Arijit Singh Announces Retirement from Playback Singing, Sending Shockwaves Through Bollywood
In a move that has left the Indian music industry and millions of fans reeling, playback singing sensation Arijit Singh has announced his retirement from professional playback singing. The beloved vocalist took to his social media platforms to make the stunning declaration, instantly triggering widespread reactions and disbelief across the entertainment world.
The Official Announcement and Immediate Reactions
"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," Singh wrote in his social media post. The brief but impactful message sent shockwaves through Bollywood, where Singh has been one of the most dominant and prolific voices for over a decade.
For more than ten years, Arijit Singh has been the consistent voice behind countless Hindi cinema hits, delivering a steady stream of chart-topping songs year after year. His remarkable productivity was evident even in January 2026 alone, where he had six songs released across major films.
A Prolific Final Month of Releases
Singh's final month as an active playback singer featured an impressive lineup of tracks that showcased his versatility and enduring popularity:
- 'Sitaare' from Sriram Raghavan's period war drama Ikkis
- 'Ghar Kab Aaoge', a reimagined version of the iconic Border (1997) song 'Sandese Aate Hain' for Border 2
- 'Sunhari Kirne' from Gandhi Talks
- 'Hum Toh Tere Hi Liye The' from Vishal Bhardwaj's upcoming romantic thriller O'Romeo
The Poetic Finale with Salman Khan
Perhaps most symbolically, Arijit Singh's most recent release—and what now stands as his final playback singing outing—is the patriotic track 'Maatrubhumi' from the film Battle of Galwan, which features none other than superstar Salman Khan. This collaboration feels particularly poetic given the well-documented and long-standing rift between the singer and the actor that spanned more than a decade.
The tension between Singh and Khan first became publicly apparent during an awards ceremony when Arijit was at the peak of his career. While hosting the event, Salman called Arijit on stage to accept the Best Playback Singer (Male) trophy for 'Tum Hi Ho' from Mohit Suri's 2013 blockbuster Aashiqui 2. Noticing Singh's tired appearance, Salman joked in his trademark style, "Soye nahi kya?" (You didn't sleep or what?), to which Arijit replied frankly, "Aap logo ne sula diya" (You guys put me off to sleep).
The Public Rift and Reconciliation Journey
The strain became more pronounced in 2016 ahead of the release of Ali Abbas Zafar's Sultan, when Arijit posted a heartfelt apology on social media. He had recorded the romantic track "Jag Ghoomeya" (picturised on Salman Khan and Anushka Sharma), but the version that ultimately made it to the film featured Rahat Fateh Ali Khan instead—a decision widely believed to be influenced by Salman.
In his now-deleted post, Arijit had written, "I never insulted you… I tried so many times to apologise. Please don't remove the song I sang for 'Sultan'. Let me retire with that song in my library." The message went viral within minutes, fueling widespread speculation that Salman had sidelined Arijit and was obstructing his opportunities in Bollywood.
A full reconciliation took nearly seven years to materialize. Salman and Arijit finally reunited professionally in Manish Sharma's 2023 spy thriller Tiger 3, produced by Yash Raj Films—the same banner that had backed Sultan. Arijit lent his voice to both the romantic number 'Ruaan' and the end-credits dance track 'Leke Prabhu Ka Naam', filmed on Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif.
Closure and Final Collaboration
It was only last year, during a Bigg Boss 19 Weekend Ka Vaar episode, that Salman Khan openly addressed the rift and clarified their current relationship status. "Arijit aur main bahut achhe dost hai. Woh misunderstanding mere side se huyi thi. Uske baad usne gaane bhi kiye mere liye. Tiger 3 mein kiya usne, aage Galwan" (Arijit and I are very good friends. That misunderstanding was from my end. After that, he also sang songs for me in Tiger 3 and now, in Battle of Galwan), Salman stated, finally putting years of speculation to rest.
Arijit Singh's retirement marks the end of an era in Indian playback singing. His distinctive voice, emotional depth, and remarkable consistency made him one of the most beloved and successful vocalists of his generation. As the industry processes this unexpected announcement, fans and colleagues alike are reflecting on his extraordinary contribution to Hindi cinema music over the past decade.
