Indian rapper and singer Badshah has revealed that the late Pakistani pop icon Nazia Hassan is one of his biggest inspirations.

 

He made the remark during a recent press conference in London ahead of his forthcoming concert at The O2 Arena on Sunday, March 22.

 

Speaking to reporters, Badshah mentioned several names and moments from the South Asian music scene.

 

"Rahat Fateh Ali Khan sahab comes up sometimes in my [social media] feed," he said.

 

 

He also spoke about Pakistan Idol.

 

"Bilal Saeed gave a special performance on Pakistan Idol, that was beautiful. I think he sang ‘12 Saal’ [Ranjhay Majhiyan Chariyan]. I don’t get free time from Indian Idol, but whenever I do, I will watch it. I have heard so many things about [Pakistan Idol].”

 

When asked specifically about which Pakistani artist he listens to, Badshah replied, “Nazia Hassan… she is one of my biggest inspirations.”

 

Badshah has released several hit songs that have defined his career so far. His track “Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai,” featured in the Bollywood film Khoobsurat, became a blockbuster and amassed over one billion views on YouTube.

 

He also gained vast popularity with “Genda Phool,” a Hindi pop song featuring Payal Dev that became one of the most-watched music videos globally, crossing more than one billion views online. Another well-known song is “She Move It Like” from his album ONE (Original Never Ends), which has attracted hundreds of millions of views and remains a fan favorite.

 

Nazia Hassan became a defining voice in South Asian pop music after her debut with “Aap Jaisa Koi” for the 1980 film Qurbani. The song gained widespread popularity across the subcontinent and earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer at just 15 years old.

 

Her album Disco Deewane and its title track broke records and helped her achieve international success. Other enduring songs that remain popular include “Boom Boom,” “Disco Deewane,” and “Dosti,” all celebrated for their impact on pop music and still cherished by listeners decades later.