A classically trained Yagnik began singing "bhajans" for Akashvani (All India Radio), Calcutta at the age of six. Her first song was for the film "Payal Ki Jhankaar" in (1980). This was followed by "Laawaris" (1981) with the song "Mere Angane Mein", followed by the film "Hamari Bahu Alka" (1982). She got her big break with the song "Ek Do Teen" from the film "Tezaab" (1988). She has said that she had a high fever on the day she recorded "Ek Do Teen". The song won her the first out of seven Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer. Besides Hindi, she has sung in more than twenty languages including Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu except Kannada. She has also performed in live concerts around the world. In an interview with Mid Day, Yagnik told that she records five songs daily during her time. During her start of career in the 80s, her biggest rivals were Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle.