Nikhil D'Souza is an Indian playback singer, songwriter and guitarist known for his distinctive, soothing voice and acoustic-pop style. Born and brought up in Mumbai, he developed an interest in music from an early age and later built a career combining Bollywood playback singing with independent music. His musical style blends filmi music, indie pop and alternative rock, with acoustic guitar playing forming an important part of his sound.
Nikhil gained recognition in the Indian music scene through his independent work and later entered Bollywood playback singing. Some of his best-known songs include “Mere Bina” from Crook, “Sham” from Aisha, “Tera Naam Japdi Phiran” from Cocktail, “O Gujariya” from Queen, “Dil Hi Toh Hai” from The Sky Is Pink, and “Vaaste” with Dhvani Bhanushali.
Nikhil D'Souza was born on 21 November 1981 in Mumbai. He studied at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, where he majored in Geology. Despite pursuing academics, music remained an important part of his life. He taught himself guitar and developed a musical style influenced by artists such as Sting and Jeff Buckley.
Before establishing himself as a playback singer, Nikhil worked on advertising jingles, including work associated with brands such as Airtel and Skoda. His musical abilities eventually brought him to the attention of music director Amit Trivedi, who featured him with Neuman Pinto on the acoustic song “Sham” from Aisha (2010). This became an important step in his Bollywood career.
He subsequently recorded songs for several Hindi films, including Crook, Anjaana Anjaani, Cocktail, Queen, The Sky Is Pink and other projects. His voice has become associated with romantic, melodic and contemporary Bollywood songs. His popular recording “Mere Bina” from Crook and his collaboration with Dhvani Bhanushali on “Vaaste” are among his widely recognized songs.
Alongside playback singing, Nikhil has continued to explore independent music. He released his alt-rock EP Simple Kind of Love and later worked on independent projects including Waqt. He has also performed on platforms and musical series such as MTV's Coke Studio and Sofar Sounds. He was the South Asia Soloist Winner at SUTASI '09, an achievement that helped establish his credentials as an independent musician. Birth Date: 21 November 1981 Birthplace: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India