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Arijit Singh announces departure from Bollywood playback singing
Indian singer Arijit Singh has declared he will no longer accept new playback assignments, closing a defining era in contemporary Bollywood music. The 38-year-old made the announcement on Instagram on Tuesday, calling his journey "wonderful" without providing further reasons for his decision.
Fans mourn the end of an era
Singh's voice has been a staple in Indian cinema, providing vocals for romantic ballads and chart-topping soundtracks. Fans took to social media to express their sorrow, describing his voice as "the sound of our heartbreaks and celebrations" and "a presence in every corner of our lives."
Playback singing, where actors lip-sync to pre-recorded songs, is a cornerstone of Bollywood storytelling. Singh's voice became synonymous with this tradition, narrating heartbreaks, longings, and reconciliations for millions over the past decade.
A career marked by extraordinary success
Born in 1987 in Jiaganj, West Bengal, Singh grew up in a household where music was a daily practice. His mother, grandmother, and aunt were all trained classical singers, and he began his musical education early, learning tabla alongside vocal training.
Singh's first taste of national attention came in 2005 on the reality singing show Fame Gurukul, though he did not win. After returning to Kolkata, he worked as a music programmer and assistant, existing on the industry's margins for several years.
His breakthrough came in 2013 with the song Tum Hi Ho from the film Aashiqui 2. The song's raw, vulnerable tone resonated deeply with audiences, becoming a national obsession and catapulting Singh to stardom. He quickly became Bollywood's most sought-after voice, recording songs in multiple languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and Telugu.
A reluctant celebrity
Despite his success, Singh has remained ambivalent about fame. He rarely gives interviews, avoids publicity stunts, and often appears in public dressed casually, his face concealed in a hoodie. In an early interview with Forbes India, he stated, "I hate being a celebrity," describing himself as someone who stumbled into fame by accident.
"I am calling it off. It was a wonderful journey."
Arijit Singh, Instagram announcement
Singh's discomfort with celebrity culture is evident in his personal life as well. He works with a small team and has chosen to base himself in his hometown, where he is often seen running errands on a scooter or meeting old friends. Despite his global collaborations with artists like Ed Sheeran and Dutch DJ Martin Garrix, he has maintained a low profile.
Criticism and creative evolution
While Singh's voice has been celebrated, some critics have argued that his songs began to sound repetitive, with his signature husky, introspective delivery creating a sense of sameness across different films and genres. In a 2017 interview, Singh acknowledged this, stating he was trying to reduce his projects because he found it "uncomfortable" to hear his songs playing everywhere.
"Of course people will be exhausted if you continue to sing 100 songs a year."
Arijit Singh, 2017 interview
In recent years, Singh has become more selective with his projects, focusing on independent music and creative ventures beyond commercial cinema. He will complete existing commitments but will not take on new playback assignments.
What lies ahead
Fans are left speculating about Singh's next steps. Some view his decision as a natural evolution for an artist who finds fame stifling, while others see it as a statement on the pressures of commercial music. Regardless of the reason, Singh's voice will continue to define music in India for years to come.
Singh recently performed to a sold-out crowd at Wembley Arena in London, a rare achievement for Indian playback singers. His voice-bruised, buttery, and intimate-has been an inescapable undercurrent of Bollywood, and his departure marks the end of a significant chapter in Indian music.
