Raftaar is the stage name of Dilin Nair, an Indian rapper, lyricist, music producer, composer, dancer and television personality who was born on 16 November 1988. His full name is Kalathil Kuzhiyil Devadasan Dilin Nair, and at 37 years old as of October 2026, he is known for his work across Hindi, Punjabi and Haryanvi music.
Early Life
Raftaar was born in Thiruvananthapuram, also known as Trivandrum, in Kerala, to a Delhi-based Malayali couple. He grew up with a strong interest in performance, and dance became his first route into the entertainment world, shaping the stage presence that later became central to his music career.
Career
Raftaar began as a dancer and took part in Dance India Dance in 2011 as Max, performing with his partner Manik. His move into rap grew from work with childhood friends Ikka and Lil Golu, and their trio, then known as The Black Wall Street Desis, came to the attention of Yo Yo Honey Singh after he heard them on Orkut. Honey Singh brought them into his studio, and the group became Mafia Mundeer. Readers can find more background in the Yo Yo Honey Singh biography.
After that period, Raftaar later signed three records with the Punjabi band RDB, through Manj Musik following the RDB split. His breakthrough came with Swag Mera Desi, released as his breakthrough single in 2013–2014, a track that helped establish him as a distinctive voice in Indian hip-hop. He followed that momentum with WTF Mixtape: Vol. 1 in 2013, his second full-length album Zero to Infinity in 2018, and Mr. Nair in 2020.
Television and Recent Work
From 2019, Raftaar became widely known as a television host through MTV Hustle, while also appearing in connection with Dance India Dance. His later releases kept his profile strong, including the birthday surprise drop Hard Drive Vol. 1 in November 2022. His Bollywood playback work includes Yentamma, from Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan in 2023, which became a hit on YouTube Music Top 100 charts in India, Singapore and Malaysia. For related profiles, see the Badshah biography and the Diljit Dosanjh biography.
Personal Life
Raftaar married Komal Vohra in December 2016, and their divorce was finalised on 6 October 2022. He later married fashion stylist, actress and model Manraj Jawanda on 31 January 2025 in Thiruvananthapuram.
Watch the Official Video
Watch the official video for Swag Mera Desi below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Raftaar's real name and age?
His real name is Dilin Nair, and he was born on 16 November 1988, making him 37 years old as of October 2026.
How did Raftaar start in music?
He began as a dancer, appeared on Dance India Dance in 2011, and then moved into rap with Ikka and Lil Golu before joining Mafia Mundeer.
What is Swag Mera Desi?
Swag Mera Desi is Raftaar's breakthrough single, released in 2013–2014, and it remains one of the defining songs of his early career.
What TV shows has Raftaar hosted or judged?
He has been a television host on MTV Hustle from 2019 and has also appeared in connection with Dance India Dance.
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