Abhijeet Sawant EXPOSES music industry amid Arijit Singh's retirement: "We don’t earn enough to make a living"

The Hindi film music industry is facing a rare moment of self-examination, and this time the questions are coming from within. With Arijit Singh reportedly stepping away from playback singing, conversations around how singers are treated, paid, and valued have resurfaced with urgency. Amid this churn, Abhijeet Sawant has added his voice to the debate, speaking openly about an industry structure that, according to him, has long failed its singers.

In a recent interview on Pentarise Studios’ YouTube channel, Abhijeet didn’t mince words while addressing the uncomfortable realities of film music economics. His remarks have resonated widely, especially as fans and artists grapple with what Arijit’s decision signals for the future of playback singing.

“Singers Are Not Meant to Be Bigger Than Films”

Abhijeet pointed to an unwritten rule that quietly governs Bollywood’s music ecosystem. “People don’t want the singers to become bigger than the film itself. That’s why they are paid a certain amount,” he said, highlighting how financial ceilings are placed on vocal artists, regardless of a song’s success.

He also underlined the glaring absence of royalty systems for Indian playback singers. Drawing a sharp comparison, Abhijeet added, “Musicians still don’t receive royalties for film music… Biddu… gets so much royalty payment from those two songs that he can survive his whole life on that money. We don’t even get enough money to sustain our livelihood.” The contrast, he suggested, exposes how undervalued Indian singers remain despite their cultural impact.

“We accept whatever amount we get, because if we don’t do it, someone else will. We get exploited a lot.”

- Abhijeet Sawant

The Silence That Fuels Exploitation

According to Abhijeet, the issue goes beyond paychecks. He explained how fear and competition keep singers trapped in a cycle of compliance. “They have created a system like that,” he said, adding that singers often accept low remuneration because opportunities are scarce and replaceable.

He further admitted, “We accept whatever amount we get, because if we don’t do it, someone else will. We get exploited a lot.” The lure of having one’s voice picturised on a big star, he noted, often outweighs the need for fair compensation, leaving singers financially vulnerable despite public recognition.

Abhijeet's journey

Abhijeet Sawant’s journey, from winning the first season of Indian Idol to carving out a steady career in music, gives weight to his words. Having seen both fame and its limitations, he now appears more focused on honesty than diplomacy. His comments arrive at a time when Arijit Singh’s reported exit has exposed how fragile even top-tier success can be.