In 2011, when U.S. forces raided Osama bin Laden’s hideout in Abbottabad, they retrieved several files from his computer. Among them were Bollywood songs sung by Alka Yagnik, Udit Narayan, and Kumar Sanu. It turned out that bin Laden was a fan of Bollywood music, with a particular liking for Alka Yagnik’s voice.

Recently, when Alka Yagnik was asked about this during a conversation with Anu Ranjan, her reaction was simple: “Is it my fault?” She went on to say that regardless of who bin Laden was, he must have had an artistic side. “If he liked my songs, that’s good,” she added.

Among the tracks found on bin Laden’s computer were Ajnabee Mujhko Itna Bata from Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, Dil Tera Aashiq from the Salman Khan-Madhuri Dixit starrer of the same name, and Udit Narayan’s Tu Chand Hai Poonam Ka from Jaane Tamanna.

During the same interview, Alka Yagnik also spoke about the challenges she faced in the music industry. She revealed that internal politics often led to her songs being given away to other singers. “This happens in every field,” she explained, recalling how she would rehearse a song only to find out later that a senior singer had recorded it instead.

Despite these setbacks, she maintained a positive outlook. “I didn’t let it bother me. I just wanted to do my work and go home,” she said. Alka also shared how she is her own biggest critic. Even today, if she hears one of her songs on the radio and notices a flaw, she asks the driver to change the station.

Alka Yagnik has been one of Bollywood’s most celebrated playback singers for decades. Her voice has been an integral part of many hit soundtracks, including Baazigar, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, and Tamasha.

Her response to bin Laden’s unexpected appreciation of her music was lighthearted, where even though the discovery was surprising, she chose to see it from an artistic perspective, showing that music truly knows no boundaries.