Alka
Yagnik is one of the greatest playback singers India has ever produced. Born on March 20, 1966, in Kolkata to a Gujarati family, she has received two National Film Awards and a record seven Filmfare Awards for Best Female Playback Singer. With a career spanning more than four decades and billions of streams worldwide, she remains a living legend of Indian music. Lately, she has also been in the news for receiving the Padma Bhushan while fighting a rare health condition. Here is a look at her family.
Alka Yagnik's Husband
Alka Yagnik married Shillong-based businessman Neeraj Kapoor in 1989. The couple has kept their personal life largely away from the spotlight. Neeraj Kapoor is not from the film industry, and their marriage has been a quiet, steady one throughout Alka's very public career.
The couple has stayed together for over three decades. While Alka remained a constant name in Bollywood, Neeraj focused on his business career in Shillong. Their relationship is often cited as a good example of a working celebrity marriage that remained stable and away from controversy.
Meet Alka Yagnik's Daughter Syesha Kapoor
Alka Yagnik and Neeraj Kapoor have a daughter named Syesha Kapoor. Syesha is an entrepreneur. She has largely stayed away from the entertainment industry and has built her own career in the business world. Alka has always been protective of her daughter's privacy.
Syesha Kapoor currently works as National Head of Key Accounts and On-Trade Sales at Raincheck Earth, the company that makes Cherrapunji Craft Gin. Before joining Raincheck Earth in March 2026, she spent over ten years at Aspect Hospitality, where she climbed the ranks to become Deputy Vice President.She holds an MBA in Marketing for Hospitality and has worked across restaurant management and sales over the years.Beyond her corporate career, Syesha also owns Boveda Bistro, a restaurant in Mumbai. She has described it as a place where people can eat at any time of the day, with a focus on comfortable yet creative food.On the personal front, Syesha got engaged to businessman Amit Desai in 2017 and the couple married in 2018.
Alka Yagnik's Parents And Her Lesser-Known Singer Brother
Alka Yagnik's father's name is Dharmendra Shankar and her mother's name is Shubha Yagnik. Her mother was a trained singer of Indian classical music. Music, therefore, was always a part of the family's identity.
In 1972, at just six years of age, Alka began singing for Akashvani, also known as All India Radio, in Calcutta. At the age of ten, her determined mother brought her to Mumbai to help her pursue a professional singing career. It was this early push from her mother that changed everything.Alka also has a brother named Samir Yagnik, who is a singer as well. Samir Yagnik is best known for the song Dil Tha Yahan Abhi Abhi (2000), a track he shares with his legendary sister, making it a rare sibling musical collaboration.
Alka Yagnik's Journey To Padma Bhushan
Alka Yagnik was honoured with the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2026 for her outstanding contribution to Indian music and playback singing. It is one of India's highest civilian honours and a fitting recognition for her legendary career.She received the award from President Droupadi Murmu at the Padma Awards 2026 ceremony in Delhi on June 23. The event marked one of her first public appearances since she was diagnosed with a rare sensorineural hearing loss in 2024. Her frail appearance at the ceremony worried fans across the country.Alka had earlier revealed that the hearing loss happened after she suddenly could not hear anything after stepping off a flight. She described it as a viral attack on her auditory system that came without any warning.A day after the ceremony, Alka shared an emotional note on Instagram saying she has stayed away from the spotlight for two years while dealing with her health and that she is slowly finding her way back. She also thanked fans for their constant love and prayers throughout this difficult period.