Emiway Bantai is an important individual in the development of Indian Hip Hop music as an independent musician. He is recognized for energetic rapping, Mumbai street language, diss music, and indie music. Emiway was a rising star and became an influential person among other musicians in India. He rose to prominence by uploading rap songs on YouTube.
He has one of the most successful stories in the Indian hip hop music industry. Emiway Bantai has been successful because his music represents the street culture, determination, struggles, confidence, and self-belief. Keep reading further to explore his personal and professional life. This biography blog covers everything relevant about Emiway Bantai.
Emiway Bantai Biography & Wiki
The official name given to him at birth is Bilal Shahrukh Shaikh. However, the world knows him as Emiway Bantai. His date of birth is November 12, 1995. He was born in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Professionally, he is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and music producer. As a hip hop artist, he represents Antophill in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Emiway is recognized for his hits, such as Aur Bantai, Machayenge, Firse Machayenge, Company, Khatam, and Asli Hip Hop. His popularity rose as an independent rapper throughout the country, and later he gained more fame due to his participation in the Bollywood film, Gully Boy, where he helped compose the song Asli Hip Hop for the movie. Emiway is renowned for reinventing the means of promoting independent rap music in India.
This was achieved through the use of YouTube and his personal music labels rather than relying on major music corporations. Emiway’s name originated from Eminem and Lil Wayne, two renowned American rappers. He combined their nicknames to create Emi and Way, respectively. Meanwhile, Bantai is a colloquial term used in Mumbai, meaning brother, buddy, or friend.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Bilal Shahrukh Shaikh |
| Date of Birth | November 13, 1995 |
| Age | 30 years old |
| Birthplace | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Profession | Rapper, singer, songwriter, and music producer |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Marital Status | Married |
Emiway Bantai Age
As has been mentioned, Emiway Bantai was born on November 13, 1995. Therefore, he is 30 years old as of May 2026. He will be celebrating his 31st birthday towards the end of this year.
Emiway Bantai Height & Physical Appearance
| Height | 5 feet and 7 inches |
| Weight | 60 kgs |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Skin Color | Slightly dark-skinned |
| Appearance | Muscular and lean body |
Emiway’s Early Life
Emiway Bantai was born in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Shortly after his birth, his parents relocated to Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. That’s where he spent his early life and grew into adulthood. Being brought up in Mumbai, he embraced street culture, Bollywood music, and later international Hip hop music.
At school, Emiway developed an interest in Rap music after listening to American rapper Eminem. Though initially confused with the meaning of lyrics, due to a lack of fluency in English. He developed admiration for the lyrical structure, rhythm, confidence, and emotion contained in rap music. Consequently, this inspired him to create his raps and freestyle during his teenage years.
Educational Background
It’s unknown which school he attended in Mumbai. According to sources, Emiway Bantai dropped out of school after 11th grade. Thereafter, he never went back to school for completing his education. Emiway wanted to invest all of his efforts into creating authentic hip hop music.
Family Members of Emiway Bantai
The name of Emiway’s father is not confirmed. Many sources claim that his father is named Shahrukh Shaikh but that’s highly unlikely. His mother’s name is known to be Shardha Shaikh. Lastly, there are no available details regarding the potential siblings of Emiway Bantai.
Relationships, Wife, & Kids
One of his past relationships was with a music artist named Mukta K. As of now, Emiway Bantai is a married man. The name of his wife is Swaalina. Her official name is Halina Kuchey. According to sources, Emiway and Swaalina were married back in January 2025. They do not have any kids together yet.
Hip Hop Career & Professional Journey
Emiway Bantai made his debut with the single “Glint Lock” in 2013. Even though his debut did not become an instant success, Emiway attracted attention among Mumbai underground rappers. However, his breakthrough happened two years later when the song “Aur Bantai” made the rapper well known due to the use of Mumbai street language, the vibe of the song, and its independent nature. Emiway was not associated with any major music record companies. His popularity grew thanks to his YouTube channel, where such hits as “Machayenge,” “Firse Machayenge,” “Khatam,” “Company,” “Jump Kar,” “Samajh Mein Aaya Kya,” and “Freeverse Feast” gained popularity and received millions of views in days.
Due to his rising popularity, he played himself in the Bollywood film Gully Boy in 2019. Emiway Bantai also helped create the soundtrack for the film and co-wrote the song “Asli Hip Hop.” Over time, Emiway Bantai became one of the leading artists of independent music in India, thanks to founding Bantai Records and continuing to release music independently. Besides being influential in India, Emiway collaborated with international artists like Snoop Dogg, Token, Dax, Macklemore, etc. He has emerged as a very popular independent hip-hop music artist in India. As of 2026, he has already accumulated 21 million subscribers on YouTube.
Emiway Bantai Net Worth 2026
At present, Emiway Bantai’s net worth is estimated at INR 60 crores. That’s equivalent to USD 7-8 million. He has accumulated this wealth through music streams, concert shows, brand deals, merchandise sales, artist collaborations, etc. Emiway is still very young and his net worth will grow further in the upcoming years.
Social Media Handles
| Platform | Username | Followers |
|---|---|---|
| @emiwaybantai | 6.1 million+ | |
| YouTube | @EmiwayBantai | 22.3 million+ |
| @emiway37 | 2.5 million+ |
Trivia
- Bilal Shaikh is the true name of Emiway.
- His stage name is a blend of Eminem and Lil Wayne.
- Emiway began his career entirely solo and independent through YouTube.
- He left his studies after class 11 to take up music.
- “Machayenge” became one of India’s most viral rap songs.
- He was seen in the movie Gully Boy.
- Emiway is one of the founding fathers of modern Desi Hip-Hop.
- He often employs Mumbai street talk in his songs.
- He has more than 21 million subscribers on YouTube.
- Emiway Bantai owns and runs Bantai Records alone.
FAQs
When was Emiway Bantai born?
His birth took place on November 13, 1995.
What is Emiway Bantai real name?
Emiway’s real name is Bilal Shahrukh Shaikh.
Where was he born?
Emiway Bantai was born in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Who is Emiway’s mother?
His mother is named Shardha Shaikh.
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