The announcement of Arijit Singh retiring from playback singing has stunned fans and the Hindi film industry. Widely regarded as the voice of a generation, Arijit chose to step away at the height of his career to return to Indian classical music — a decision rooted not in sudden impulse, but years of quiet inner conflict.

While the news came as a shock, Arijit had long hinted at his discomfort with fame and the commercial machinery of Bollywood. In earlier interviews, he spoke candidly about feeling increasingly disconnected from his own identity, even admitting that hearing his own name began to irritate him.

‘My name became a perception, not me’

In a 2023 interview, Arijit revealed how fame altered his relationship with his own work. He said there was a phase when crowds chanting his name felt overwhelming, eventually making him realise that “Arijit Singh” had become a public construct rather than his true self.

He also shared that there was a time when his songs were not played at home at all. “I used to get irritated hearing my own songs,” he said, adding that while he no longer reacts strongly, he now simply ignores them.

‘Bollywood slowly kills artists’

Beyond personal identity, Arijit was vocal about structural issues in the music industry. Despite being among the highest-paid singers, he repeatedly highlighted how unfair payment practices exploit artists.

“The entire business runs on artists, yet many are not paid in proportion to their effort,” he said, calling the system emotionally draining and financially unfair. According to him, verbal agreements, changing expectations and delayed or reduced payments slowly erode an artist’s spirit.

Choosing peace over popularity

Arijit often spoke about the mental stress artists carry — constantly worrying about survival while being deeply invested in their art. He warned that when passion is manipulated for profit, it “kills an artist”.

On Tuesday, he formally announced that he would not take up any new playback assignments, though he will complete existing commitments. Going forward, Arijit plans to focus on Indian classical music, independent performances and reconnecting with the joy of music beyond commercial pressures.