Kishore Kumar vs Mohammed Rafi: The Untold Story Behind Chhoti Bahu

Kishore Kumar vs Mohammed Rafi: Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi were two legendary voices of Hindi cinema—artists whose singing could transform any song into a timeless hit. Even decades after their passing, their music continues to live in the hearts of millions.

Today, we bring you a fascinating story involving both these musical icons. The incident took place during a Rajesh Khanna film in the early 1970s, where both singers lent their voices to different songs. Surprisingly, Kishore Kumar’s devotional track ended up overshadowing Rafi’s romantic number. Here’s the full story—

A Memorable Devotional Song by Kishore Kumar

The incident dates back to the 1970s, a period when Rajesh Khanna was at the peak of his stardom. Kishore Kumar played a major role in that success, as his voice became synonymous with Rajesh Khanna. Most of Rajesh Khanna’s chartbusters were sung by Kishore, making him the superstar’s unofficial musical identity.

In 1971, Rajesh Khanna’s film “Chhoti Bahu” was released. The movie featured Sharmila Tagore and Nirupa Roy in key roles. What made this film interesting from a musical perspective was that both Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar recorded songs for it.

• Mohammed Rafi sang a romantic melody for the movie.

• Kishore Kumar, on the other hand, lent his voice to a devotional track (a bhajan).

Unexpectedly, Kishore Kumar’s devotional song received massive appreciation from audiences. Its emotional depth and simplicity made it stand out, and it quickly overshadowed Rafi’s romantic number. The bhajan became one of the highlights of the film.

A Song That Remains Popular Even After 54 Years

More than five decades later, the devotional song from Chhoti Bahu remains extremely popular. It is still included in playlists dedicated to Lord Krishna and continues to be cherished as a classic spiritual track.

This incident remains a beautiful reminder of how both Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi brought their own magic to Indian cinema. Even when featured in the same film, they created completely different musical experiences—one rooted in romance, the other overflowing with devotion.