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Arijit Singh announces retirement: In a move that has stunned fans and the music industry alike, Arijit Singh has announced his retirement from playback singing. The singer shared the news through a heartfelt note on Instagram, triggering an emotional outpouring across social media and the wider music fraternity.

In his message, Arijit thanked listeners for their unwavering support before confirming his decision to step away from playback work. “Hello, Happy New Year to all. I want to thank you all for giving me so much of love all these years as listeners. I am happy to announce that I am not gonna be taking any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on. I am calling it off. It was a wonderful journey,” he wrote.

The announcement followed a series of posts on his private X account, where Arijit reflected on his journey and future plans. “GOD has been really kind to me. I am a fan of good music and in future will be learning more and do more on my own as a small little artist. Thanks again for all your support,” he added.

While the news sent shockwaves, Arijit was quick to clarify that music remains central to his life. “Just to be clear that I won’t stop making music,” he said. When a fan questioned what they called an “inappropriate decision,” the singer responded with humour, replying, “Justify my inappropriate decision!!? (Laughing emoji).”

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A post shared by Arijit Singh (@arijitsingh)

He also reassured fans that his voice hasn’t disappeared entirely yet. “I still have to finish some pending commitments, will finish them, so you might get some releases this year,” he wrote, hinting at a few final playback songs before he fully steps back.

Fans reacted with disbelief and emotion. One user called it “a Virat Kohli test retirement level of shock,” while another admitted, “Oh man, I thought it was fake. I want this to be fake.” Others reflected on his immense contribution, citing timeless songs like Tum Hi Ho, Binte Dil and Laal Ishq.

The music fraternity also responded swiftly. In an exclusive interview with News9Live, lyricist Manoj Muntashir revealed, “I am truly shocked. This feels like a huge blow to the music industry. Arijit has so much more music left in him. Having worked with him on many super hit songs, I can personally vouch that a singer of his calibre and class is incredibly rare. Finding someone like him will be tough — there simply won’t be another Arijit.”

He further added, “He has seen tremendous success and is a extremely talented person maybe he wants to see new avenues … and do limited assignments… He can never leave music.”

Rapper Badshah summed it up by calling Arijit “Sadiyon mein ek (one in a century).” Composer Amaal Mallik wrote an emotional note, saying film music would “never be the same” without him. B Praak declared himself a “Fan For Life,” while actor Richa Chadha reacted with crying emojis. Actor Lauren Gottlieb welcomed the decision as “artistic freedom,” and creator Yashraj Mukhate predicted exciting indie music ahead.

Arijit Singh, a National Award winner and Padma Shri recipient in 2025, began his journey on Fame Gurukul and went on to define an era of Hindi film music.

(With inputs from Bharati K Dubey.)