# How a Failed Handicraft Business and a Trip to Rishikesh Turned Kailash Kher Into India's Sufi Music Icon > After a business collapse pushed him into depression, Kailash Kher found his way back through a trip to Rishikesh and turned fully to music, going on to sing more than 700 songs and become one of India's leading Sufi voices. **Type:** article · **Category:** Entertainment · **Published:** 2026-07-06 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/entertainment/bijanesa-duba-dipreshana-aya-phira-rishikesh-ki-eka-yatra-ne-kailash-kher-ko-bana-diya-suphi-sngita-ki-duniya-ka-badashaha-5331 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Kailash Kher, Sufi Music, Kailasa Band, Bollywood Singer, Padma Shri, Allah Ke Bande Sufi singer Kailash Kher's journey to stardom did not begin with music at all. It began with a failed business, a bout of depression, and a trip to Rishikesh that changed the course of his life. Today he has lent his voice to more than 700 songs across over 20 languages, but getting there meant losing almost everything first. ## A Childhood Steeped in Music Kailash Kher was born on July 7, 1973, in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. His father, Mehar Singh Kher, was a folk singer, so music was part of the household from the very start. Growing up surrounded by rhythm and melody naturally pulled young Kailash toward music, but he chose to begin his career in business rather than singing. ## A Failed Business and a Descent Into Depression Kher partnered with a friend to start a handicraft export business, hoping it would set him up financially. Instead, the venture collapsed completely, leaving him with heavy financial losses. The setback did not just hurt his finances, it took a toll on his mental health too, and Kher slid into depression, feeling as though he was falling apart from within. ## A Trip to Rishikesh Changed Everything To pull himself out of that dark phase, Kher stepped away from Mumbai and his business and travelled to Rishikesh. There, he spent time on the banks of the Ganga among sadhus, immersing himself in bhajans, kirtans and the spiritual atmosphere of the place. That period gave him fresh energy and helped him put himself back together. It was during this time that he decided to dedicate the rest of his life entirely to music. ## A Fresh Start in Mumbai In 2001, Kailash Kher returned to Mumbai, this time to build a career in music rather than business. The early days were far from easy. He sang jingles for advertisements and took on small projects to establish himself, and gradually his powerful voice began reaching people in the music industry, opening doors to sing for films. ## 'Rabba Ishq Na Hove' Brought Recognition, Then Overnight Stardom Kher's first big break came with the song 'Rabba Ishq Na Hove' from the film 'Andaz'. That helped him find a foothold in the film industry. What followed was 'Allah Ke Bande Hans De', a song that gave him recognition across the country. It became so popular that Kher turned into a star almost overnight. He went on to sing several other superhit songs, including 'Teri Deewani', 'Saiyaan', 'Bam Lahri' and 'Jai Jaikara'. ## The Band 'Kailasa' and Over 700 Songs To carve out his own identity, Kher formed his own band called 'Kailasa', through which he brought Sufi and folk music to listeners in a fresh, contemporary style. He has since lent his voice to more than 700 songs in over 20 languages, including Hindi, and has performed thousands of live concerts in India and abroad, drawing large crowds wherever he has sung. ## A Padma Shri and Several Major Honours In recognition of his contribution to music, the Government of India honoured Kher with the Padma Shri. He has also won several other major awards, including a Filmfare award. Beyond Bollywood, he has carved out a distinct identity in devotional, Sufi and folk music, and songs like 'Teri Deewani', 'Saiyaan', 'Allah Ke Bande', 'Bam Lahri' and 'Jai Jaikara' remain part of listeners' playlists to this day. ## From Rock Bottom to Stardom Kailash Kher's story is a reminder that no matter how difficult circumstances get, life offers another chance to those who hold on to courage and passion. His journey from a failed business and depression to becoming a leading name in Sufi music continues to inspire people even today. ## What this means for you This story does not directly affect readers' money or daily routine, but it carries a practical lesson for anyone struggling with a career setback or a difficult phase in life. - **For anyone facing setbacks:** Kailash Kher's recovery from a collapsed business and depression shows that starting over in a completely different field, and committing fully to it, can still lead to a major success. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. When and where was Kailash Kher born? He was born on July 7, 1973, in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. ### 2. Who was Kailash Kher's father? His father, Mehar Singh Kher, was a folk singer. ### 3. What did Kailash Kher do before turning to music? He started a handicraft export business with a friend, which failed completely. ### 4. How did Kailash Kher recover from depression? He travelled to Rishikesh and found stability by spending time with sadhus on the banks of the Ganga. ### 5. Which song gave Kailash Kher his first big break? His first big break came from the song 'Rabba Ishq Na Hove' in the film 'Andaz'. ### 6. Which song turned Kailash Kher into an overnight star? 'Allah Ke Bande Hans De' gave him nationwide recognition and made him a star almost overnight. ### 7. What is the band 'Kailasa'? It is Kailash Kher's own band, through which he presents Sufi and folk music in a fresh style. ### 8. How many songs has Kailash Kher sung so far? He has sung more than 700 songs in over 20 languages, including Hindi. ### 9. What honours has Kailash Kher received? He has been honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India and has also won several major awards, including a Filmfare award. ## Inspiration & Lessons Kailash Kher's story is not just about a singer's success, it is an example of getting back up after hitting rock bottom. - **Failure is not the final word:** despite his business collapsing completely and leaving him with heavy losses, Kher refused to give up and chose to start over. - **Choose the right environment in tough times:** to recover from depression, he travelled to Rishikesh and found mental peace spending time with sadhus on the banks of the Ganga. - **Recognise where your real strength lies:** the musical inclination he inherited from his father eventually became his actual career. - **Don't be afraid to start small:** in Mumbai he began with jingles and small projects, which eventually opened the door to bigger opportunities. - **Once you decide, commit fully:** after deciding to make music his life, Kher threw himself into it completely, a commitment that resulted in more than 700 songs and a Padma Shri. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. 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