Singer Jasleen Royal recently opened for UK band Coldplay during their Mumbai concert as part of their Music of the Spheres World Tour. However, her performance received mixed reactions on social media, with some praising her talent while others were critical of her singing. Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri also shared his sharp critique of her performance, sparking further debate online.
Agnihotri took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his disapproval, sharing a video of Jasleen’s performance. In his tweet, he criticized the trend of prioritizing social media popularity over raw talent. He wrote, “The audience is more sureela than these auto-tuned, Instagram-generated singers. Imagine if she didn’t have followers on Instagram, would anyone have even allowed her to audition for a mohalla singing contest?” Agnihotri further added, “Follower count over talent is the new norm,” suggesting that Jasleen’s online following might have played a larger role in her booking for the prestigious event.
The filmmaker’s tweet divided opinions. Some users agreed with his stance, with one comment stating, “She got an opportunity based on her status; others are still waiting.” Another user remarked, “Have heard multiple times better singing people in general on X Spaces.”
However, others came to Jasleen’s defense. A fan of the singer wrote, “I understand that there are many talented individuals in India who could have opened the concert, but she has been facing a lot of criticism lately. She was probably nervous at the time. Let’s move on now, she has already received enough hate.” Another user simply stated, “Just leave her alone,” urging others to stop the backlash.
Jasleen Royal, known for hits like Ranjha and Din Shagna Da, was the opening act for Coldplay during their three-night performance in Mumbai. Despite the criticisms, her fans remain supportive, highlighting her achievements and ability to reach a global stage.
In the midst of the ongoing debate, Vivek Agnihotri is also preparing for the release of his upcoming film, The Delhi Files. The movie, which Agnihotri will direct, is produced by Abhishek Agarwal Arts and Pallavi Joshi. It is set to be released in theatres on August 15, 2025.