‘My name is not me anymore': When Arijit Singh spoke about losing himself

Some voices don’t just sing songs, they soundtrack lives. Arijit Singh was one such voice. On Tuesday, the singer quietly announced his retirement from playback singing, leaving behind a silence that feels heavier than applause. For over a decade, the legendary singer's voice became the sound of love, heartbreak, and healing for millions. 

From lonely headphones to packed cinema halls, his songs were never just music, they were emotions. That is why his decision to step away from playback singing feels less like a retirement and more like the end of an era.

“I am calling it off, it was a wonderful journey,” Arijit said while confirming his retirement from active playback singing. In a message shared on social media, the singer clarified that he would complete his pending projects but would no longer sing for films. Going forward, Arijit plans to focus on Indian classical music and independent performances.

A Feeling Long in the Making

Though the announcement came as a surprise, Arijit had previously hinted at his growing discomfort with fame and the industry. In a 2023 interview with The Music Podcast, he spoke candidly about feeling disconnected from his own identity. He revealed that hearing his name began to irritate him and that the persona associated with “Arijit Singh” no longer felt like his true self.

He also shared that there was a phase when he avoided listening to his own songs altogether, even discouraging family members from playing them at home. Over time, he said, the irritation faded into indifference.

Also Read: Shreya Ghoshal backs Arijit Singh’s big move, says his journey is far from over

Concerns With the Music Industry

Arijit has consistently raised concerns about the treatment of artists in the music business. Despite being among Bollywood’s highest-paid singers, he spoke about unequal pay structures and exploitative practices that slowly drain creativity and passion. He stressed that artists often lack bargaining power in a system driven by commerce rather than fairness.

An Era Comes to a Pause

With his departure from playback singing, Arijit Singh closes a defining chapter of modern Hindi cinema music. While his voice may no longer feature in films, his influence and his music will continue to resonate far beyond the industry he chose to step away from.