Arif Mir is well known for performing Gujarati folk songs, bollywood songs, bhakti songs, Gujarati sugam songs and sufi music. He has inherited the gift of music from his preceding two generations of musicians. His grandfather was popular and versatile stage artist who was famous in 1950s-60s in cities of Mumbai, Vadodara and Ahmedabad. Arif Mir's father Shri Rahim bhai was a disciple of Padma Vibhushan Ustaad Gulaam Mustafa. Arifji met legendary singer Padma Shri Purushottam Upadhyay, who showed personal and detailed interest in Arif. He trained Arif in Gujarati sugam (light vocal) music. World-famous Indian classical legend Padma Vibhushan Ustaad Gulaam Mustafa Khan sir also gave his blessings to him, and he introduced him to his son, Ustaad Murtaza Mustafa Khan, who is also a competent classical musician.