Arijit Singh, the voice that silently connected love, longing, yearning, and hope to the heartbeats of an entire generation, has announced his retirement from playback singing. The news was revealed through his personal social media accounts and shocked the entire industry and fans worldwide. In an emotional message, Arijit expressed gratitude for his journey so far, writing, “I will not be taking up any new assignments as a playback singer. I am ending it here. It has been a beautiful journey.” While this announcement marks the end of a historic era in Indian music, it is not a farewell. Rather, it is the beginning of a deeply personal and creatively empowering new chapter for him, says filmmaker Arijit Singh.
His upcoming Hindi directorial project, a jungle adventure film, is already in the news. The film stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s daughter Shora and Arijit’s son in lead roles, creating a new and interesting on-screen pairing. The film is co-produced by Arijit and his wife Koyal Singh, along with Mahavir Jain. Shooting in Shantiniketan, the film also features a special appearance by Nawazuddin Siddiqui, while veteran actor Dibyendu Bhattacharya plays a key role. Arijit and Koyal have co-written the script, and sources indicate the film will be screened at several international film festivals before its pan-India release.
This transition isn’t entirely new for Arijit. In 2018, he directed the Bengali film Sa, a poetic coming-of-age story that explored the relationship between a child and music. Actor Dibyendu Bhattacharya, who was part of the film, spoke openly about Arijit’s presence on set. He said, “I see Arijit as a Sufi. Whether he’s singing or directing, he’s a Sufi through and through. As a director, he’s incredibly calm. He sits with the actors, has deep conversations, and ensures no one feels pressured. He lets things happen naturally, as if his camera is breathing. For him, emotions always take precedence over technique.”
Reacting to Arijit’s decision to step away from singing, Dibyendu said, “I’m a huge fan of his singing and truly believe he’s one of the best singers in the world. I’d love to see him as a director, but like everyone else, I hope he sings again sometime.” Dibyendu Bhattacharya – known for his powerful roles like DSP Barun Ghosh in the Undekhi franchise, Poacher, the emotionally complex Raza in Rocket Boys, and Mission Raniganj. He brings depth, truth, and a quiet intensity to every frame. It will certainly be fascinating to see him in a new avatar under the direction of maestro Arijit Singh.
