Singer Kunal Ganjawala, known for hit tracks like “Bheege Honth Tere” and “Salaam Namaste,” has finally revealed the real story behind his unusual surname. In a recent interview, the playback singer shared that his ancestors were officially licensed to grow marijuana for medical purposes during the British Raj. The revelation comes as a surprise to many who have long joked about his surname without knowing its historical roots.
The Real Story Behind the Ganjawala Surname
Speaking with Dubai-based radio jockey and content creator Parikshit Balochi, Kunal disclosed that his family’s connection to cannabis cultivation goes back generations. He explained that during the British era, his forefathers grew marijuana not for recreational use but strictly for medical needs.
“In the British era, we used to harvest marijuana for medicinal needs. This vocation existed prior to 1942, before the Quit India Movement. We cultivated ganja, and we provided the yield to the government,” Kunal said.
The singer further revealed that his family received special treatment from the British administration because of their work. “My father informed me that we had tax exemptions because the British procured it from us and had granted us the title Rao Saheb,” he added.
The cannabis his family grew was used to produce opium-based injections, which were given to cancer patients across regions under British rule. This made his ancestors recognised as licensed pharmacists or druggists during that time.
A Profession That Ended With the Quit India Movement
Kunal explained that his family continued this government-regulated work until the Quit India Movement in 1942. When Mahatma Gandhi pushed Indians to become self-reliant and move away from colonial systems, the Ganjawala family decided to leave the profession entirely.
“After that, we started working in construction and making steel furniture,” Kunal shared. His family later began making steel cupboards and safes in Kalbadevi, Mumbai. They were among the first to teach the Godrej company how to create strong safes through their business, Crown Steel.
Dealing With Jokes About His Surname
Despite the historical significance attached to his last name, Kunal admitted that his surname has always been a subject of jokes and curiosity among people.
“Occasionally, individuals are fascinated by my last name, while at times they tease me about it. But this is the genuine history,” Kunal said.
He recalled how people would often ask him, “Oh, ganjewala, do you have goods?” To which he would clarify that he neither smokes nor consumes any such substances.
The singer also mentioned that his surname actually helped him in his early jingle career. Despite the jokes, Kunal embraces the name as a part of his legacy and a connection to a lesser-known chapter of India’s medical and colonial past.
Kunal’s Balochi Hindu Heritage
During the interview, Kunal also opened up about his ethnic background. He revealed that he belongs to the Balochi Hindu community. His community’s original surname is Bhansali, like filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
“Our ancestors lived in Balochistan, where one of the 52 Shakti Peeths, the Mahahinglaj Mata temple, still exists. People still go there for a pilgrimage,” Kunal explained.
Related:
Recent Music and Career
Kunal Ganjawala has been actively releasing music across multiple Indian languages. Some of his recent songs include “Ram Sita Ram” and “Divas Tujhe He Phulayache,” which were released in 2026, as well as “Sukh Aale” from Gaurishankar, “O Jane Jaan” from Jhor, “Hariye Jai” from Bahurup, and several others released in 2025.
The singer, who rose to fame with iconic Bollywood tracks in the early 2000s, continues to be one of the most recognised voices in the Indian music industry.
His revelation about his family history has sparked widespread interest online, with many fans expressing surprise and appreciation for learning the true story behind his surname.
For years, people have associated the word “ganja” in his surname with recreational drugs. But as Kunal has now made clear, his family’s history has nothing to do with that. Their work was a government-authorised medical profession that played a role in providing care to cancer patients during the British era.
The story of the Ganjawala family offers a rare glimpse into a forgotten chapter of India’s past, where cannabis cultivation was a legitimate and respected occupation serving medical needs under colonial rule.
Keep reading VvipTimes for more entertainment news and exclusive stories from the world of music and cinema.
Leave a Reply