Music holds a special power. It can truly transcend time. A simple melody takes you back. It evokes strong nostalgic feelings. Songs become our life’s soundtrack. This happens most in our youth. The artists are more than singers. They are memory architects. Their voices link to our first loves. But what happens after their big hits? Fame is often a fleeting thing. This report explores ten such voices. We ask “Where are they now?”. We are finding the singers who disappeared from Bollywood.
Annie Khalid. From ‘Mahiya’ to a Mother’s Mission
We all remember ‘Mahiya’. The song was a huge 2007 hit. It defined Pakistani pop-rock. The song crossed into Bollywood. It was in the film Awarapan. This made Annie Khalid a star. She released more albums. Princess was a best-seller. She worked with artists like Rishi Rich. But her personal life was public. She faced many challenges. She moved to the UK to rebuild.
This search for ‘Where are Bollywood’s lost singers now’ leads here. Her focus shifted. She revealed her daughter’s health crisis. Her daughter Isha faced two cardiac arrests. This caused brain damage and paralysis. Annie’s music paused. She became a full-time mother. She calls her daughter courageous and beautiful. Her story is one of strength. She has also returned to music. She released ‘Mahiya 2.0’ in 2024.
Bombay Jayashri. A True Regional Superstar with Bollywood Hits
Bombay Jayashri’s voice is timeless. We heard it in ‘Zara Zara’. The song was from Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein. It was a true revelation. It became an instant classic. But she was already a master. She is a Carnatic music star. This was not a ‘Bollywood singers one hit wonder’ case. She never left her classical roots. She sings in many languages. She co-wrote “Pi’s Lullaby”. This song was in Life of Pi. It earned an Academy Award nomination. She proves deep roots have global appeal. Today, she is a vital force in music. She performs at major festivals. She won the Padma Shri in 2021. She is a global ambassador for Indian music.
Sowmya Raoh. The Voice of ‘Dilbara’ Finds Mindfulness
Sowmya Raoh’s journey started in the South. Her 1996 song ‘Greekuveerudu’ was a hit. She recorded it in Tamil and Hindi too. She entered Bollywood in 2000. We all remember ‘Dilbara’ from Dhoom. She also sang ‘Nach Baliye’. Her range is remarkable. She has recorded over 200 songs.
She worked with A. R. Rahman. Her 2012 song ‘Dreamum Wakeupum’ was a chartbuster. Many saw her as one of the famous singers who left Bollywood. But she just shifted her focus. She now shares mindfulness practices. She uses her platform for well-being. She still releases new music. She released ‘Maaya’ in 2024. Her new focus is on inner peace.
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Anweshaa. A Reality Show Prodigy Still Thriving
Anweshaa Datta Gupta rose to fame fast. She was a star on reality TV. She debuted in Bollywood at 14. She sang ‘Tha Kar Ke’ in Golmaal Returns. This launched her career. She is not just a ‘Bollywood singers one hit wonder’. She built a huge discography. She sang ‘Banarasiya’ from Raanjhanaa. She also sang ‘Jalte Diye’. She is a powerhouse in Bengali cinema. She is a prime example of ‘Regional superstars with Bollywood hits’. Now, she is also a composer. She made her debut for a Marathi film in 2023. She releases her own independent music. She controls her own artistic narrative.
Banjyotsna Vaidya. The Haunting Voice of ‘Gale Lag Ja’
De Dana Dan gave us a great rain song. ‘Gale Lag Ja’ was an instant favorite. Javed Ali sang the male vocals. Banjyotsna Vaidya sang the female part. Her smooth voice was perfect. This was her biggest Bollywood hit. Tracing her career after is hard. Public records are very sparse. Her name has many variations. This makes searching difficult. This is the real mystery. She is one of the true singers who disappeared from Bollywood. Her story shows a hard truth. A huge hit does not guarantee a long career. The industry is hyper-competitive. Her song is a perfect, solitary peak.
Leon D’Souza. ‘Hosanna’ Singer’s New Tech Mindset
‘Hosanna’ was an anthem for a generation. Leon D’Souza was the voice. A.R. Rahman chose him. The song was a cultural phenomenon. This was a dream debut. He continued on a strong path. He sang ‘Dhuaan’ for D-Day. He toured the world with Arijit Singh in 2017. This showed his respected industry standing. But the query ‘Where are Bollywood’s lost singers now’ has a twist.
Leon D’Souza pivoted. This is why many think he is one of the famous singers who left Bollywood. He moved into technology and design. He has a passion for minimalist aesthetics. He was a Creative Head for Glowsnap, an AI app. He is now founding a social networking app. He is a modern creative. He refused to be defined by one hit.
Rashid Ali. The Craftsman Behind ‘Kabhi Kabhi Aditi’
Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na defined 2008. Rashid Ali voiced its biggest songs. ‘Kabhi Kabhi Aditi’ and ‘Kahin To’ were his. He also played the main guitar riffs. The songs became instant anthems. His journey is tied to A.R. Rahman. Rahman mentored him. He was the first artist on Rahman’s label, KM Musiq. His album Call Me Rashid launched. It showed his virtuoso guitar skills. He is not one of the singers who disappeared from Bollywood. He built an “artisan” career. He works on his own terms. He offers his services on SoundBetter. He is a master craftsman. He composes for sync licensing.
Tochi Raina. The Sufi Soul of ‘Iktara’ and ‘Kabira’
Tochi Raina’s voice has raw power. He is known for deep, Sufi songs. ‘Iktara’ from Wake Up Sid was iconic. ‘Kabira’ from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani was too. He became the voice for spiritual seeking. He admits singing was an accident. He moved to Mumbai to be a composer. But people loved his unique voice. For Tochi, Bollywood was a launchpad. It was not the final goal. He is not one of the famous singers who left Bollywood. He used his fame to fund his passion. He formed his band ‘Band of Bandagi’. They create contemporary Sufi music.
Soham Chakraborty. From ‘In Dino’ to Political Star
‘In Dino’ was the anthem of Life in a… Metro. Soham Chakraborty was the voice. The 2007 hit made him a household name. He followed up with ‘Khudaya Khair’. But his ambition was elsewhere. He shifted to acting in Bengali cinema. He was already a famous child artist. He even worked with Satyajit Ray. His 2009 film Prem Aamar was a blockbuster. He became a top Bengali actor. His journey did not stop there. He entered politics in 2014. He won the 2021 assembly election. He is now a Member of the Legislative Assembly. This is not a ‘Bollywood singers one hit wonder’ story. It is a story of total transformation.
Karthik. ‘Behka’ Was Just One of 8,000 Songs
Karthik’s voice is everywhere. He has recorded over 8,000 songs. He sings in more than 15 languages. For many, ‘Behka’ from Ghajini was their intro. But this hit was just one of thousands. He started as a backing vocalist for A.R. Rahman. He is a titan in South Indian industries. He is the definition of ‘Regional superstars with Bollywood hits’. He is also a composer. He was the music director for Aravaan. He is in the fusion band ‘Arka’. Today, his career has evolved. He is a judge on many music reality shows. He mentors the next generation of singers.
The Enduring Echoes of Our Playlist Ghosts
These ten artists show diverse paths. Their journeys challenge the idea of “success”. We have the traditionalist, Bombay Jayashri. She used fame to elevate her art. We have the transformers. Leon D’Souza pivoted to tech. Soham Chakraborty entered politics. We also see deep human stories. Annie Khalid’s story is of a mother’s strength. The question ‘Where are Bollywood’s lost singers now’ has no single answer. The echo of their songs lasts a lifetime. But the artists’ own stories are far more complex.
What is the ‘In Dino’ singer Soham Chakraborty doing now?
Did you know he’s a politician? After his smash hit, Soham became a major movie star in Bengali cinema. He then successfully pivoted to politics and is an incumbent Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in West Bengal, balancing both acting and political careers as of 2025.
Where is Leon D’Souza, the ‘Hosanna’ singer, now?
This is one of the most surprising answers to ‘Where are Bollywood’s lost singers now’. Leon has made a major career change. He pivoted to the tech industry, working in product development and creative marketing for apps. He still releases music independently, including a “Lofi Flip” of his original hit.
