Pandit Nikhil Ghosh was an expert Tabla player having a vast repertoire of traditional tabla compositions from the Delhi, Ajrada, Lucknow, Farrukhabad and Punjab gharanas. He studied under Gyan Prakash Ghosh, Amir Hussein Khan and Ahmed Jan Thirakwa. He was younger brother of celebrated flute player & composer Pannalal Ghosh, to whom he accompanied in many concerts. He also also worked as an assistant music director for Hindi films and composed songs for non-film records.
Nikhil Ghosh was also an able Guru in Tabla, Sitar and vocal. He trained many pupils in his music school 'Sangit Mahabharati' in Mumbai. Some of his disciples are Aneesh Pradhan, Eknath Pimple, Datta Yande, Karodilal Bhatt, Gert Wegner, KeithManning and his own sons Nayan Ghosh (Tabla & Sitar), Dhruba Ghosh (Sarangi) and daughter Tulika Ghosh (vocal). He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Govt of India.