Arijit Singh, the most popular name in the Indian music world, has announced his retirement from playback singing and film songs. After winning the hearts of millions with his magical voice for the past two decades, he revealed this surprising decision in January 2026. However, the good news for fans is that although he is retiring from films, he will continue to create his own music, or “independent music,” on his own.
The artist began her journey in 2005 with the reality show ‘Fame Gurukul’. Although she did not win, she caught the attention of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He made his Bollywood debut in 2011 with the song “Phir Mohabbat” from the film ‘Murder 2’. However, his fortunes changed in 2013 with the song “Tum Hi Ho” from the film ‘Aashiqui 2’. This one song made him a superstar overnight and earned him his first Filmfare Award.
Arijit Singh was born on April 25, 1987, in Jiaganj, Murshidabad district, West Bengal. His father, Kakar Singh, was a Punjabi Sikh, and his mother, Aditi Singh, was a Bengali Hindu. Music was in his blood; his mother and grandmother sang, and his uncle played the tabla. From the age of just three, he began training in classical music, tabla, and Rabindra Sangeet under Rajendra Prasad Hazari, Dhirendra Prasad Hazari, and Birendra Prasad Hazari.
Arijit Singh is not just a popular singer; he is also a skilled composer and music producer. His accomplishments include:
- 8 Filmfare Awards: In 2025, he tied the record of the legendary Kishore Kumar by winning his eighth Filmfare Award for the song “Sajni”.
- 2 National Film Awards: He achieved this honor for the songs “Binte Dil” (2018) and “Kesaria” (2022).
- Padma Shri Honor: In 2025, the Government of India honored him with the ‘Padma Shri,’ the country’s fourth-highest civilian honor.
- Spotify Record: He is one of the most popular artists in the world. As of January 2026, with over 169 million followers, he is the most-followed artist globally on Spotify.
Despite his immense fame, Arijit has always preferred to keep a low profile. To the media, he is known as ‘the boy from a small town who achieved big dreams.’ He currently resides in Andheri, Mumbai, and enjoys playing badminton or making documentaries in his spare time.
Although he is retiring from playback singing, Arijit will continue to treat his audience to new songs through his own music label, ‘Oriyon Music,’ where he has stated he will work with even more creative freedom than before. In the words of the exceptional composer Pritam, “Arijit is not just a good singer, he is a very intelligent musician.” And it is with that talent that he has immortalized his name in the world of Bengali and Hindi music.
His dedication to music and humble personality have made him unique. His farewell from playback singing might be the film industry’s.