As whispers of Arijit Singh stepping away from film singing grow louder, Swanand Kirkire offers a nuanced perspective. The celebrated lyricist and singer, riding high on the inspirational web series ‘Bandwale’—which he scripted and starred in—dissected the development during a recent chat.
‘Bollywood’s breakneck pace is draining,’ Kirkire observed. ‘Arijit could be burnt out. His talent is irreplaceable; the industry hungers for more like him. Moving to independent music is honorable, but films will echo with the absence of his sur.’
He advocated for pauses in creativity. ‘A refresh break might bring him back stronger. Comparing to Neha’s hiatus, Arijit’s youth and prowess mean we can’t lose him yet. He bears a duty to music—fatigue or boredom might be factors, alongside desires for filmmaking and beyond.’
Optimism shone through as he noted emerging talents. ‘New singers are arriving, performing brilliantly, much like Arijit’s breakthrough. With personal drives fueling this, it’s feasible.’
Kirkire signed off supportively: ‘Indie music suits him well.’ Directed by Akshat Verma, ‘Bandwale’ stars Shalini Pandey, Jahan Kapoor, Ashish Vidyarthi, Swanand Kirkire, Anupama Kumar, and Sanjana Deepu, chronicling a band’s journey to fulfill dreams against all odds.