MUMBAI: Composer Salim Merchant, of the hit Bollywood duo Salim-Sulaiman, who completed his 42nd year today, was born in Bhuj Gujarat on 3 March 1975.

Oh his 42nd birthday, Radioandmusic.com thought of putting some facts about the singer-composer, who has been religiously loyal to his roots.

Here is what we have to share.

Salim comes from a musical family where his father Sadruddin Merchant used to lead Ismaili Scouts Orchestra in India.

Salim mastered piano at Trinity College of Music in London.

He was one of the three judges for the Fifth and Sixth season of ‘Indian Idol’ on Sony Entertainment Television (India) along with Anu Malik and Sunidhi Chauhan.

Salim along with Sulaiman has worked on ‘I'm A Freak’ by Enrique. Salim has also worked on a Bollywood remix of Lady Gaga's songs ‘Born This Way’ and ‘Judas’.

Salim has judged the second season of ‘Indian Idol Junior’ along with Vishal Dadlani and Sonakshi Sinha.

Salim is presently one among the four judges in the second season of ‘The Voice India’ and he has given Pune-based aspiring singer Sharayu Date (a contestant in The Voice India Season 2) an opportunity to work with him on a big music project.

People who do not know, Salim Merchant enjoys experimenting with his looks. In his earlier interviews, he has stated that he is very comfortable in trying out new things when it comes to styling.

Salim collaborated with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan for a Qawwali project last year. The name of the song was ‘Tumhe Dillagi’, which released on 8 June 2016 on T-series.

His first Hollywood venture as a music composer was for a movie named 'Sold' by Academy Award winner Jeffrey D Brown. They started working on 'Sold' in 2013 and it was complete by 2014. Finally, it released in India in May 2016.

Salim along with his brother Sulaiman are soon coming up with a documentary on their life. Shakti Hasija is the directed of this documentary based on the musical journey of the brothers.