Raftaar is the stage name of Indian rapper, dancer, and playback singer Dilin Nair. He was born to a Malayali family on November 16, 1988, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. After working as a dancer in his late teens, he began rapping in 2008, collaborating with rappers like Lil Golu, Ikka, and Manj Musik. "Swag Mera Desi," his career-launching hit single, was released in 2013. Fans viewed the song as a diss track targeted at fellow rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh, which led to a public feud between the two musicians. WTF Mixtape: Vol. 1 was also released that same year, and "Swag Mera Desi" — whose controversy had only increased its popularity — won "Best Urban Song of the Year" at the Brit Asia TV Music Awards in 2014. Three years later, Raftaar made his Bollywood debut as a playback singer, duetting with Vishal Dadlani on the title track "One" from the film of the same name. His second full-length release, Zero to Infinity, followed in 2018, showcasing Raftaar's strengths as a performer, songwriter, and producer. Raftaar began working as a TV host in 2019, appearing on TV shows like MTV Hustle and Dance India Dance. He also continued working on new music, releasing Mr. Nair in 2020 and a handful of EPs during the early 2020s. His appearances on Bollywood soundtracks continued, too, with his song "Yentamma" (from the film Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan) becoming a hit on the Top 100 YouTube Music charts in India, Singapore, and Malaysia throughout 2023.
