Roshan was born as Roshan Lal Nagrath in a family of ‘thekedars’. He began to learn music from an early age . his first guru was Manhar Barve. Later on he was trainded by Pt. Ratanjanker of Lucknow.He studied music at the Morris College of Music.

In the early 1940’s he joined the All India Radio, Delhi as a musician and soon became an in - house composer. Among the singers he groomed there was his future wife, Ira, who is reported to be his second wife and is the mother of his two sons: actor - film maker Rakesh and composer Rajesh.Roshan's wife Ira, herself has composed several devotional albums in the 90’s. Roshan always ensured that his music was elegant and appealing to the music lovers. He composed even comic numbers like ‘Sun Bairi Balam’ and the few songs that he made with Kishore Kumar in the early 50’s .

He came to Mumbai to pursue hi scareer as a musician.Struggle followed before he met Kidar Sharma who ofered him for Neki Aur Badi (1949).Unfortunately the film was a flop.and Roshan statred freshly with Bawre Nain (1950), Roshan broke through with hits like ‘Khayalon Mein Kisike’, ‘Sun Bairi Balam’ and others.

He had a good alliance with Talat Mehmood and Mukesh in the 1950’s.In the 50’s, Roshan had hits like Malhar, Shisham and Anhonee (musically) and some of his songs were amazingly modern in tenor for those times (‘Taare Toote Duniya Dekhe’ - Malhar). However his low - profile approach did not win him great prominence commercially, though he was respected by his colleagues immensely.Roshan also gave major breaks to later big names like Indeevar (Malhar) and Anand Bakshi (Vallah, Kya Baat Hai, Devar etc).

In the 60’s, Roshan gave hits after hits - Barsaat Ki Raat, having melodies and qawwali’s like ‘Na To Karavan Ki Talaash Hai’ and ‘Yeh Hai Ishq Ishq’, Aarti (‘Ab Kya Misaal Doon’), Devar (‘Baharon Ne Mera Chaman Lootkar’), Bheegi Raat (‘Kahin To Milegi’, ‘Dil Jo Na Kehsaka’), Chitralekha (‘Sansaar Se Bhaagte Phirte Ho’ ‘Man Re Tu Kahe Ko’), Taj Mahal (‘Joh Wada Kiya Who Nibhana’, ‘Paon Choo Lene Do’), Bahu Begum (‘Hum Intezaar Karenge’, ‘Pad Gaye Jhoole’ ), Dooj Ka Chand ( ‘Mehfil Se Uth Jaanewalon’ ), Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal ( ‘Karvan Guzar Gaya’ ), Noor Jahan, Dil Hi To Hai ( ‘Nigahen Milane Ko Ji Chahata Hai, ‘Parda Uthaye Salaam Ho Jaye’ ) and finally his swan song Anokhi Raat ( ‘Oh Re Taal Mile Nadi’, ‘Mere Beri Ke Ber’, ‘Mile Na Phool’ ).

He had been suffering from chronic heart problem for more than 20 years.He died of a heart attack.