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Vishal-Shekhar: Bollywood's Hit-Making Composer Duo

For over 25 years, Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani — together, Vishal-Shekhar — have shaped the sound of modern Bollywood. The duo has appeared on over 350 film soundtracks, scored dozens of number-one singles, and blended electronic dance music, Indian classical, rock, and pop into a sound that defined an era of Hindi film music.

Two Very Different Musicians

The two could hardly be more different. Vishal Dadlani is the lead singer of the Mumbai electro-rock band Pentagram. Shekhar Ravjiani is a trained classical singer. Friends since childhood, they were each pursuing their own careers when, in 1999, they both ended up working on the same film. They decided to pool their resources and form a songwriting and production duo.

The Breakthrough

Vishal-Shekhar made their Bollywood debut in 1999 composing for Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi. Their breakthrough came with Jhankaar Beats (2003), whose music was widely appreciated. In 2004, they won the Filmfare R. D. Burman Award for New Music Talent for the film. That opened the door to a run of major projects, including Dus (2005), Salaam Namaste (2005), and Bluffmaster (2005).

The Big Soundtracks

The duo's most popular soundtracks include Om Shanti Om (2007), Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008), Dostana (2008), Anjaana Anjaani (2010), Tees Maar Khan (2010), Ra.One (2011), Student of the Year (2012), Chennai Express (2013), Sultan (2016), War (2019), and Pathaan (2023). Their songs range from the ballad "Khuda Jaane" to the item number "Sheila Ki Jawani" to the global collaboration "Chammak Challo" with Akon, and the chart-topping "Besharam Rang".

Beyond Bollywood

Their work is not limited to Hindi cinema. They have worked on Telugu, Tamil, and Marathi films, and collaborated with international artists including Akon, The Vamps, Imogen Heap, and Diplo. They have also appeared as judges on popular music reality shows including Indian Idol, MTV Hustle, and The Stage.

25 Years On

In 2025, Vishal-Shekhar celebrated their 25th anniversary together with a major world tour, performing their own hits live with occasional high-profile guests. A duo that started by pooling resources in 1999 is still setting the pace for Bollywood music today. Beyond films, both members remain active performers in their own right — Vishal with Pentagram and Shekhar as a singer — and their longevity is a reminder that a partnership built on complementary strengths can outlast trends, technologies, and entire eras of the industry.

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