In a move that has stunned the music industry and fans alike, renowned playback singer Arijit Singh recently announced his retirement from playback singing, prompting reactions from various celebrities, including actor Sanjay Mishra.
The announcement was made by Singh on social media, where he shared a heartfelt note expressing his decision to step away. "I am not going to be taking any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on. I am calling it off. It was a wonderful journey," Singh wrote, marking the end of an era in Bollywood music.
Elaborating on his reasons in subsequent posts, Singh cited creative boredom as a primary factor. He explained, "One of the reasons is simple, I get bored pretty quick, thatΓÇÖs why I keep changing arrangements of the same songs and perform them on stage. So here is the thing, I got bored. I need to do some other music to live." Additionally, he expressed enthusiasm for nurturing new talent, stating, "Another reason is I am excited to hear some singer come up and give me real motivation."
Despite the retirement from playback, Singh emphasized that he is not quitting music entirely. He plans to focus on independent projects and return to his roots in Indian Classical Music. "I will make my own music. Will come up with my music whenever I am ready," he assured fans. "I am going back to Indian Classical Music. I wanna go back to making music. I wanna start again." Singh also noted that he will complete his pending commitments, potentially leading to some releases in the coming year.
The news has elicited a wave of responses from industry peers. Veteran singer Udit Narayan commended Singh's accomplishments, saying, "Arijit did great work in very little time. From awards, rewards, fame, money, and stage craze, he saw all of it in its best form. ItΓÇÖs his decision if he wishes to retire, but he wonΓÇÖt leave music."
Singers Armaan Malik and Amaal Mallik expressed their admiration and respect, with Armaan stating, "Love and respect, always. Thank you for giving your everything to the craft!" and Amaal adding, "So lost after hearing this… I don’t get it, but I respect your decision! Just know that I was, I am, and will always remain an Arijit Singh fan."
Rapper Badshah succinctly praised him as "Sadiyon mein ek."
Singer Sona Mohapatra highlighted the positive aspect, questioning, "Why are we treating this like an obituary?" and describing the decision as "brave, generous, and disruptive."
Actor Sanjay Mishra, in an interview while promoting his upcoming film 'Vadh 2', reflected on the loneliness that comes with success. He said, "Till when will you put yourself through the grind? The heart is so small. It becomes lonely. You live among so many people. Today, people might come to a big artist and tell them, ΓÇÿSir, you are a legend.ΓÇÖ How will someone handle that overwhelming adulation? This is where loneliness is needed." Addressing Singh's retirement specifically, Mishra added, "Arijit Singh has taken retirement from playback singing. It is necessary for him. It is necessary. He wanted to sing; he sang. People appreciated him."
Furthermore, reports indicate that Singh may be venturing into filmmaking, with rumors of a directorial debut featuring Nawazuddin Siddiqui's daughter, Shora Siddiqui. This wouldn't be his first foray into direction, as he previously helmed the 2018 Bengali film ΓÇÿSaΓÇÖ, a story about a young boy's relationship with music.
At 38, Arijit Singh leaves behind a legacy of chart-topping hits, numerous awards, and a massive fan following. His decision underscores a shift towards personal fulfillment and creative exploration in the competitive world of Bollywood music.
As the industry processes this development, fans eagerly await what new musical endeavors Singh will pursue independently.