In the 90s, the Taj Mahal tea advertisement was very popular due to the presence of Ustad Zakir Hussain. He composed and acted in that advertisement. The slogan 'Wah Taj' in it became very famous. Ustad made his mark in the advertising industry, film music industry and acting.

Ustad composed music for Shaji N Karun's film 'Vanaprastham', which gained attention in the Malayalam film industry through Mohanlal's Kathakali role. Zakir Hussain also composed the music for the opening ceremony of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

At the age of seven, his musical journey began under the direct tutelage of his father, Allah Rakha Khan, a giant of the Hindustani music scene. He initially played tabla on stages as a substitute for his father and at the age of 12, he played tabla independently for Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.

He collaborated with Hindustani and Carnatic music in the Indian classical music scene and soon began collaborating with the global music scene. In 1973, he gained attention for his program that combined Indian music with famous guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L Shankar, and percussionist T H Viku Vinayakam.

He also performed with sitar legend Pandit Ravi Shankar and George Harrison of the famous band Beatles. He performed in America and at the Albert Hall in London and also entered the acting field through Bollywood and Hollywood films. The great musician, who took the audience into the magical world of percussion through his energetic reading, passed away at 73.