Playback singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya has revealed that he advised Udit Narayan to openly acknowledge the viral kissing controversy instead of shying away from it, saying he personally stood by his fellow singer when the backlash erupted.Speaking in a recent interview with Subhojit Ghosh, Abhijeet recalled telling Udit to accept the incident instead of being defensive.“I told Udit, ‘Just say yes. Someone kissed you. If fans hug you and kiss you, then accept it. If they kissed you, then you also gave one kiss back. What’s the issue?'” he said, adding that he encouraged the veteran singer to respond honestly rather than avoid the conversation.Udit Narayan had faced intense criticism in early 2025 after videos from a concert appeared to show him kissing a female fan on the lips during a live performance. The singer later defended himself, describing the moment as an expression of affection amid “fan craze” and insisting there was no ill intent.Abhijeet used the episode to underline what he described as his habit of standing by fellow artistes during difficult times.
‘I stand by my friends’
The singer said he has often taken public positions in support of colleagues, even when others chose to stay silent.Referring to Udit, he said he wrote in his support and encouraged him to own the incident instead of letting the controversy define him.Abhijeet also cited another example involving Sonu Nigam, saying he was among the few who publicly backed the singer during a previous controversy.“When people targeted Sonu, I stood beside him. Even those close to him either stayed quiet or distanced themselves. I was there,” he said. According to Abhijeet, friendships in the entertainment industry are often one-sided, and he believes in supporting people whenever he feels they need it, irrespective of whether the gesture is reciprocated.
