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Time of India

Mohammed Rafi grew a beard, felt hurt when people said, 'he is finished' as Kishore Kumar rose to fame

Mohammed Rafi , one of India's most iconic playback singers, began his journey in films during the 1940s and remained a beloved voice until his passing in 1980. Despite his immense talent and the affection he received from fans, Rafi also went through a phase of self-doubt and struggle. Incidentally, just as Rafi was going through this, Kishore Kumar 's popularity was on the rise. In a recent chat on Shubhankar Mishra's YouTube channel, singer Sudesh Bhosle recalled this turbulent phase. He shared how, in the beginning, many in the classical music community didn't take Kishore Kumar seriously, often criticising composers like Kalyanji-Anandji for choosing a non-classically trained singer. However, once Kishore teamed up with RD Burman and delivered a string of chartbusters, opinions changed rapidly. Sudesh revealed that the same critics who once doubted Kishore soon praised him as unmatched, even claiming that 'Rafi saab is finished.' This shift was so intense that it reportedly prompted Kishore Kumar himself to ask the media to stop the comparisons. 'It's hurtful because I respect Rafi saab,' Kishore had said, according to Sudesh. Though Rafi's vocal skills remained as strong as ever, the change in musical trends deeply affected him. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like USDJPY đang đi lên không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Sudesh recalled hearing from Amit Kumar that Rafi once refused to sing for a film featuring Kishore as an actor, reportedly saying, 'Uthao isko, yeh doobta suraj hai.' As Kishore began to dominate the musical space post-Aradhana, Rafi found himself sidelined. According to Sudesh, this led to a period of depression for Rafi. 'He grew a beard and reportedly told Naushad, 'I am not a singer.'' Naushad played a crucial role in helping him regain confidence. It was Laxmikant-Pyarelal and director Manmohan Desai—an ardent fan of Rafi—who brought him back with Amar Akbar Anthony. Initially hesitant, Rafi asked, 'Why are you calling me? I am not a singer.' But Desai's encouragement reignited his spark, leading to iconic songs like 'Parda Hai Parda' and 'Shirdivale Sai Baba. ' During this period, Rafi also took a brief sabbatical, officially attributed to a throat infection, with some even claiming he had lost his voice. But he made a grand return, and one of the standout moments was in Amar Akbar Anthony (1975), where Rafi, Kishore Kumar, and Mukesh shared vocals on the romantic hit 'Humko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai Pyar.' It was a symbolic moment—three legendary singers coming together, with Lata Mangeshkar lending her voice to the female parts—celebrated as a landmark musical reunion.