Abhijeet Sawant is an Indian playback singer and television personality from Mumbai who took the title in the inaugural season of Indian Idol (2004–05). He followed the win with the albums Aapka Abhijeet Sawant, Junoon, Farida and Fakira, sang “Mar Jaawan Mit Jaawan” for Himesh Reshammiya in Aashiq Banaya Aapne, made his film debut in Lottery (2009), and finished as runner-up of Bigg Boss Marathi 5 in 2024. He is married to his childhood friend Shilpa. In October 2026 he goes back to where it all began, as one of the past contestants returning for Indian Idol: Legends Return, the show’s seventeenth season.
Abhijeet Sawant: Quick Biography & Personal Details
| Name | Abhijeet Sawant |
|---|---|
| Profession | Playback singer, television personality, actor |
| Known for | Winner of Indian Idol season 1; runner-up of Bigg Boss Marathi 5 |
| Date of birth | 7 October 1981 |
| Age | 45 years |
| Birthplace | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Height | 5’8″ / 173 cm (approx., unverified estimate) |
| School | Raje Shivaji Vidyalay, Mahim |
| College | Chetna College, Bandra (graduate); also studied sound engineering and IT at the University of Mumbai |
| Family background | Middle-class Marathi-speaking family |
| Wife | Shilpa Edvankar, his childhood friend |
| Children | Two |
| Albums | Aapka Abhijeet Sawant (2005), Junoon (2007), Farida (2013), Fakira (2018) |
| Current show | Indian Idol: Legends Return (Indian Idol season 17), Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV |
Early Life and Education
Abhijeet Sawant was born on 7 October 1981 in Mumbai and grew up in a Marathi-speaking, middle-class home. His schooling was at Raje Shivaji Vidyalay in Mahim, and he went on to graduate from Chetna College in Bandra. By his own account, quoted in his Wikipedia biography, books were never his strength; the push towards singing came from an uncle who was a professional artist. While starting out in music, he also took courses in sound engineering and IT at the University of Mumbai.
His future wife Shilpa played a big part in those years. She lived in the same housing society in Mahim Shahunagar, kept him at his books until he had his degree, and made sure he filled in the Indian Idol audition form.
Career
Indian Idol season 1 winner
Indian Idol’s debut season was on air from 30 October 2004 until 5 March 2005, with Anu Malik, Farah Khan and Sonu Nigam on the judging panel. Abhijeet beat Amit Sana in the final to become the show’s first winner. “Winning the very first season of Indian Idol changed my life in ways I could never have imagined,” he told IANS in July 2026.
Albums and playback singing
Aapka Abhijeet Sawant, his debut solo album, came out on 14 April 2005. The same year he sang “Mar Jaawan Mit Jaawan” with Sunidhi Chauhan in Aashiq Banaya Aapne, composed by Himesh Reshammiya, the judge of the new Legends Return season. His second album, Junoon, followed in 2007, and its title track charted in India. He later released Farida (2013) and Fakira (2018).
| Year | Song | Film / album |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Mar Jaawan Mit Jaawan | Aashiq Banaya Aapne (music: Himesh Reshammiya) |
| 2010 | Happy Ending | Tees Maar Khan |
| 2012 | Bechain Sapne | Chittagong |
| 2014 | Sar Sukhachi Shravani (Marathi) | Mangalashtak Once More |
| 2023 | Tum Ho Nazmm Hamaarii | Moods with Melodies (Himesh Reshammiya) |
Other reality shows and television
- Asian Idol: finished third.
- Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar (Star Plus, 2008): first runner-up in the contest between winners and runners-up of different singing shows.
- Nach Baliye 4: danced with his wife Shilpa.
- Indian Idol 5: co-host with Hussain Kuwajerwala. That season’s fourth-placed singer, Swaroop Khan, is back on the Legends Return stage, paired with Ritika Raj.
- Comedy Circus (2011): contestant. Love Me India (2018): mentor.
- Bigg Boss Marathi 5 (2024): runner-up. Hosted by Riteish Deshmukh for the first time, the season’s finale took place on 6 October 2024, when Suraj Chavan won and Abhijeet finished second.
- Celebrity MasterChef India (2025): the second contestant to be eliminated.
Acting
Abhijeet made his acting debut in the film Lottery (2009) and turned up briefly in the closing scenes of Tees Maar Khan. On television he appeared as himself in the serials Kaisa Ye Pyar Hai and C.I.D.
Indian Idol: Legends Return (Indian Idol 17)
The seventeenth season of Indian Idol, themed Legends Return, premiered on Saturday, 17 October 2026 and airs every Saturday and Sunday at 8 PM on Sony Entertainment Television, with streaming on Sony LIV. Himesh Reshammiya returns as judge, and the show is produced by Fremantle. See the full Indian Idol 17 contestants list for all the pairs.
The singers compete as duos this season, and Abhijeet’s partner is Chetna Bhardwaj, who finished 11th in Indian Idol 11. The pairing appears in the line-up published by Indian Broadcasting World and in IWMBuzz’s review of the opening weekend.
Sony Entertainment Television’s first promo for the season features Abhijeet among the returning names. As IANS reported, “The returning lineup includes Indian Idol Season 1 winner Abhijeet Sawant and runner-up Amit Sana, along with Season 10 winner Salman Ali.” A preview of his comeback published on 12 October 2026 says it features a rendition of “Har Kisi Ko Nahi Milta Pyaar Zindagi Mein”, and quotes Amit Sana saying, “Abhijeet Sawant ke bina Indian Idol can never be Indian Idol.” Abhijeet said of the title: “Winning the title gave me my identity, but more than that, it blessed me with the love of millions of people,” adding, “This stage will forever be my true home.”
It is not his first return this year. Back in July 2026, he and his season-one rival Amit Sana shared the Indian Idol stage again, 22 years on, for the show’s 75th-episode Diamond Jubilee special.
Personal Life: Wife and Family
Abhijeet is married to Shilpa Edvankar. In a 2025 interview with the Free Press Journal he said the two grew up in the same society in Mahim Shahunagar and played together as children. They dated for seven years and had agreed not to marry until his career took off. After his Indian Idol win, his parents went to Shilpa’s family and proposed the marriage, which was arranged in a simple family setting.
Reports give the wedding year as 2007, while Abhijeet himself told the Free Press Journal that they have been married “since 2008”. The couple took part in Nach Baliye 4 together, and they have two children.
Lesser-Known Facts
- It was Shilpa, then his friend, who chased him to send in his Indian Idol entry form.
- His 2005 hit “Mar Jaawan Mit Jaawan” and his 2023 single “Tum Ho Nazmm Hamaarii” were both made with Himesh Reshammiya, now the judge of Legends Return.
- He has been on the stage of Indian Idol as a contestant (season 1), a host (season 5) and a returning legend (season 17).
FAQ
How old is Abhijeet Sawant?
Abhijeet Sawant was born on 7 October 1981, so he is 45 years old.
Who is Abhijeet Sawant’s wife?
His wife is Shilpa Edvankar, his childhood friend from Mahim. They dated for seven years before marrying.
Does Abhijeet Sawant have children?
Yes, Abhijeet and Shilpa have two children.
Where is Abhijeet Sawant from?
He was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, into a Marathi-speaking family, and grew up in Mahim.
What is Abhijeet Sawant’s height?
A celebrity profile site lists him at about 5’8″ (173 cm). This is an approximate, unverified estimate.
Is Abhijeet Sawant in Indian Idol 17?
Yes. He is among the returning singers announced for Indian Idol: Legends Return, which premiered on 17 October 2026 with Himesh Reshammiya as judge.
Did Abhijeet Sawant win Bigg Boss Marathi?
No. He was the runner-up of Bigg Boss Marathi 5 in 2024; Suraj Chavan won.
What are Abhijeet Sawant’s famous songs?
His songs include “Mar Jaawan Mit Jaawan” (Aashiq Banaya Aapne), the title track of his album Junoon, “Happy Ending” (Tees Maar Khan) and “Bechain Sapne” (Chittagong).
