Arijit Singh steps away from playback singing, returns to classical roots

For more than a decade, Bollywood taught itself how to feel love, longing and loss through Arijit Singh’s voice. On January 27, the 38-year-old singer announced he is retiring from playback singing, drawing the curtain on one of Hindi cinema’s most influential musical eras.

In a social media post, Singh said he would no longer take on new playback assignments. “I want to thank you all for giving me so much love all these years as listeners… I am calling it off. It was a wonderful journey,” he wrote.

Singh said he will now focus on creating his own music, deepen his engagement with Indian classical traditions, and draw inspiration from emerging voices. The move signals a return to what he has often described as his original calling: composition and music production.

Raised in Murshidabad, West Bengal, in a home steeped in classical discipline, Singh was trained from the age of three and largely shielded from popular film music. His early grounding shaped a voice that would later redefine contemporary Bollywood melodies.

After an early break on the reality show Fame Gurukul, followed by years of struggle, his career turned in 2010 when composer Pritam brought him on as an assistant — a partnership that transformed Hindi film music.

From “Tum Hi Ho” and “Channa Mereya” to “Kabira” and “Kesariya”, Singh’s songs became emotional shorthand for an entire generation, earning him a place among the most iconic voices in Indian cinema.