In a surprising turn of events, Arijit Singh, the voice behind countless Bollywood hits, has announced his retirement from playback singing. The 38-year-old singer made the announcement on January 27 via a message on his private X account and a Facebook post, leaving fans across the globe reeling from the news.
Singh clarified that while he will no longer be taking on new film assignments as a playback vocalist, he is not stepping away from music entirely. He intends to focus on independent music and explore his creativity outside the realm of Bollywood.
In his statement, Singh expressed gratitude to his fans for their unwavering love and support throughout his career. "Hello, Happy New Year to all. I want to thank you for giving me so much love all these years as listeners,” he wrote. "I am happy to announce that 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,” he added.
The announcement comes shortly after the release of "Maatrubhumi," his latest song from the movie Battle of Galwan. While Singh doesn't have an official X account, the message was shared from a private handle known to be used by him.
Singh emphasized that his decision is not an end to his musical journey, but rather a new chapter. "God has been really kind to me. I am a fan of good music and in future will be learning more and do more on my own as a small little artist," he stated. "Just to be clear that I won't stop making music". He also assured fans that he would complete his pending commitments, so new releases can be expected in 2026. However, he will not be signing any new film projects moving forward.
Arijit Singh's rise to fame began with "Tum Hi Ho" from Aashiqui 2 (2013), which quickly cemented him as one of the leading voices in Bollywood. This breakthrough led to numerous chart-topping songs, including the title track of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, "Hawayein", "Apna Bana Le", "Ve Maahi", "Sajni", "Gehra Hua" and "Kesariya".
The news has triggered an outpouring of emotions from fans. Many have expressed their shock and disappointment, while also wishing him well in his future endeavors. Some fans have stated that Bollywood music will not be the same without him.
Singh's decision appears to stem from a desire for personal growth and creative exploration. He aims to focus on learning and creating music independently, outside the constraints of the commercial Bollywood system. Some speculate that he may be tired of the music industry politics.
