In a surprising turn of events, Arijit Singh, the voice behind countless Bollywood hits, has announced his retirement from playback singing. The announcement, made via social media on Tuesday evening, has sent shockwaves through the Indian music industry, leaving fans and colleagues stunned.
The singer, who has dominated the charts for over a decade, shared a heartfelt message with his listeners. "Hello, Happy new year to all. I want to thank you all for giving me so much of love all these years as listeners. 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," Arijit stated.
Amidst the widespread reactions, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, who has closely observed Arijit's journey, offered a poignant perspective on the singer's decision. Speaking to The Telegraph Online, Bhatt remarked, "At the height of their powers, some artists step away — not from art but from noise. They choose silence, solitude, and truth over constant performance". Bhatt's words resonate with the notion of an artist seeking deeper meaning beyond the demands of constant fame and performance.
Bhatt also reminisced about his first encounter with Arijit during the making of Mohit Suri's Aashiqui 2, a film produced by Bhatt. "When I heard about Arijit's decision to stop singing for others, I was unexpectedly taken back to an afternoon at Super Sound Service in Khar — the old T-Series building — where the journey of Aashiqui 2 truly began," he shared. Bhatt vividly recalled the moment Arijit was called to sing "Tum Hi Ho," a song that would catapult him to stardom. "A shy self-effacing young man walked up to the dais and sang a song that would quietly mesmerize the world. That moment became a springboard into a life that would never be the same again," Bhatt added.
Arijit's rise to prominence began with the reality show Fame Gurukul, followed by his breakthrough with "Tum Hi Ho". Since then, he has delivered numerous memorable songs, becoming one of the most beloved voices in Hindi cinema. His extensive discography includes hits like "Channa Mereya," "Hawayein," "Raabta," "Hamari Adhuri Kahani," "Kesariya," "Satranga," "O Maahi," and "Tu Hai Toh". In January 2026 alone, Arijit released six songs, including "Sitaare" from Ikkis, "Ghar Kab Aaoge" from Border 2, "Sunhari Kirne" from Gandhi Talks, and "Hum Toh Tere Hi Liye The" from O'Romeo. His most recent track, "Maatrubhumi" from Battle of Galwan, features Salman Khan.
While Arijit's departure from playback singing marks the end of an era, he has clarified that he will continue to create music independently. Arijit is also reportedly venturing into filmmaking, co-producing a love story starring his son Jul and Nawazuddin Siddiqui's daughter Shora.
Industry colleagues such as Shreya Ghoshal, Kumar Sanu, Anoushka Shankar, and Iman Chakraborty have expressed their support for Arijit's decision. Ghoshal wrote, "It's the start of a new phase of @arijitsingh and I am truly excited to hear, listen and experience what this genius churns out!! I can never call this the end of an era". Sonam Mohapatra described the move as rare and admirable.
Arijit's decision to step away from playback singing reflects a growing trend among artists seeking creative fulfillment beyond the confines of the film industry. As Bhatt noted, it is a choice to prioritize "silence, solitude, and truth" over the constant demands of performance, potentially opening new avenues for Arijit's artistic expression.
