A look into the life of Indian rapper, Dilin Nair, better known as Raftaar, who is the voice behind Adidas' official cricket world cup anthem, '3 Ka Dream'. Here's everything about him!
When we talk about one of the most popular, successful, and admired rappers in India, Kalathil Kuzhiyil Devadasan Dilin Nair, in short, Dilin Nair, better known by his stage name, Raftaar's name comes straight into the minds of a lot of people. Over the years, he has given so many tracks that have broken the trending charts.
Apart from making a name for himself in Bollywood with a series of hit film music, Raftaar is indeed one of the most successful rappers of his time. The ace rapper has also become a household name across India, courtesy of the fact that he has been the judge for a series of television shows. The frequent appearance on television has boosted his fan following to a notch higher, and as of 2023, Raftaar has 3.8 million followers on Instagram.
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When we talk about some of the best raps done by Raftaar so far in his career, the list is quite long, as he has given so many hits. However, if we dare to filter them, some raps are almost everyone's favourite and the ones which made him a household name in India.
The raps that played a crucial role in Raftaar's career are the likes of Dhaakad, Toh Dishoom, All Black, Baby Marvake Manegi, Haseeno Ka Deewana, Jaanu, Naachne Ka Shaunq, Zinda Hai, Ghana Kasoota, and many more.
On September 20, 2023, Adidas uploaded their official campaign for the Indian cricket team ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Although it is not known who penned the lyrics the way Raftaar sang them, it instantly hit home.
The song received a lot of love from netizens, and the majority of people called it 'better' than ICC's Dil Jashn Bole, which Pritam sang. The way Raftaar's song became the voice of the Indian cricket team's campaign for the World Cup speaks volumes about his stature as a rapper in India.
It was back in 2006 when Raftaar was working as a salesman in Delhi. The rapper was earning Rs. 10,000 per month. However, his father knew that his son had something special in him. As a result, Raftaar’s father encouraged him to follow his dream. At that time, Raftaar’s father’s salary was just Rs. 12,000, and he put Rs. 10,000 below his son’s pillow. When Raftaar saw the money, he went to his dad, who told him he didn’t have to worry about money.
Not only this, but Raftaar’s father also told him to give a shot at his dreams and told him that even if he failed, they’d open a shop for him, and his future would be secure. That was the moment that changed Raftaar’s life forever, and with the backing of his father, he pursued his dream of becoming a rapper, and the rest is history.
Apart from music, Raftaar is also admired and followed by a vast majority of people, who are not even interested in rap music. Well, the secret behind it is the fact that Raftaar has an incredible fashion quotient.
One look at his Instagram handle, and you take so many notes about street fashion in particular. Whether we talk about his breathtaking photoshoots or collaborations with a series of fashion brands, Raftaar never skips a chance to make his fanbase go gaga over his fashion and style.
Raftaar was born on November 16, 1988, to a middle-class Malayali couple in Kerala's capital, Trivandrum. While his father, K.K. Devdasan worked at Indian Railways, his mother, Lalitha Nair was a typist by profession. Talking about Raftaar's educational qualifications, he completed his schooling at Delhi's famous schools, Mount Abu Public School and Sachdeva Public School.
Not everyone knows, but Raftaar also went to Shiva Shiksha Sadan School in Haryana to complete his schooling. Although, it is not known whether he went there for secondary or senior secondary classes. However, after completing his education, Raftaar studied at Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, New Delhi, from where he completed his bachelor's degree in computer application.
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Talking about Raftaar's personal life, the ace rapper got married to the love of his life, Komal Vohra, in December 2016. It was an intimate wedding ceremony as the couple preferred to keep their wedding celebrations low-key. However, after some years into their married life, Raftaar and Komal started having a lot of differences and irreconcilable issues between them.
Despite their best efforts, it was on October 6, 2022, when Raftaar and Komal parted ways after announcing their divorce publicly. It was a shock for their fans as everyone was patiently waiting for the couple to announce their first pregnancy, but what happened literally broke their fans. As expected, time has healed all wounds, and as of now, Raftaar is fully focused on his work and is showing no signs of slowing down.
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If the reports are to be believed, Raftaar is among one of the richest rappers in India. From dropping hit tracks, doing live shows, working as a judge in reality shows, and collaborating with a series of brands to indulging in a lot of brand promotions, Raftaar has multiple income streams.
This clearly speaks to why Raftaar's net worth is estimated to be around the mammoth number of Rs. 80 crores. At first, it looks staggering, but when we look at the kind of dedication Raftaar has in his work, the huge number starts making sense. With so many big collaborations on the charts, Raftaar's net worth is showing all signs of going in the upward direction only.
What are your thoughts about Raftaar's place in the rap culture in India? Is he one of the best rappers we have in India? Let us know.
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