Irshad Kamil

Irshad Kamil, born Mohammed Irshad, is one of the most respected and literary lyricists in contemporary Hindi cinema. A trained poet with a doctorate in Hindi literature, he brings genuine poetic depth to film songwriting, and his collaborations — especially with composer A.R.

Irshad Kamil, born Mohammed Irshad, is one of the most respected and literary lyricists in contemporary Hindi cinema. A trained poet with a doctorate in Hindi literature, he brings genuine poetic depth to film songwriting, and his collaborations — especially with composer A.R. Rahman and director Imtiaz Ali — have produced some of the most acclaimed soundtracks of the modern era.

Known for words that blend Sufi mysticism, romantic longing and rebellious energy, Irshad has written across an extraordinary emotional range. From the spiritual "Kun Faya Kun" to the defiant "Sadda Haq" and the tender "Agar Tum Mil Jao", his lyrics have become a defining feature of the films they adorn.

This page covers the Irshad Kamil biography, age, real name, family, education, career, biggest songs, awards and net worth. A rare lyricist who is also a published poet and scholar, he is celebrated for elevating the craft of the Hindi film song while still writing chart-topping, mass-appeal hits.

Irshad Kamil was born on 5 September 1971 in Malerkotla, in the Sangrur district of Punjab, into a Muslim family. His father, Mohammed Saddique, was a chemistry teacher, and his mother was Iqbal Bano; he grew up in a large family with four brothers and two sisters. A love of poetry and language was nurtured in him from an early age.

He was academically distinguished, completing a post-graduation in Hindi and earning a Ph.D. in contemporary Hindi poetry from Panjab University in Chandigarh, along with a diploma in journalism. Irshad married Tasveer in 2002, and the couple have a son named Kamraan. He often speaks about how his scholarly training in poetry underpins his approach to film lyrics.

Irshad Kamil is married to Tasveer and has a son, Kamraan. He leads a relatively private life away from his professional work, and is known within the industry as a serious, scholarly figure who treats film songwriting as an extension of his poetry.

Fans and students of Hindi film music frequently look up Irshad Kamil's songs, poetry and biography, drawn by the literary quality of his lyrics. A published poet and author, he continues to write and perform poetry alongside his film work, and often champions the importance of meaningful, well-crafted lyrics in an industry increasingly driven by hooks and beats.

As one of Bollywood's most acclaimed and prolific lyricists, Irshad Kamil's net worth is reported to run into crores of rupees. His earnings come from film songwriting fees, publishing and royalty income, and his work as a poet and author.

Because he has not disclosed his finances publicly, any specific figure circulating online should be treated as an unverified estimate.

Irshad Kamil is celebrated as one of the most literary and versatile lyricists in Hindi cinema — a rare film songwriter who is also a scholar and published poet. His doctorate in Hindi poetry underpins a body of work that treats the film song as a serious poetic form, and his lyrics are studied and admired for their depth as much as they are loved by mass audiences.

His creative partnership with director Imtiaz Ali, and his collaborations with composers such as A.R. Rahman, produced some of the most acclaimed soundtracks of the modern era. Songs like "Kun Faya Kun", "Sadda Haq" and "Nadaan Parindey" from Rockstar demonstrate his extraordinary range, moving from Sufi devotion to youthful rebellion within a single film.

What distinguishes Irshad is his ability to marry poetic ambition with commercial success, writing songs that are both critically revered and hugely popular. As a published author who continues to perform his own poetry, he stands as a torchbearer for meaningful, well-crafted lyrics, and one of the defining voices of contemporary Hindi film songwriting.

Over the years, Irshad Kamil has earned wide recognition, including:

Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist (including for "Sadda Haq" / Rockstar and later wins)

Multiple Filmfare, IIFA and Screen Award nominations and wins

Recognition as one of the most literary and versatile lyricists in Hindi cinema

Published poet and author