Decades after his death, the legendary Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan continues to find new audiences through Bollywood, as filmmakers and musicians repeatedly revisit his timeless qawwalis and ghazals.

Widely known as the “Shahenshah-e-Qawwali”, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan transformed the traditional Sufi musical form of qawwali into a global phenomenon, taking it from small gatherings in Pakistan to major international stages and Western music festivals.

His extraordinary vocal range and innovative approach have inspired generations, while his compositions continue to return in films through recreations, adaptations and samples that often add emotional weight to key scenes.

Nusrat's latest Bollywood appearances

One of the latest examples is Saanson Ki Mala, featured in Mirzapur: The Film. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's original vocals were blended with new renditions by Madhur Sharma and Vaibhav Pani, giving the song a renewed energy.

The track appears in a mid-credit sequence involving Beena Tripathi, played by Rasika Dugal, and a chapter from her past.

The composition has also appeared in earlier Bollywood films, including Jeet (1996) and Koyla (1997), which starred Madhuri Dixit and Shah Rukh Khan.

Another recent adaptation is Jaan Se Guzarte Hain in Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar 2. The song draws from Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's 1977 classic Dil Pe Zakhm Khaate Hai and was reimagined by Shashwat Sachdev, featuring vocals by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Sachdev.

The qawwali complements the film's intense themes of love, betrayal and emotional resilience, adding further tension to its dramatic narrative.

A legacy repeatedly reimagined

Nusrat's influence on Bollywood extends far beyond these recent releases.

One of his best-known compositions, Mere Rashke Qamar, composed and sung by Nusrat with lyrics by Fana Bulandshahri, remains a popular concert favourite. The ghazal-qawwali was recreated by Tanishk Bagchi and sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan for the 2017 film Baadshaho.

His romantic composition Ye Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai has also been repeatedly adapted. It inspired the 2016 single Halka Halka and was loosely incorporated into the 2018 film Fanney Khan.

Another notable example is Tere Bin Nahi Lagda, which was incorporated into Tere Bin for Ranveer Singh and Sara Ali Khan's Simmba. The song was re-recorded by Nusrat's nephew Rahat Fateh Ali Khan with Asees Kaur.

Similarly, Sanu Ek Pal Chain Na Aave was reimagined for the 2018 film Raid, with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan providing the vocals. Another Nusrat composition, Nit Khair Manga, was also featured in the film in a softer acoustic arrangement.

Kinna Sohna Tenu Rab Ne Banaya, composed and performed by Nusrat, has appeared in films including Aamir Khan and Karisma Kapoor's Raja Hindustani (1996) and Marjaavaan (2019).

Mera Piya Ghar Aaya, written by eighth-century Punjabi Sufi poet Baba Bulleh Shah and popularised by Nusrat, was recreated for the 1995 film Yaarana. Anu Malik gave it a commercial jazz treatment, while Kavita Krishnamurthy's rendition helped turn it into an iconic dance number for Madhuri Dixit.

Music that refuses to fade

Across generations, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's music has continued to find new life through modern arrangements, fresh vocals and film soundtracks.

His ability to blend spiritual depth, romance and powerful emotion has allowed his qawwalis and ghazals to transcend their original era and connect with audiences decades later.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan died at the age of 48 after a sudden cardiac arrest linked to kidney and liver failure.

Yet his music remains alive, continuing to resonate with listeners and filmmakers—and reminding generations why his voice earned him the title “Shahenshah-e-Qawwali.”

Source: NDTV