Raftaar (rapper)


Dilin Nair, better known by his stage name Raftaar, is an Indian rapper, lyricist, dancer, etc. Raftaar started his career as a rapper. He began his career in 2008 with Lil Golu and Young Amli, recording songs and uploading them on social sites. He then started working with Yo Yo Honey Singh as a part of group Mafia Mundeer. Raftaar then split from the group. He was supported by his friend Ankit Khanna, who introduced him to the Punjabi music band RDB, who then signed him onto their label, Three Records. Soon after the split between the RDB members, Raftaar joined Manjeet Ral. He also started his solo career. He won the Best Urban Song Of The Year award for Swag Mera Desi at the Brit Asia Awards in 2014. He has also been awarded with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Award in 2018. In 2019, he started judging the reality show MTV Hustle, Dance India Dance and Roadies.

Life and career

Dilin Nair was born to Delhi-based Malayali parents in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He began his rapping career in 2008 with Lil Golu and Young Amli, recording songs and uploading them on social sites. He then started working with Yo Yo Honey Singh as a part of group Mafia Mundeer. Raftaar then split from the group. Raftaar released his debut mixtape WTF - Witness The Future in 2013. He debuted in Bollywood in 2013 with song "Tamanche Pe Disco" starring Sonakshi Sinha and Saif Ali Khan which became a major hit song of that time.
Raftaar got major recognition after releasing his super-hit song "Swag Mera Desi " in 2013. The line "Ab yeh karke dikhao" from his song Swag Mera Desi was to Mock Yo Yo Honey Singh. "Ab yeh karke dikhao" was already used in Yo Yo Honey Singh's song Party With The Bhoothnath which led to a dispute between the two rappers in media. Swag Mera Desi won Best Urban Song at the Britasia Music Awards in 2014.
In 2017 Raftaar debuted in the Bengali music industry through the film One which featured singer Vishal Dadlani and Raftaar. He also produced and rapped a song for the Chaamp soundtrack. Raftaar has collaborated with Varun Dhawan for the second edition of Breezer Vivid Shuffle.
Raftaar is a gang leader of reality show MTV Roadies. Also, he is one of the judges of MTV Hustle and Dance India Dance.

Discography

Albums


Singles and collaborations

Films

Television

YearShowsChannelRoleNotes
2011DID doublesZee TVContestant9th Place
2015Jhalak Dikhhla JaaColors TVContestant9th Place
2018LockdownZEE5Recreating a Hindi SongWeb Reality Show
2018Roadies XtremeMTVGang LeaderReality Show
2018Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!& TVSingerCameo Appearance
2019Roadies: Real HeroesMTVGang LeaderReality Show
2019Dance India Dance Battle Of The ChampionsZee TVJudgeDance Show
2019MTV HustleMTVJudgeRap Show