From a time when a few hundred rupees was considered a significant amount, to now, where singers charge millions for a recording, the journey of India’s first crorepati singer is truly remarkable. One such legendary figure was Gauhar Jaan, who was not only a popular singer but also a symbol of fame and wealth in her era. In the early 1900s, the amount Gauhar Jaan charged for a performance exceeded the annual income of many families.
Gauhar Jaan was born on June 26, 1873, in Azamgarh. Her father, William Robert, was of Armenian descent, and her mother, Victoria Heming, initially named her Angelina. When she was just six years old, her parents divorced, and her mother, Victoria, married a Muslim man named Khurshid and converted to Islam. In 1883, Victoria moved to Kolkata, where she became known as Malka Jaan. Later, she changed her daughter Angelina’s name to Gauhar Jaan.
Both Malka Jaan and her daughter received training in classical music and dance. In 1888, Gauhar performed her first and was appointed court musician in the Darbhanga Raj’s royal court. She became Kolkata’s first dancing girl, performing while singing. By the early 1900s, Gauhar Jaan was considered one of India’s best singers. Her popularity soared even more when she agreed to record her songs for the gramophone.
Gauhar Jaan’s records became immensely popular, selling like hotcakes. She charged between 1,000 to 3,000 rupees per recording, which at that time was far higher than the annual income of most families. To put it into perspective, in the 1950s, legendary singers like Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi charged just 500 rupees per song. This gives an idea of how wealthy and famous Gauhar Jaan was.
According to a report from Bangalore Mirror, Gauhar Jaan became so wealthy that she would travel around the city in a horse-drawn carriage, a luxury that was typically reserved for India’s viceroy at the time. She once paid a 1,000 rupee fine for violating government laws but never stopped her evening rides in the carriage.
It is said that a fan of hers in Bengal even gifted her a private train, which she used for her travels. She would wear new jewelry to every recording session. Known as the first millionaire singer of her time, Gauhar Jaan spent her last days in Mysore due to her declining health. She passed away in 1930 at the age of 56. After Gauhar Jaan’s death, many people claimed her wealth, expecting that such a legendary singer would have left behind a large fortune. However, it was soon revealed that in the last decade of her life, Gauhar Jaan had spent all her money and had nothing left by the time of her passing.