Veteran playback singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya, known for lending his voice to some of the most iconic Shah Rukh Khan songs in the 1990s and 2000s, recently spoke about the reasons behind his decision to stop singing for the superstar. In an interview with ANI, Bhattacharya revealed that his issues with Khan stemmed from a lack of acknowledgement of his work, which led to a growing sense of discontent.
The singer explained that his relationship with Shah Rukh Khan began to sour when he felt that his contributions were not being properly credited. Bhattacharya stated, “When self-respect is hurt, you feel like saying, ‘Enough is enough.’ I wasn’t singing for him; I was singing for my work. But when I saw that they were acknowledging everyone – like the tea vendor who serves tea on set – but not acknowledging the singer, I felt, ‘Why should I be your voice?'”
Despite this rift, Bhattacharya clarified that he holds no grudges against Shah Rukh Khan. He shared that the two have not had any major fallout, but Khan’s meteoric rise to stardom made it harder for him to connect with the actor. “It’s not that my relationship with SRK is broken, but Shah Rukh is now such a huge star that he’s no longer just a human being. Even he probably doesn’t realize the level he has reached. So why should I expect anything from him?” Bhattacharya said. He added that both he and Khan have strong personalities, noting, “We both have egos. Our birthdays are just a day apart; we are both Scorpios. But I’m the bigger Scorpio.”
Abhijeet Bhattacharya, whose voice graced major hits such as “Woh Ladki Jo Sabse Alag Hai” from Baadshah, “Tumhe Jo Maine Dekha” from Baadshah, and the title track of Chalte Chalte, also addressed a recent controversy. The singer expressed disappointment when global pop star Dua Lipa performed a mashup of her hit “Levitating” with his iconic song “Woh Ladki Jo” during her Mumbai concert. Bhattacharya, who was not credited for his contribution, took to social media to voice his displeasure. His son, Jay Bhattacharya, also criticized Dua Lipa for not acknowledging his father’s role in the song.
While Bhattacharya’s relationship with Shah Rukh Khan may have cooled, it’s clear that his legacy in Indian cinema’s musical history remains intact, with fans continuing to celebrate his iconic collaborations with the superstar.