Baba Sehgal

Harjeet Singh Sehgal, widely recognized by his stage name Baba Sehgal, is a pioneering Indian rapper, singer, and actor who is often credited as the first professional Hindi rapper in the country. He was born on November 23, 1965, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, where he spent his formative years. Despite his early passion for music, he followed a traditional academic path at the insistence of his family, eventually earning a B.Tech degree in Electrical Engineering from the G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in Pantnagar. Before his rise to stardom in Mumbai, he worked briefly as an engineer and even served as an inspector for the Delhi Electricity Supply Undertaking, though he spent much of his time during that period writing and practicing the rhyming compositions that would later define his career.

His journey into the entertainment industry began in the early 1990s during the height of the Indipop era. While his debut album, Dilruba, released in 1990, did not achieve immediate success, his breakthrough came shortly after with the 1992 album Thanda Thanda Pani. The title track, which sampled Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby," became a massive cultural phenomenon and sold over five million cassettes, marking the first time a rap album achieved such commercial dominance in India. This success established him as a household name and earned him the distinction of being the first Indian artist to have a music video broadcast on MTV Asia. Throughout the 1990s, he continued to release successful albums like Main Bhi Madonna and Baba Bachao Na, while also serving as the host of the popular television show Superhit Muqabla on DD2.

Beyond his musical achievements, Baba Sehgal successfully transitioned into acting and reality television. He made his Bollywood debut in the 1998 film Miss 420, for which he also composed and performed several songs. Over the years, he expanded his reach into regional cinema, making a notable debut in Telugu films with Rudhramadevi in 2015 and in Tamil cinema with Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada in 2016. He was also a prominent contestant in the inaugural season of Bigg Boss Malayalam in 2006 (and the first season of the Hindi version of Bigg Boss), where his energetic and idiosyncratic personality resonated with audiences. Throughout his career, he has contributed playback singing to over 100 Telugu and dozens of Tamil songs, working with renowned composers and maintaining a steady presence across multiple South Indian film industries.

In recent years, Baba Sehgal has reinvented himself as a digital-first creator, maintaining a significant presence on social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). He is well-known for his "Swag Tips" and quirky, viral singles such as "Aloo Ka Parantha," "Going to the Gym," and "Chicken Fried Rice," which often utilize humor and relatable everyday themes. As of late 2025 and early 2026, he remains highly active in the commercial space, recently collaborating on high-profile digital campaigns for brands like Traya and Dr. Vaidya's, where he uses his signature rap style to address health and wellness topics. Now exclusively managed by Doremi Talent Management, he continues to perform at live concerts and corporate events globally, solidifying his legacy as an enduring icon of Indian pop culture who successfully bridged the gap between the 90s Indipop boom and the modern digital era.