Rahul Deshpande

Some Lesser Known Facts About Rahul Deshpande

• As a child, Rahul Deshpande began learning music from classical musician Kumar Gandharva and developed an interest in music.

  

• He then learnt music from Pandit Gangadharbuva Pimpalkhare, Dr. Madhusudhan Patwardhan, Ushatai Chipalkatti, and Pandit Mukul Shivputra.

• After that, Rahul Deshpande learned tabla from Pandit Suresh Samant.

  

• He knows various forms of music such as Khayal, Tap Khayal, Dhruvpad, Thumri, Kajri, Hori, Tappa, Ghazal, Abhanga, Bhajan, Natyasangeet, and Bhavgeet.

• In 2010, Rahul Deshpande appeared as a judge in the singing reality show ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa – Little Champs,’ which aired on Zee Marathi and ‘Sangeet Samrat parva2,’ which aired on Zee Yuva.

  

• He then recreated the musical play ‘Katyar Kaljat Ghusali’, which originally starred his grandfather. In the revised play, Rahul Deshpande portrayed ‘Khansaheb Aftab Hussain Bareliwale.’

  

• In the film adaptation, this role was played by Sachin Pilgaonkar, and Rahul sang the songs for Sachin’s character.

• Rahul Deshpande yearly organises an event called ‘Vasantotsav’ in memory of his late grandfather, Pandit Vasantrao Deshpande, in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• In 2011 and 2012, he organised a new version of Kakasaheb Khadilkar’s play Sangeet Maanapmaan in Maharashtra at its 100th anniversary. He organised two parts of the play with 22 classical songs.

• After that, he organised the new version of the play Sangeet Sanshay Kallol, which was written by Govind Ballal Deval in 1916.

• Rahul Deshpande often performs at various music festivals, including the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival.

• He has lent his voice to many songs in various films such as Satrangi Re (2012), Bhai: Vyakti Ki Valli (2019), Me Vasantrao (2022), and Sangeet Manapmaan (2025).

  

• In 2022, Rahul Deshpande portrayed his grandfather in the biographical film Me Vasantrao. He also composed the music for the film.

• In September 2024, he announced that he had legally divorced from his wife, Neha, after 17 years of marriage. After his divorce, he shared in a social media post that he would co-parent his daughter, Renuka, and would maintain a respectful relationship with his wife.

• Rahul Deshpande likes travelling to distant places in his free time.

  

• He regularly performs at live music shows.