Mahesh Bhatt reacts to Arijit Singh's retirement, recalls first meeting with him for 'Aashiqui 2': 'Some artists step away from the noise'

Arijit Singh recently stunned the country by announcing his retirement from playback singing. While several prominent voices from the industry, including Shreya Ghoshal and Shilpa Rao, expressed admiration and support, many others struggled to come to terms with the unexpected announcement. Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt has now shared his thoughts on the matter, reflecting on Arijit’s choice and their very first meeting during the making of 'Aashiqui 2'.

Bhatt offered a philosophical take on the singer’s decision, suggesting that some creative souls consciously choose calm over chaos. “At the height of their powers, some artists step away, not from art but from noise. They choose silence, solitude, and truth over constant performance,” he said in an interview with Telegraph Online.




The veteran filmmaker, who produced Mohit Suri’s 'Aashiqui 2', also revisited the moment he first encountered Arijit while the film’s music was being recorded. “When I heard about Arijit’s decision to stop singing for others, I was unexpectedly taken back to an afternoon at Super Sound Service in Khar, the old T-Series building, where the journey of Aashiqui2 truly began,” Bhatt recalled.

Describing the now-iconic recording of Tum Hi Ho, Bhatt added, “We were releasing the music, and Arijit was called to sing 'Tum Hi Ho'. A shy self-effacing young man walked up to the dais and sang a song that would quietly mesmerise the world. That moment became a springboard into a life that would never be the same again.”

Arijit Singh made the announcement on Tuesday through a heartfelt social media post, confirming that he would no longer be accepting new playback projects. “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 be taking any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on. I am calling it off. It was a wonderful journey,” he wrote.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”