Raj Shekhar

Lyricist Raj Shekhar has drawn from experience and empathy—as well as a quirky way with Hindi and English—to pen memorable words to big Bollywood hits. Born and raised in Madhepura in Bihar, Shekhar studied Hindi at the University of Delhi and was attracted to the showbiz hub of Mumbai to pursue being a film director at the insistence of his friends. It was while serving as assistant director to film-maker Aanand L. Rai that the latter, having heard about Shekhar’s poetry, asked whether he would like to write lyrics for the 2011 romantic comedy Tanu Weds Manu. Shekhar went on to write song lyrics for composer Krsna Solo for Tanu Weds Manu: Returns and added a prankster-like mirth to songs like “Madamji Go Easy” for Hichki. Shekhar drew from his own experiences in matters of the heart for “Jaane De” from Qarib Qarib Singlle in 2017 and scored an even bigger hit with the love song “Pehle Bhi Main” as part of the blockbuster ANIMAL in 2023.