About
Indian singer, music composer, and record producer known for being one half of the hit Bollywood composer brother duo Salim-Sulaiman along with being known for popular songs such as "Chak De! India," "Ainvayi Ainvayi," "Shukran Allah," "Mar Jawaan," and "Ishq Wala Love." He is also known for being a judge on Indian Idol Season 5 and Season 6 and on Indian Idol Junior Season 2.
Before fame
He studied piano at Trinity College of Music in London. He started collaborating closely with his older brother Sulaiman Merchant around 1993. He and Sulaiman Merchant originally worked on background scores, advertising music, and smaller film projects. He and his brother achieved a career breakthrough with the film Bhoot in 2003. He released his first mainstream breakthrough song "Chak De! India" in 2007. He joined Indian Idol as a judge in 2010 for Season 5 and Season 6. He returned to television as a judge on Indian Idol Junior Season 2 in 2015.
Trivia
He won the IIFA Award for Best Background Score for Mujhse Shaadi Karogi in 2005. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Background Score for Krrish in 2007. He received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Original Song in a Children's Series for Wonder Pets in 2009. He has collaborated with global artists and has worked on official remix projects associated with Lady Gaga.
Family life
He was born and raised in Mumbai, India in a musical household. He is the young brother of Sulaiman Merchant.
Associated with
He has worked alongside Sonu Nigam as a vocalist collaborator on "Shukran Allah" from Kurbaan in 2009. He has worked alongside Sunidhi Chauhan as a featured singer on "Ainvayi Ainvayi" from Band Baaja Baaraat in 2010.
