Arijit Singh Announces Retirement After Singing for Salman Khan in Battle of Galwan
In a surprising move that has sent ripples through the music and film industries, playback singer Arijit Singh declared his retirement from playback singing on Tuesday evening. The announcement came via social media, where he stated, "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." This decision marks the end of a prolific career spanning over a decade, during which he lent his voice to numerous chart-topping hits.
The Irony of Matrubhumi as His Final Song
Interestingly, Arijit Singh's last released song before this announcement is the patriotic anthem "Matrubhumi" from Apoorva Lakhia's upcoming military drama Battle of Galwan, which features Salman Khan. This creates a poignant full-circle moment, given the long-standing and well-documented feud between the singer and the actor that lasted for nearly 12 years. The timing is particularly ironic, as Arijit had once hinted at retirement during their conflict over the song "Jag Ghoomeya" from the 2016 film Sultan.
A Look Back at the Feud's Origins
The tension between Arijit Singh and Salman Khan reportedly began in 2014 at an awards show. Salman, hosting the event, made a light-hearted comment about Arijit looking tired, to which Arijit responded candidly. What seemed like friendly banter at the time escalated into a serious rift. The feud came to a head in 2016 when Arijit publicly apologized on social media ahead of the release of Sultan, pleading with Salman to retain his version of "Jag Ghoomeya" in the film. He wrote, "I never insulted you... I tried so many times to apologize. Please don't remove the song I sang for Sultan. Let me retire with that song in my library." Although the post was later deleted, it sparked widespread speculation about Salman's influence in the industry.
Recent Reconciliation and Collaborations
After years of estrangement, Salman and Arijit finally reconciled in 2023, collaborating on two songs for the spy thriller Tiger 3. This was followed by Salman addressing the feud publicly on Bigg Boss 19, where he clarified, "Arijit aur main bahut achhe dost hai. Woh misunderstanding mere side se huyi thi." (Arijit and I are very good friends. That misunderstanding was from my end.) Their renewed partnership culminated in Arijit singing "Matrubhumi" for Battle of Galwan, effectively closing the chapter on their past conflicts.
Arijit Singh's Prolific Career and Final Works
Throughout his career, Arijit Singh has been a dominant force in playback singing, contributing to dozens of songs annually. In January 2026 alone, six songs featuring his voice were released, including:
- "Sitaare" from Ikkis
- "Ghar Kab Aaoge" from Border 2
- "Sunhari Kirne" from Gandhi Talks
- "Hum Toh Tere Hi Liye The" from O'Romeo
- The title track of Sukoon 2.0
- "Matrubhumi" from Battle of Galwan
His retirement announcement has left fans and industry insiders reflecting on his immense contributions to Indian music, with many noting the symbolic significance of his final collaboration with Salman Khan.
