Shaan Recalls Contemplating Quitting Playback Singing and Advice from Sonu Nigam and KK

In an interaction with trade analyst and host Komal Nahta, renowned singer Shaan addressed Arijit Singh’s choice to step away from film playback singing, noting that he also once contemplated walking away from the profession in his early thirties.

What Happened

Speaking about Arijit Singh’s choice, Shaan clarified his perspective, stating that Arijit has not entirely hung up his boots and continues to sing. He pointed out that Arijit has recorded numerous songs that have not yet been released, meaning audiences will still hear his work over the next two years. Shaan also commented that people can change their minds over time.

Reflecting on his personal journey, Shaan revealed that he experienced a similar crisis when he was roughly 33 to 34 years old. At that stage in his career, he had secured two to three major awards and had worked across a broad variety of tracks. He explained that a desire to contribute to social work was curtailed because his continuous recording schedule left him jumping from one project to another without sufficient personal time.

Shaan compared his career habits to Arijit’s selective approach, observing that while Arijit focused on top tracks after ascending swiftly, Shaan himself routinely accepted playback assignments across various tiers of cinema. He noted that peers such as Sonu Nigam and the late KK had cautioned him to maintain his standards and stop accepting every track offered. Shaan shared that refusing work was difficult due to warmth from producers and family connections tied to his father, Manas Mukherjee.

Key Highlights

• Shaan mentioned that Arijit Singh has recorded many unreleased tracks that will come out over the next two years.
• Shaan experienced thoughts of stepping away from playback singing when he was around 33 or 34 years old.
• During that phase, Shaan wished to engage in social work but lacked the time due to back-to-back film recordings.
• Peers Sonu Nigam and KK advised Shaan to preserve his standards rather than sing for all varieties of projects.
• Shaan found it hard to turn down requests due to personal goodwill and his late father Manas Mukherjee’s industry relationships.

Why This Matters

The conversation highlights the career dilemmas and demanding workloads faced by prominent playback singers in the Indian film industry. Shaan’s reflections provide direct context on the pressure of maintaining volume versus selectivity, illustrating why artists like Arijit Singh or himself have re-evaluated their professional commitments at key moments in their lives.

What to Watch Next

Audiences can expect multiple upcoming song releases featuring Arijit Singh over the following two years as his previously recorded catalog roll out in cinema projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Shaan confirm that Arijit Singh has completely stopped singing?

No. Shaan stated that Arijit is still singing and has recorded many tracks that will continue to release over the next two years, adding that the artist could also alter his stance down the line.

Why did Shaan want to quit playback singing at age 33-34?

Shaan explained that he was overwhelmed by continuous work across all types of projects and wanted time to dedicate toward social work, which his schedule did not permit.

What advice did Sonu Nigam and KK give to Shaan?

Shaan recounted that contemporaries Sonu Nigam and KK urged him not to take on every type of song and advised him to maintain his professional standard.

Source: Interview details reported via Bollywood Hungama.