Rahul Deshpande, born on October 10, 1979 in Pune, is an acclaimed Hindustani classical and semi-classical vocalist who continues the musical legacy of his grandfather, the legendary Pandit Vasantrao Deshpande, of the Patiala Gharana. Trained under maestros including Kumar Gandharva, Pandit Gangadharbuva Pimpalkhare, and Pandit Mukul Shivputra, he excels in a wide repertoire—khayal, thumri, tappa, abhang, bhajan, ghazal, and natyasangeet—delivering each with deep nuance and passion. In theatre and film, he earned wide acclaim starring in the musical drama Mee Vasantrao, where he portrayed his grandfather, and won the Maharashtra State Film Award for male playback singer in 2020 and 2021 for devotional and biographical works. Each year he curates the Vasantotsav festival in his grandfather’s memory, and regularly tours his devotional concert-series Abhangwari across India—most recently mesmerizing audiences in Nagpur with traditional abhang renditions in July 2025. Beyond musical skill, he also serves as a judge on television music shows and remains a leading voice of classical ethos in modern culture