Why Arijit Singh is retiring from playback singing at the peak of his career

Arijit Singh sent shockwaves through the Hindi film industry on Tuesday night after announcing on social media that he will no longer accept new assignments as a playback singer. The double National Award-winning artiste shared the news in a New Year post, clarifying that while he is drawing the curtain on his film playback career, he is not stepping away from music altogether.

"Hello, Happy New Year to all. I want to thank you all for giving me so much love all these years as listeners. I am happy to announce that I am not going to take any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on. I am calling it quits. It was a wonderful journey," Singh wrote on Instagram.

Soon after the post went viral, screenshots from what many claim to be Singh's private X (formerly Twitter) account began circulating, offering greater insight into his decision. The singer made it clear that the move had been long in the making and was not driven by a single incident.

"There is not one reason behind this, there are several reasons, and I have been trying to do this for a long time. Finally, I have gathered the courage," he wrote.

Among the reasons Singh cited was creative fatigue—an unusually blunt admission from a singer known for restraint. "One of the reasons were simple. I get bored pretty quick. That's why I keep changing the arrangements of the same songs and perform them differently on stage. So here is the thing—I got bored," he said, adding that he needs to constantly explore new forms of music to feel creatively alive.

Singh also spoke of wanting to make space for new voices in the industry and of returning to learning, including a renewed focus on Indian classical music, away from the rigid demands of film soundtracks.

The scale of Singh's career makes his decision particularly striking. From being voted out of Fame Gurukul in 2005 to becoming the most recognisable playback voice of his generation, his rise has been remarkable. Singh has recorded over 800 songs across languages—averaging more than 50 tracks a year—while also composing for films such as Pagglait. His touring schedule has been equally relentless, with sold-out concerts across India and overseas running parallel to his studio work.

Crucially, Singh has clarified that his retirement applies strictly to playback singing for films. He will complete his existing commitments, with a handful of releases expected in 2026, and will continue to perform live. Independent music, he has said, will remain central to his future plans.