‘You Kill An Artist’: When Arijit Singh Spoke About The ‘Unfair’ Payment Structure In Bollywood

Arijit Singh’s sudden retirement from playback singing has left his fans in shock. The internet has been going crazy over this news. Arijit is not just any other artist; he is one of the most loved and

popular singers the country has. With consistently sold-out concerts and features in almost all the major films, Arijit’s retirement came at the peak of his career. But did Arijit Singh ever hint towards being overwhelmed by fame or any unfair treatment in Bollywood? Well, yes.

It was back in 2023 when, during an interview with the Music Podcast, Arijit spoke about feeling the weight of his fame and also got candid about how unfair payments are killing artists in Bollywood.

While recalling how he had banned his songs from playing in his house, Arijit shared, “There was a time when I used to associate with my name, Arijit Singh. But as I grew up, there came a point when hearing my name would annoy me. There would be a crowd calling out my name. Initially, it felt overwhelming, but eventually I realised that my name is not me anymore. It’s a perception people have created about me. Now nobody at home or at work addresses me by that name. It has become a joke. I get irritated hearing it. There was a time when I even got irritated listening to my own songs. Now I don’t feel irritated; I simply ignore it. Earlier, I was very strict about not hearing my songs. The situation was such that nobody would play a song when I was at home. Then I became a little easy around it.”

Speaking openly about the unfair practices in the music industry and how they “kill an artist,” Arijit shared, “This entire business is conducted on the back of artists. An artist is not as practical as a businessman. But since the business depends on the artist’s work, if everyone feels it’s not fair, then something is wrong. People should think about it.”

“Some artists are extremely passionate. They get so involved in their work that they stop thinking about money. They just want to do a better job. After the final output, they realise how much effort they put in. When the payment turns out to be less than promised, that’s when you kill an artist. Their selfless relationship with art gets manipulated,” he further added.

About Arijit’s retirement from playback singing

On Tuesday, Arijit shared through an Instagram post that he has decided not to take up any new assignments as a playback vocalist.

He announced, “Hello, Happy New Year to all. I want to thank you all for giving me so much 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.”

He further thanked his admirers for showering him with unconditional love and support over the years.