabangg 3 | "Munna Badnaam Hua" | Kamaal Khan, Mamta Sharma | Sajid–Wajid | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2019 | Good Newwz | "Chandigarh Mein" | Harrdy Sandhu, Asees Kaur, Lisa Mishra | Tanishk Bagchi | Hindi | Zee Music Company |
| 2020 | Street Dancer 3D | "Garmi" | Neha Kakkar | Badshah | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2020 | Indoo Ki Jawani | "Heelein Toot Gayi" | Aastha Gill | Badshah | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2021 | Red Notice | "Bach Ke Rehna" | Jonita Gandhi, DIVINE, Mikey McCleary | R. D Burman, Divine, Mikey McCleary, Badshah | Hindi | Netflix India |
| 2022 | Cirkus | "Aashiqui" | Amrita Singh | Badshah, Hiten Kumar | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2022 | Dhaakad | "She's On Fire" | Nikhita Gandhi | Badshah | Hindi | Zee Music Company |
| 2023 | Bloody Daddy | "Issa Vibe" | Payal Dev | Badshah, Aditya Dev | Hindi | Times Music |
| 2023 | Jawan | "Faratta" | Arijit Singh, Jonita Gandhi | Anirudh Ravichander | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2023 | Sukhee | "Nasha" | Badshah, Chakshu Kotwal, Afsana Khan | Badshah, Hiten | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2023 | Sukhee | "Nasha (Badshah Version)" | Badshah, Chakshu Kotwal, Afsana Khan | Badshah, Hiten | Hindi | T-Series |
| 2023 | Farrey | Ghar Pe Party Hai" | Badshah, Aastha Gill, Mellow D | Sachin–Jigar | Hindi | Zee Music Company |
| 2024 | Crew | "Naina" | Badshah, Diljit Dosanjh | Raj Ranjodh | Hindi | Tips Music |
| 2024 | Crew | "Khwabida" | Badshah | Bharg-Rohit | Hindi | Tips Music |
| 2024 | Ishq Vishk Rebound | "Gore Gore Mukhde Pe" | Udit Narayan, Badshah, Nikhita Gandhi | Badshah, Hiten | Hindi | Tips Music |
| 2025 | Mere Husband Ki Biwi | "Gori Hai Kalaiyan" | Badshah, Kanika Kapoor, Sharvi Yadav, IP Singh | Akshay & IP, Badshah | Hindi | Jjust Music Label |

## Film career
### As actor

In 2019, Badshah began his acting career through the film Khandaani Shafakhana where he plays the role of a music superstsar who helps and supports the protagonist in the movie. He also had few other cameo appearances and works in movies mentioned here
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 2019 | Khandaani Shafakhana | Gabru Ghaatak | Debut film |
| 2015 | Jazbaa | Badshah | Cameo appearance in the song 'Aaj Raat ka Scene Bana De' |
| 2019 | Veere Di Wedding | Badshah | Cameo appearance |
| 2019 | Bala | Badshah | Cameo appearance |
| 2019 | Good Newwz | Badshah | Cameo appearance |
| 2022 | Ek Villain Returns | Badshah | Cameo appearance |
| 2023 | Crew | Badshah | Cameo appearance |
| 2025 | Sunny Sanskaari Ki Tulsi Kumari | Mr. Gabru | Filming |

### As producer

| Year | Film | Language | Director | Notes |
| 2019 | Do Dooni Panj | Punjabi | Harry Bhatti | Composed songs also |

### Television

| Year | Show | Broadcaster |
| 2022–2023 | India's Got Talent | Sony |
| 2022–2023 | MTV Hustle | MTV |
| 2024-present | "Indian Idol" | Sony Entertainment Television |

## Awards and nominations

| Award ceremony | Category | Nominated Work | Result |
| Filmfare Awards | Best Playback Singer- Male | Tareefan | Nominated |
| PTC Punjabi Film Awards | Best Punjabi Music of The Year | Wakhra Swag by Navv Inder ft. Badshah | Won |
| 10th Mirchi Music Awards | Best Song Engineer (Recording & Mixing) | "Mercy" from O.N.E (Album) | Nominated |
| Brit Asia TV Music Awards 2017 | Best Bollywood Act | — | Won |