Playback singer and actor Rajkumari Dubey, known monymously as Rajkumari, worked in the Hindi film industry as an actor between the 1930s and 40s. Later, Rajkumari became popular for her voice, in songs such as ‘Ghabrekar Ke Jo Hum Sir Ko Takraayan’ in Mahal (1949), ‘Sun Bairi Baalam Sach Bol Re’ in Bawre Nain (1950), and ‘Najariya Ki Maari’ in Kamal Amrohi's masterpiece Pakeezah (1972).

Born in Benaras, Rajkumari joined Hindi films as a child actor at the tender age of eleven, and worked in the mythological film, Radhe Shyam Aur Zulmi Hans (1932). She got important roles in films like Aankh Ka Tara (1933), and Turki Sher (1933). She went on to play the lead role in films such as Bhakt Ke Bhagwan (1934) and Insaaf Ki Topi (1934). Within a few years, Rajkumari had starred in many successful films like Laal Chitthi (1935), Bombay Mail (1935), Bambai Ki Sethaani (1935) and Shamsheer-e-Arab (1935). However, she wanted to work in the industry as a singer and thus, decided to quit acting.

She recorded her first song in 1934 under the HMV banner and later joined a theatre group in Bombay where she pursued both acting and singing in various musicals and dramatic performances. Finally, she joined Prakash Pictures as an actor and singer in the late 1930s. Over the next twenty years, she sang for about 100 films and was one of the most popular playback singers of her time. She sang many Gujarati and Punjabi songs. Despite the lack of classical training in singing, Rajkumari was able to establish herself within the classical forms of thumri and dadra.

Later, she went on to sing songs for the Raj Kapoor and Madhubala starrer Neel Kamal (1947), and Hulchul (1951). However, she is best remembered for her songs in the film Bawre Nain (1950) and Mahal (1949).

With the advent of Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, Rajkumari was pushed to the margins and she began singing in chorus till many years later when Naushad offered her Kamal Amrohi's film Pakeezah (1972) for which she sang the song, ‘Najariya ki Mari’.

Rajkumari Dubey died in the year 2000, after a long and fruitful career, which ended with Har Din Jo Beeta’ in the film Kitaab (1977).