Shakeel Badayuni did not always want to become a song writer/musician. Born in Badayun, Uttar Pradesh, he learned Arabic, Urdu, Persian, and Hindi tuition at home, which was arranged by his father. The young boy’s inclination towards poetry happened only after he joined Aligarh Muslim University in 1936, and started participating in inter-college, inter-university Mushairas and eve win them frequently.  After he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Arts, he he shifted to Delhi acceptingthe job of a supply officer. However, his passion for poetry remained and he continued participating in Mushairas, earning fame nation-wide. 

He then moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) in the year 1944 to write songs for films. Here he met famed music composer, Naushad Ali who asked him to sum up his poetic skills in one line. And Badayuni’s answer was “Hum dard Ka Afsana Duniya Ko Suna Denge, Har Dil Main Mohabbat Ki Ek aag Laga Daingay”.  Naushad immediately signed him for Dard (1947). The songs of the film opened to be very successful especially Uma Devi (Tun Tun)'s Afsana Likh Rahi Hoon. His initial success with the scores gave him the much needed appreciations and fame in the industry. 

Later he partnered with Naushad and became one of the most sought after composer and lyricist in the industry. Among the scores they composed together, are those of Deedar (1951), Baiju Bawra (1952), Mother India (1957), and Mughal-e-Azam (1960) to name a few. Other films they scored music for together include Dulari (1949), Shabab (1954), Ganga Jamuna (1961), and Mere Mehboob (1963). 

Shakeel Badayuni worked mostly with Naushad, buut he also collaborated with Ravi and Hemant Kumar. His lyrics for the song Husnwale Tera Jawab Nahin and Ravi's music both won Filmfare Awards for the hit film Gharana. His other notable films with Ravi were Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), while Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) was his biggest hit with Hemant Kumar. 

Badayuni penned numbers for around 89 films. He also wrote many popular ghazals sung by Begum Akhtar, and which are still sung by vocalists like Pankaj Udhas and others. The Government of India honoured him with the title Geet Kaar-e-Azam.