In a move that has sent shockwaves across the Hindi film music industry, Arijit Singh, one of India’s most prolific and beloved playback singers, announced his retirement from film singing on Tuesday evening. The decision comes just days after the release of ‘Maatrubhumi’, a patriotic track from Salman Khan’s upcoming film Battle of Galwan — an ironic full-circle moment given the singer’s long-rumoured fallout with the actor nearly a decade ago.
Taking to Instagram, Arijit shared a heartfelt note addressed to his listeners, formally declaring that he will no longer take on new playback singing assignments, while clarifying that he is not quitting music altogether.
“Hello, Happy New Year to all. I want to thank you for giving me so much love all these years as listeners. I am happy to announce that I am not going to take any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on. I am calling it off. It was a wonderful journey. God has been really kind to me. I am a fan of good music and, in the future, will continue learning and doing more on my own as a small artist. Thanks again for all your support. I still have to finish some pending commitments and will finish them, so you might get some releases this year. Just to be clear, I won’t stop making music.”
The announcement triggered an outpouring of emotion from fans and fellow musicians, many of whom described the decision as “the end of an era” for Bollywood music.
Ironically, Arijit’s retirement comes at a time when his presence on the charts has been as dominant as ever. In January alone, six songs featuring his voice have already been released. These include the title track of Salim–Sulaiman’s non-film album Sukoon 2.0, along with five film songs — several of which continue to trend across streaming platforms.
Among them, ‘Maatrubhumi’ from Battle of Galwan has drawn particular attention. The song now stands as one of the last major Bollywood releases featuring Arijit’s voice, lending the moment a sense of poetic closure.
The timing has also reignited memories of Arijit’s widely discussed fallout with Salman Khan in 2016 during the release of Sultan. Arijit had sung a version of “Jag Ghoomeya”, but it was ultimately replaced in the film. Around the same time, the singer had publicly hinted at wanting to retire, even apologising to the actor on social media.
While both parties later suggested that the issue had been a misunderstanding, Arijit largely stayed away from Salman Khan–led projects for years. His involvement in Battle of Galwan and the fact that ‘Maatrubhumi’ is now among his final playback releases has struck many as an unexpected and symbolic full circle.
From his breakout moment with “Tum Hi Ho” (Aashiqui 2, 2013) to hundreds of chart-topping songs across genres, Arijit Singh has been the voice behind some of Hindi cinema’s most enduring melodies. Known for his emotional restraint, technical finesse, and genre versatility, he reshaped the soundscape of contemporary Bollywood music.
Over a career spanning more than 15 years, Arijit won multiple Filmfare Awards, a National Award, and was honoured with the Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian music.
While fans may no longer hear Arijit Singh’s voice regularly in mainstream Hindi films, his statement makes it clear that music remains central to his life. By stepping away from playback singing, the artist appears to be choosing a quieter, more personal creative path — one that prioritises independent music and learning over the demands of the film industry.
As one fan wrote online shortly after the announcement: “Bollywood may lose its most trusted voice, but music will still have Arijit.”
More Pages: Battle Of Galwan Box Office Collection
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