Adnan Sami

Film composer In 1994, he composed music for a film for the first time. The 1995 Pakistani film Sargam, in which he was the lead actor and Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle did the playback Sargam, was a box office success. It was also the first time that an Indian playback singer was featured in an album in Pakistan. To date Sargam is the only film Sami has acted in, and the score is the best-selling album of all time in Pakistan.

He soon became popular, which led Hindi filmmaker Boney Kapoor to invite him to provide music for his film. This was the beginning for him to compose and sing for Hindi films and for the top Hindi film producers of the time like Yash Chopra and Subhash Ghai. Due to the popularity of his music videos and live performances, he started getting acting offers at the same time.

The song "Tu Sirf Mera Mehboob" from the Hindi film Ajnabee, sung by Adnan, became popular and was declared a "superhit" by Screen Magazine, who called him the pop personality of the year in 2001. Rediff.com called him the "Reigning King of Indipop" in early 2003 based on the sales of his albums in the previous two years.

Illness and weight loss In 2005, he suffered from lymphoedema and developed an abscess in the knee, which interrupted his career.

In 2006, he took a sabbatical and reportedly lost 130 kg.

As a concert pianist As a classical concert pianist, Sami has given solo performances before royalty such as the King of Sweden and King Hussein of Jordan. He has performed before heads of state and governments such as President Mitterrand of France, the President of the United Arab Emirates, the President and Prime Minister of India, the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan, the President and Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, the Prime Minister of Sweden and Princess Christina of Sweden. Adnan has performed for music festivals to sold-out stadiums of his solo concert tours all over the world in over forty countries.

Composing for events Sami wrote a song for India during the 2003 Cricket World Cup. The video of this song captures the nationalistic spirit of competition, depicting Adnan performing with the Indian cricket team with guest appearances from Indian film stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan and Kareena Kapoor.

Television He hosted the Indian version of the American music game show Don't Forget the Lyrics! called Bol Baby Bol on the Star TV network in 2008. Prior to that in 2005, he was the sole jury for the singing competition program on Channel called Super Singer. In 2011, Adnan returned as a judge on the singing reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs, which became popular worldwide.

Awards and recognition

Sami has won a number of international awards, including the Nigar Award, the Bolan Academy Award, He was given a special award by UNICEF for the song he wrote for famine-hit Ethiopia as a teenager and a United Nations Peace Medal for a song he wrote and performed for Africa.

Swedish and British radio and television have often referred to him as the fastest keyboard player in the world. Adnan has performed for prestigious music festivals to sold-out stadiums of his solo concert tours all over the world in over forty countries. In summer 2003, he became the only Asian artist to have sold out Wembley Stadium, London, for two consecutive nights, which won him a place in the Limca Book of Records.

In 2008, he was presented the "Naushad Music Award" by Andhra Pradesh Department of Culture, in Hyderabad.

In 2008 he also won "Best International Act" at the UK Asian Music Awards.

In 2013, he was given the BrandLaureate International Brand Personality award by the President of The BrandLaureate, Dr KK Johan, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In April 2017, Sami became the first South Asian to have performed at London's Wembley Stadium 8 times; tickets were sold out on all 8 occasions. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, attended the concert.

In January 2020, he was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour in the field of Arts, by Government of India. He received the award from President of India on 8 November 2021 In 2010, Sami received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Prime Minister of Pakistan at a ceremony by Pakistan Television.

In 2011, Sami was given the "Glory of India Award" by the India International Friendship Society. This was the 350th anniversary of the completion of the Taj Mahal, and Sami gave a solo concert performance in front of the Taj Mahal on the final night of the celebrations. After this performance, the Indian media dubbed him the "Sultan of Music".

Business endorsements In 2002, Pepsi Foods made Sami its brand ambassador in India, a contract which involved hosting a series of live music concerts across cities as well as featuring in ads for Pepsi products. He is the only artist in all of Asia and Europe to have endorsed Pepsi Cola and Coca-Cola together.

Personal life Sami first married to actress Zeba Bakhtiar in 1993, with whom he had a son named Azaan Sami Khan. They divorced after three years.

Sami began living in India since 13 March 2001, on a visitor's visa which was extended from time to time.

In 2008, his wife Sabah returned to Mumbai, remarried him and began living with him, but the marriage only lasted one year, after which Sabah filed for divorce again.

In 2009, his father died of pancreatic cancer, which he described as the "biggest blow" of his life, saying that he had been extremely close to his father.

On 29 January 2010 Sami married Roya Sami Khan, the daughter of a retired diplomat and army general. He first met Roya in India during her visit in 2010 and proposed to her after some time. On 10 May 2017, he became a father to a daughter, Medina Sami Khan.

On 26 May 2015, he submitted a request for Indian citizenship to the Ministry of Home Affairs, when his Pakistani passport expired (he also held Canadian citizenship at the time), as the Government of Pakistan declined to renew his passport; effective as of 1 January 2016.

In an interview with Rajat Sharma on Aap Ki Adalat, which aired on 31 May 2025, Sami shared about his experiences about being denied Pakistani visa to visit his mother's funeral, which he watched on video call, and criticized the Pakistan Army and intelligence agency ISI for brainwashing youths into committing acts of terror across India while referring to the Pahalgam terror attack and the November 2008 Mumbai terror attack, besides looting the nation and begging for donations to fund their objectives. Sami also labeled Pakistani politician Fawad Chaudhry a joker for the latter's lack of credibility. Additionally, Sami expressed gratitude to the Government of India and the audience for giving him recognition, and credits Asha Bhosle for supporting his career and hosting him when he moved to India. Furthermore, Sami also expressed about being a foodie and showing himself as a hopeless romantic through his music.

Filmography

As an actor Sargam (1995) Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015)

As a playback singer

Urdu songs

Hindi songs

Telugu songs

Tamil songs +YearFilmSongsCo-singers

Kannada songs

Other languages

As a music director and composer Sargam (1995) Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke (2001) Love at Times Square (2003) Lucky: No Time for Love (2005) Dhamaal (2007) Mumbai Salsa (2007) Khushboo (2008) 1920 (2008) Shaurya (2008) Daddy Cool (2009) Sadiyaan (2010) Chance Pe Dance (2010)

Discography YearAlbumSongsCo-singersNotes1986Live in Karachi1. "Durga"Music composed by Zakir Hussain2. "Folk Tune"3. "Jazz Piece"4. "Bageshri"1989Ecstasy 1. "Raag Bairagi"2. "Folk Tune from N.W.F.P"3. "Dhun in Mishr Khamaj"4. "Dhun in Pillu"1991Raag Time1. "Wahin Kahin Paao Gi"2. Teri Yaad Aati Hay3. "Raag Time"4. "Kahan Bas Gay Ho"5. "I Can Never"6. "Feel Your Soul"7. "Burning for You"1992Behta Darya1. "Durga"1995Sargam1. "Aae Khuda, aae Khuda"2. "Suhani rutt ayi"Hamid Ali Khan, Hadiqa Kiyani3. "Pall do pall kay"4. "Bheega hua mousam"5. "Chamki kiran"Hamid Ali Khan6. "Kab sey khili ho"Maharaj Ghulam Hussain Kathak, Hadiqa Kiyani7. "Kya hay, yeh uljhan"Hadiqa Kiyani8. "Zara Dholki bajao"Asha Bhosle9. "Pyar bina jeena nahin"Hadiqa Kiyani10. "Barse Badal"Hadiqa Kiyani11. "Woh mujhay yaad"Hadiqa Kiyani1997Badaltey Mausam1. "Badaltay Mausam"2. "Kabhi to Nazar Milao"Asha BhosleFeaturing Salil Ankola & Aditi Govitrikar in music video.3. "Bahoon Kay Gheray"4. "Pehli Wari"5. "Hum Phir Milengay"6. "Dil to Mera"7. "Koi Rehta Hai"8. "Aao Na"9. "Nakhra Us Ka"2000Always Yours1. "Bheega Mausam"2. "Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein"3. "Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein (Unplugged)"4. "Lift Karadey"Featuring Govinda in music video.5. "Mehndi Masala"Asha Bhosle6. "Pyar Bina"Asha Bhosle2002Tera Chehra1. "Kabhi Nahin"Amitabh Bachchan2. "Meri Yaad"3. "Nain Se Nain"Featuring Raveena Tandon in music video.4. "Roothey Hue"Ft. Aarti Chhabria5. "Sanson Mein"6. "Tera Chehra"Featuring Rani Mukherjee in music video.7. "Teri Baahon Mein"Featuring Namrata Shirodkar in music video.8. "Tera Bina"Featuring Mahima Chaudhry in music video.2003Kabhi To Nazar Milao1. "Kabhi To Nazar Milao"Asha Bhosle Featuring Salil Ankola, Aditi Govitrikar2. "Pyar Hai"Asha Bhosle3. "Dholki"Asha Bhosle2004Teri Kasam1. "Kasam"Featuring Amisha Patel in music video.2. "Mahiya"Featuring Bhoomika Chawla in music video.3. "Kabhi Aisa Lage"Featuring Shonali Nagrani in music video.4. "Pal Do Pal"Featuring Dia Mirza in music video.5. "Chand Nikla"6. "Tauba!"7. "Poocho..."8. "Best Friend!"2007Kisi Din1. Asalaam Walekum2. Baarish3. Baarish (Unplugged)4. "Dekho Jaaneman"5. "Jharonkha"6. "Kisi Din"7. "Kisi Din (Remix)"8. "Koi Rehta Hai"9. "Sargaroshi"10. "Teri Yaad"11. "Teri Yaad (Remix)"12. "Best Friend"2009Ek Ladki Deewani Si1. "Chalo"2. "Dekha Tujhe" Tulsi Kumar3. "Ek Ladki"4. "Laila"5. "Let's Go Mumbai City" Jermaine Jackson6. "Let's Go Mumbai City (Remix)"7. "Mehfooz"8. "Sharmili"9. "Tu Salaamat Rahe"2013Press Play1. "Ali Ali"2. "Roya"3. "Mere Baap"4. "Kudi Tight"5. "Mein Tere Saath Hun"6. "Karun Na Yaad"7. "Baba"8. "Dua De"9. "Ali Ali (Remix)"10. "Roya (Remix)"11. "The Azaan (Call To Prayer)"

Badaltay Mausam (1997) was re-released in India as Kabhi To Nazar Milao (2000).