Shaan has opened up about Arijit Singh’s decision to step back from playback singing, revealing that he once found himself contemplating a similar move. The singer reflected on his own career, his decision to sing across films and the advice he received from contemporaries Sonu Nigam and KK, while suggesting Arijit’s exit may not be permanent.
Shaan reacts to Arijit’s exit from playback singing
Speaking to Komal Nahta, Shaan was asked about Singh’s decision, to which he responded, “It’s not like he’s hung his boots. He’s singing and I think he’s doing a lot of playback (singing). Aisi baat nahin hai (It’s not like that).” When pressed on why Arijit chose to quit, Shaan paused for a moment before answering, “Only he can answer that question (laughs). However, he has recorded many songs that are yet to be released. So, in the next two years, you’ll get to hear a lot of Arijit Singh.” He further added, “You never know, he can change his mind. Pathar ki lakeer pe thodi kisi ne likh diya hai. (It’s not exactly set in stone)”
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He went on to admit that he had faced a similar internal conflict himself: “I was about 33-34. It was a time when I had sung all kinds of songs. I had also won 2-3 big awards. Also, I am quite inclined towards social work. Ab aaye hai toh society ke liye kuch karna chahiye (Now that we are here, we ought to do something for society). However, because of my work, I didn’t have time for it. And I used to feel that you are just rolling from one thing to another.”
Shaan recalls Sonu Nigam and KK’s warning
Shaan continued, “Arijit at least did selective work. He reached the peak quickly and then he would work only for the top songs. As for me, I used to leave my house in the morning and I used to sing for all kinds of films – A-grade, B-grade and C-grade! My contemporaries like K K and Sonu Nigam used to tell me, ‘Don’t sing all kinds of songs. Keep your standard, bro’. But my point was that koi pyaar se bulata tha toh main naa kaise karoon?(But my point was, if someone called out to me affectionately, how could I say no?) Moreover, my father (Manas Mukherjee) was also from this industry. So, his colleagues and the children of those colleagues used to request me to do playback singing. Turning them down was difficult. So, I would do those songs. I got a lot of blessings from them.”He later added, “When I used to return home, my wife would ask, ‘Sunao aaj kya gaaya?'(Tell me, what did you sing today?). I would say, ‘Yaad nahin aa raha hai’. Usko shaque hone lagta tha!(“I can’t seem to recall.” He would start to get suspicious!) So that was the time when I would wonder what I was doing.”
Shaan reunites with Saif Ali Khan
On the work front, Shaan has reunited with Saif Ali Khan after nearly two decades, lending his voice to the song ‘Mera Hero Hai Woh’ from Akshay Kumar‘s upcoming film ‘Haiwaan’.
