Zakir Hussain (born 9 March 1951) is a tabla virtuoso, composer, percussionist, music producer, film actor and eldest son of legendary tabla player Ustad Allah Rakha.

He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988, and the Padma Bhushan in 2002, by the Government of India presented by President Abdul Kalam. He was also awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990, given by the Sangeet Natak Academy, India’s National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. In 1999, he was awarded the United States National Endowment for the Arts‘ National Heritage Fellowship, the highest award given to traditional artists and musicians.

Zakir Hussain was born March 9, 1951 in a nursing home in Mahim at about 9:45 p.m. on a Friday. Hussain was born to tabla player Alla Rakha. His mother’s name was Bavi Begum. It was said that Hussain was an ‘unlucky’ child since his father was extremely ill around the time of his birth. A short while after his birth, a holy individual by the name of Gyani Baba appeared at Hussain’s house and told his mother to name their son Zakir Hussain. Although their family name is Qureshi, Zakir was given the surname Hussain. Gyani Baba predicted that Zakir would save Allah Rakha. Within four years, Allah Rakha’s health was back to normal. He attended St. Michael’s High School in Mahim, and briefly attended St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.