Jasmine Sandlas: The Bold Voice of Punjabi Music
Jasmine Sandlas is one of the few artists who really shows how East and West can come together in Punjabi music and Bollywood playback singing. This Indian-American powerhouse was born in India but grew up in California. She has carved out a niche with her powerful voice, empowering lyrics, and signature reddish-pink hair, which earned her the nickname “Gulabi Queen.” As of 2025, Sandlas will be 40 years old. She is still growing and changing, mixing traditional Punjabi folk music with modern R&B, rap, and pop. Her rise from underground hits to global stages shows that she is strong, proud of her culture, and not afraid to be an artist.
Early Life: Born in Punjab, raised in California
Jasmine Kaur Sandlas was born on September 4, 1985, in Jalandhar, Punjab, India. She was born into a Punjabi Sikh Labana family. Her mother knew her daughter had a natural talent and pushed her onto the stage at a young age. Jasmine did very well in school song competitions. She fell in love with the soulful stories in Punjabi folk music after hearing famous singers like Surinder Kaur.
At around age 12 or 13, Sandlas’s family immigrated to Stockton, California, a move that exposed her to the West Coast’s hip-hop and R&B scenes. This upbringing across continents was the foundation of her sound: raw Punjabi beats with a streetwise attitude. At 16, she was writing her own songs, using ideas from poets like Shiv Kumar Batalvi to write lyrics that speak to young people in the diaspora who are trying to figure out who they are and where they belong. She has a degree in psychology, which she says has helped her understand the emotional layers in her music.
Sandlas doesn’t talk much about her personal life, but she does talk about how close she is to her grandmother, Pyaar Kaur, and how much she loves dogs. She often posts pictures of her pets on Instagram. Since 2018, there have been rumors that she is dating Punjabi singer Garry Sandhu. There have been rumors of a breakup and a reunion, but she has never confirmed any of them, preferring to let her music do the talking. She has two siblings: an elder sister, Rosleen, and a younger brother, Ravneet.
From being an underground diamond to being in the Bollywood spotlight
In 2008, Sandlas’s career took off with the release of her first single, “Muskan,” which was on the underground album The Diamond under The Diamond Lane Records. Lalie Gill wrote the song and Mixman Shawn produced it. It became a huge hit around the world, making her a new voice in Punjabi music and paving the way for her independent style.
Her Bollywood playback debut with “Yaar Na Miley” from the Salman Khan movie Kick, along with Yo Yo Honey Singh, was the real game-changer in 2014. The song’s catchy hook and her deep voice made it a hit, and she was nominated for Upcoming Female Vocalist at the 7th Mirchi Music Awards. Sandlas went from being a niche Punjabi star to a mainstream star overnight, showing that she can sing in many languages and styles.
That same year, she went on an empowering all-female biker road trip from Mumbai to the Attari border with Shalmali Kholgade, Akasa Singh, and Anusha Mani as part of MTV India’s Angels of Rock. The show showed off her adventurous side and her dedication to women’s voices in music.
Musical Odyssey: Albums, Hits, and Working Together
Sandlas’s music is a colorful mix of empowering songs and sad ballads. Her second album, Gulabi (2012, Sony Music India), was produced by Bohemia and featured songs that celebrated femininity and Punjabi pride, which fit with her “pink” persona. “Punjabi Mutiyaran” and “Bamb Jatt” became anthems for women who wanted to be cool.
After a hiatus, she returned independently with What’s in a Name? in 2020, self-released on her YouTube channel and produced by Intense and Hark. This experimental project put her instincts about what fans like to the test. It had animations by VFX Kalakaar. It led to The Great Punjabi Experiment (2021), a nine-track journey from “Gaana Challe Ya Na” to “Dil Tutteya” (2022), which mixes baile funk and introspection.
Her 2022 EP Tini, which came out on her birthday, had great songs like “Yakeen” and “Kehri Gali.” It featured work with producers Jashan Dhillon and Raaginder. Her recent singles, like “Jee Jeha Karda” (2022), “Jehri Ve” with Gippy Grewal (2023), and “Ittar” with B Praak (2023), keep her going.
Bollywood remains a playground: “Taras” for Munjya (2024), “Nasha” for Raid 2 (2025), and earlier hits like “LAAVAN” have solidified her as a go-to playback singer. Collaborations with Diljit Dosanjh, Karan Aujla, and Garry Sandhu on tracks like “Illegal Weapon 2.0” highlight her collaborative flair.
Awards and a Global Impact
Sandlas’s awards show that she is a pioneer. At the 2018 Brit Asia TV Music Awards, she won Best Female Act. At the 2019 Brit Asia TV Music Awards, she won Best International Female Act. The Screen Award for Best Female Playback and Most Popular Song of the Year at the 2016 PTC Punjabi Film Awards followed suit. She was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame for her work as a songwriter, which was the highest honor she could have received.
She has millions of followers on Instagram (@jasminesandlas), where she shares her love of dogs and her music. She also inspires fans through social media. Signed to Warner Music India, she’s expanded into live tours, including the 2025 “Gulabi World Tour” with stops at venues like Carteret Performing Arts Center.
Latest Beats: A New Beginning in 2025
For Sandlas, 2025 has been a new beginning. Her song “Nasha” for Raid 2 has a sexy beat, and behind-the-scenes videos from recording sessions for Shehnaaz Gill’s “Khand Laggdi,” which is set to come out on October 31, tease more magic. But the best song is “POLS,” which came out in late September and has visuals by Foeseal and Preet Singh. It’s a baile funk song. Sandlas said it was “a rebirth as an artist,” a brave move that shows she is still independent. She even performed at Mullanpur Stadium in April, electrifying crowds with her live prowess.
Jasmine Sandlas is still a force, from Stockton stages to Bollywood blockbusters. She is unfiltered, unbreakable, and totally Gulabi. One thing is clear: the queen’s reign is far from over. She keeps putting out songs that bring people from different cultures together and challenge the status quo. You can listen to her newest songs on Spotify, YouTube, or at her next tour stop. What’s next for this amazing pink-haired girl? It will be legendary no matter what it is.