Son of singer, he became an actor and taxpayer at age 7. Today, he's a successful TV show host-singer

Aditya Narayan, the only child of the legendary playback singer Udit Narayan, has grown up in the limelight. His journey in the entertainment industry began when he was just seven years old, stepping in as a child actor. What started as a small role eventually paved the way for a career filled with multiple dimensions — singing, acting, and television presenting. Although he briefly experimented with leading roles in films, Aditya eventually found his niche as a musician and a charismatic television host.

First Steps as a Television Host

In a conversation with Bharti Singh and Harsh Limbachiyaa on their YouTube channel, Aditya reflected on his transition into hosting. He recounted how he landed the role of anchor for Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007. To secure the job, he went through three audition rounds before being finalized. At the time, he was offered ₹7,500 per episode, with two episodes recorded in a single shoot. That translated to ₹15,000 a day — an amount that left the young entertainer thrilled. Living with his father and having no personal expenses, he suddenly found himself spending ₹75,000 each month. On average, the show filmed around five to six episodes monthly, and by the end of the season, Aditya had pocketed nearly ₹6–7 lakh.

Fame, Finances, and Growing Ego

The sudden attention and steady flow of money brought about a noticeable shift in Aditya’s personality. Barely eighteen at the time, he admitted that the financial independence inflated his confidence and even sparked a streak of arrogance. The situation improved with the second season, where his fee rose to ₹25,000 per episode. That was the turning point when he began realizing the importance of financial planning and savings. During this phase, he also humorously noted a unique “competition” within his household — while he was anchoring on Zee TV, his father was judging shows on Sony.

Early Brush with Taxes

Aditya’s financial journey, however, did not start in adulthood. His earnings as a child actor meant he began paying taxes unusually early. He humorously recalled paying his first tax at the age of seven, long before fully understanding the system. Whether or not he had a PAN card at that time remained unclear to him, but he vividly remembered being introduced to the world of taxation at an age when most children were still in school playgrounds.

Childhood Successes in Cinema and Music

Aditya also highlighted one of his most memorable paychecks from childhood. For his performance in Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai (1998), he was paid Rs 3.5 lakh by Tips. His parents even used the money to purchase a yellow Zen car, which the young boy amusingly thought looked odd. His portrayal of Kabir Dhanrajgir in the Salman Khan film also earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 1999 Zee Cine Awards.

Narayan’s journey into acting as a child artist began quite unexpectedly. In 1995, during the Filmfare Awards ceremony, he was performing as part of a children’s group called the Little Wonders troupe. His energetic stage presence and natural flair for performance caught the attention of filmmaker Subhash Ghai, who happened to be in the audience. Impressed by the young boy’s talent, Ghai decided to give him a break in his upcoming film. This chance encounter led to Aditya being signed for Pardes (1997), a major Bollywood project headlined by Shah Rukh Khan and introducing Mahima Chaudhary

Musical Achievements

As a child artiste, Aditya recorded over a hundred songs and released his own album titled Aditya under Polygram Music (now Universal Music). His most iconic performance came with Chhota Baccha Jaan Ke from Masoom in 1996, which not only became a household hit but also brought him recognition at the Screen Awards, where he won the Critics’ Best Child Singer Award in 1997. The same year, he also received a special jury honor for the same song.

Continuing as a Popular Host

Over the years, Aditya has remained a prominent face on Indian television. Beyond his association with Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, he went on to host two consecutive seasons of Indian Idol (seasons 11 and 12). His combination of charm, musical background, and on-stage presence has made him one of the most beloved anchors in the world of Indian reality shows.