Mumbai: Arijit Singh, one of the most loved and influential voices in Bollywood, has announced his retirement from playback singing. On January 27, the singer confirmed the news in a message posted on his personal X handle and facebook, which came as an emotional break to the career that has influenced the modern Hindi film music over a decade.
In his message, Arijit thanked listeners for their constant support and revealed that he will no longer take up new playback singing assignments for films. But he was fast to explain that he is not leaving music altogether and will keep composing and practicing as an independent artist.
Arijit Singh Explains His Decision
Sharing a heartfelt note, Arijit Singh wrote that his journey as a playback vocalist has been a wonderful one. He added that he feels grateful for the love he has received over the years. Although the singer failed to give the exact reasons which made him make this decision, he stressed that music will always remain a part of his life.
Arijit Singh also reassured fans that he will complete his pending commitments. He confirmed that a few unfinished projects will still be released this year. His recent composition, Maatrubhumi of an upcoming film Battle of Galwan starring Salman Khan, was released only days before his announcement and is one of the last playback recordings of his.
His next remark was that he is a fan of good music, and he will continue to explore more on his own as a small artist; this one made it evident that only the playback singing will require retirement and not music itself.
A Career That Defined a Generation
Arijit Singh rose to fame after the release of Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2 in 2013. The song turned out to be a cultural phenomenon and made him the voice of romanticism in Bollywood today. Since then, his career has experienced an irresistible growth.
He went on to deliver countless chart topping songs such as Ae Dil Hai Mushkil title track, Hawayein, Apna Bana Le, Ve Maahi, Sajni, Gehra Hua and Kesariya. His emotionally rich yet restrained singing style soon became a staple across Hindi film soundtracks, making him one of the most sought after playback singers in the industry.
Arijit started his music career before his breakthrough through the reality show Fame Gurukul which he joined in 2005. He made his Hindi film debut as a playback singer in 2011 with Phir Mohabbat from Murder 2, a song that remains popular even today.
Awards and Recognition
Arijit Singh’s contribution to Indian music has been recognised both critically and nationally. He won two National Film Awards for Best Male Playback Singer. His first win came for Binte Dil from Padmaavat at the 66th National Film Awards, followed by another for Kesariya from Brahmastra Part One Shiva at the 70th edition.
In January 2025, he was honoured with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award, for his immense contribution to Indian music. Other than singing, Arijit is a composer, music producer and instrumentalist, which once again indicates his range as an artist.
While his decision to retire from playback singing has left fans emotional, Arijit’s assurance that he will continue making music offers comfort. At the end of one chapter a new creative adventure awaits and listeners may still anticipate hearing his music in new and personal ways.
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