In the 1990s, Indian music experienced a golden age, especially with film tracks and the rise of Indipop. Record labels flourished, and it wasn’t uncommon for albums to sell in the millions. This period saw some remarkable achievements, including one album that went on to sell a staggering 55 million copies, making it the best-selling album in India for nearly twenty years.
The album in question is Himesh Reshammiya’s “Aap Ka Surroor.” Before its release, the highest-selling albums included Nadeem-Shravan’s “Aashiqui” and Daler Mehndi’s “Bolo Ta Ra Ra,” each selling around 15 million copies. But “Aap Ka Surroor” shattered those records and competed with global giants like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” which sold 70 million copies. Impressively, Reshammiya’s album surpassed classics like Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon,” Adele’s “21,” and The Beatles’ “1” in sales.
Himesh Reshammiya initially excelled as a composer. He didn’t plan to become a singer, but when a song opportunity arose, it changed everything. Even during the booming Indipop scene, no private album had exceeded 8 million copies. Legends like AR Rahman and Diljit Dosanjh, despite their wide acclaim, have not broken into the 10 million sales mark.
The album “Aap Ka Surroor” was launched in January 2006 and featured 18 tracks, including 11 original songs and 7 remixes. Hits like “Tera Surroor,” “Naam Hai Tera,” and “I Love You Sayyoni” became instant favorites. The music videos also played a crucial role, with Deepika Padukone making her debut in the video for “Naam Hai Tera.” The album’s overwhelming success prompted the creation of a film with the same title, marking Himesh’s acting debut alongside Hansika Motwani and Malika Sherawat. A follow-up, “Teraa Surroor,” was released in 2016.
This remarkable journey showcases how one album transformed not just a career but an entire music scene, leaving a lasting impact on Indian music history.
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himesh reshammiya,India
