After popular singer Arijit Singh's sudden retirement announcement, fund manager Gurmeet Chadha has made a powerful observation, draws a contrast between two celebrated careers: Arijit Singh, who stepped away at 38 after redefining modern playback singing, and Boman Irani, who began his acting journey at 44 and went on to become one of Indian cinema’s most respected performers.
Gurmeet Chadha, founder of Complete Circle Wealth Solutions LLP, said that their careers prove that there is no fixed timeline for success. Both are legends in their own space, despite taking completely different paths. The comparison, the fund manager said, challenges the idea that life is a race against others. Real fulfillment comes from aligning work with happiness and inner contentment, he said. Ultimately, growth is personal, and success is about competing with yourself, not the world.
Arijit Singh’s rise to fame is well-known. From a modest upbringing to becoming the most recognisable playback singer of his generation, his rise has been meteoric. His voice dominates charts, weddings, heartbreak playlists and late-night headphone sessions. He fills stadiums without choreography, fireworks or spectacle. And yet, despite commanding some of the highest fees in the industry, Arijit remains famously detached from the machinery of celebrity.
He avoids interviews. He shuns social media drama. He dresses simply, often repeating clothes without concern. There are countless anecdotes of him riding a scooter, quietly queuing at airports, or slipping into concerts without entourage-fuelled fanfare.
Last year, Arijit Singh raced past global pop stars like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran to emerge the most followed artist on music streaming platform Spotify.
Boman Irani made his film debut at the age of 44, proving that success does not follow a fixed timeline. Today, he is widely celebrated for memorable roles in films such as Munna Bhai MBBS, 3 Idiots, Don and PK, but his journey to the screen was shaped by years of struggle and self-discovery.
After completing college, Irani found himself uncertain about his future but clear about one thing — he needed to support his family. In an interview with Humans of Bombay, he recalled approaching the manager of a Taj hotel, hoping to work at the rooftop restaurant. Instead, he was told that reaching the top required starting from the bottom and was assigned to room service. For nearly a year and a half, Irani worked his way up before finally becoming a waiter at the restaurant. Those early experiences instilled discipline, humility and resilience, values that later defined both his life and career.
Gurmeet Chadha, founder of Complete Circle Wealth Solutions LLP, said that their careers prove that there is no fixed timeline for success. Both are legends in their own space, despite taking completely different paths. The comparison, the fund manager said, challenges the idea that life is a race against others. Real fulfillment comes from aligning work with happiness and inner contentment, he said. Ultimately, growth is personal, and success is about competing with yourself, not the world.
Arijit Singh’s rise to fame is well-known. From a modest upbringing to becoming the most recognisable playback singer of his generation, his rise has been meteoric. His voice dominates charts, weddings, heartbreak playlists and late-night headphone sessions. He fills stadiums without choreography, fireworks or spectacle. And yet, despite commanding some of the highest fees in the industry, Arijit remains famously detached from the machinery of celebrity.
He avoids interviews. He shuns social media drama. He dresses simply, often repeating clothes without concern. There are countless anecdotes of him riding a scooter, quietly queuing at airports, or slipping into concerts without entourage-fuelled fanfare.
Last year, Arijit Singh raced past global pop stars like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran to emerge the most followed artist on music streaming platform Spotify.
Boman Irani made his film debut at the age of 44, proving that success does not follow a fixed timeline. Today, he is widely celebrated for memorable roles in films such as Munna Bhai MBBS, 3 Idiots, Don and PK, but his journey to the screen was shaped by years of struggle and self-discovery.
After completing college, Irani found himself uncertain about his future but clear about one thing — he needed to support his family. In an interview with Humans of Bombay, he recalled approaching the manager of a Taj hotel, hoping to work at the rooftop restaurant. Instead, he was told that reaching the top required starting from the bottom and was assigned to room service. For nearly a year and a half, Irani worked his way up before finally becoming a waiter at the restaurant. Those early experiences instilled discipline, humility and resilience, values that later defined both his life and career.
