Rahul Deshpande is an Indian classical music & playback singer and actor from Pune. He is the grandson of Vasantrao Deshpande, the renowned vocalist known for his contributions towards musical dramas. Apart from giving numerous stage performances, he has also rendered his voice for playback singing. He sang for movies, Balgandharva, Katyar Kaljat Ghusali, A Month and a Week etc. He is an expert in different genres of Hindustani light music, including Natya Sangeet, and he belongs to the Patiala Gharana of artists. He also appears in musical plays and wishes to revive Marathi musicals. Now he is a very popular playback voice of Marathi Cinema, winning numerous prestigious awards, including National Film Awards, multiple State and Filmfare Awards, and many more.
In 2022, he won the prestigious National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the Marathi film, Me Vasantrao, based on the life of his grandfather, where he played the lead role too. In 2024, the same movie won him three prestigious state awards, including Best Actor, Composer and Playback Singer. The following year, he won the State award for best Playback Singer for the song “Khal Khal Goda” from Godavari.
Rahul Deshpande – Renowned Vocalist, The Grandson of Vasantrao Deshpande
A prolific singer in Hindustani light music
Rahul Deshpande was born in Pune in 1979 into a musical family with strong Hindustani music lineage. His grandfather, Vasantrao Deshpande, was a popular figure in Maharashtra music and theatre circles. Interestingly, he got drawn towards the light music genre instead of Hindustani music.
During his school studies in an English medium school, he was most drawn towards western music influences like Bryan Adams, Madonna, Jon Bon Jovi and Mariah Carey. He heard only western music at school. He had less interest in classical music. Yet to follow the legacy, he practised Indian music for 8-10 years. Pandit Gangadharbuva Pimpalkhare and Dr.Madhusudhan Patwardhan were his early gurus.
Got influenced by Kumar Gandharva
Once he happened to listen a cassette of Nirguni Abhang songs sung by Kumar Gandharva after his death and got deeply drawn towards it. Rahul started singing Kumar Gandharva’s songs, and has performed his songs in numerous concerts over the years. He also got opportunity to learn under Kumar Gandharva’s son, Mukul Shivputra for 8-9 years.
Once he was advised by Marathi writer and humourist Purushottam Laxman Deshpande, who was a close friend of his grandfather, to leave all forms of studies and concentrate on music. He was pursuing his chartered accountancy then. After that he took up music professionally. He sings khyal, thumri, dadra, natyageet, bhajan, ghazal and bhaavgeet, belonging to light music genre of Hindustani music.
Career and Major Awards
Sudhir Phadke Award, Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Awards 2012, Rasikagrani Dattopant Deshpande Award etc are the major honours received by him. As a playback singer, “Khansaheb Aftab Hussain Bareliwale” is his most popular song. Songs of Katyar Kaljat Ghusali made him a household name. He also appeared in numerous Marathi plays such as “Man Apmaan”,“Saubhadra” etc.
2024 was a milestone year in Rahul’s filmy journey. He legally separated from his wife Neha, in the same year after 17 years of marriage. The couple had one daughter.
Rahul Deshpande – Some interesting and lesser-known facts
1. Rahul has served as a judge for several singing reality shows on television, like Mi Honaar Superstar.
2. He made a guest appearance in the film, A Month and a Week. He did playback singing too.
3. Apart from vocals, he has also learnt tabla.
4. For the play Katyar Kaljat Ghusali, he played the role of a vocalist. The play was later adapted to film, where he did playback singing.
5. Annually, he arranges the “Vasantotsav” in memory of his late grandfather. It is conducted by the foundation, Dr Vasantrao Deshpande Pratishthan. “Vasantotsav Youth Award” and ” Vasantotsav Award” are given away every year too.
6. He received the Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Award from Lata Mangeshkar in 2012.
7. He has meticulously preserved the “Vasantrao style” of singing, which is known for its complex taans and emotional depth.
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