Full name: Faruq Mahfuz Anam
Nickname: James
Birth date: October 2, 1964
Birth place: Naogaon, Bangladesh
Education: Dropped out
Occupation: Singer, Actor
Years active: 1980-present
Height: 5 feet 7 inches
Spouse(s): Rothi (divorced), Benazir Sajjad
Religion: Islam
Zodiac sign: Libra
Faruq Mahfuz Anam, better known as James, is a famous Bangladeshi musician and singer, widely called the ‘Nagar Baul’ (the wandering minstrel). He is a popular rock singer who has also sung playback for Bollywood films. He is immensely popular across the Indian subcontinent for his unique voice and style. James is also known as ‘Guru’ to his fans.
James Early Life
James was born on October 2, 1964, in Naogaon, Bangladesh, to father Mozammel Haq and mother Jahanara Khatun. His father was a government employee and served as the chairman of the Chittagong Education Board. James was deeply interested in music from an early age, although his parents did not want him to become a singer; they wanted him to be a doctor or an engineer.
Despite his family’s opposition, James carried on with his passion for music. He left home and started living in a dormitory. It was at the Aziz Boarding dormitory that his musical career began, when he launched a band named ‘Feelings’ with some friends.
James Career
James started his career as the lead singer of the ‘Feelings’ band in Chittagong. He later transformed the brand ‘Feelings’ into ‘Nagar Baul’. James made his debut in the music industry with the album Station Road, released in 1987 under the ‘Feelings’ brand. In 1988, his album Anonna was released and praised across the country.
James became very popular in the West Bengal music industry while working as the singer of a Bangladeshi band. He met Bengali music director Pritom in 2004 and got the opportunity to sing playback in Bollywood films. In 2005, James sang playback for the Bollywood film Gangster for the first time.
His song ‘Bheegi Bheegi’ was a huge success and remained at the top of the Bollywood charts for more than a month. James has frequently sung for Bollywood films since then. He has also appeared in TV commercials, first for Pepsi and later for the energy drink Black Horse.
James Personal Life
James married Rothi first, but the couple divorced in 2012. He then married Benazir Sajjad. James has two daughters and a son. He was arrested at Dhaka Airport on charges of marrying a minor, Benazir Sajjad, upon returning from the United States. Benazir Sajjad, however, claimed she was an adult, and James was released from custody.
James Other Facts
In August 2026, James hit the headlines after his August 16 concert in Rome, Italy, when social media photos claimed a hotel room used by his team had been left untidy. Responding at a press conference in Venice, he clarified that Room 549 belonged to a young guest guitarist travelling with his team — not to James, who stayed in Room 345. He called the matter “not such a major issue.” His spokesperson, Rubaiyat Thakur Robin, said it was unfair to hold James responsible for someone else’s room. Separately, Italian organiser Hossain Ahmed alleged fraud over the concert’s finances; James’s team has denied the claims, citing a pre-concert agreement with provisions for legal action.
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