AP Dhillon reveals why he refused Bollywood offers: They exploit the song and the artiste

AP Dhillon reacts to Bollywood gig

Punjabi music sensation AP Dhillon, known for global chartbusters like Brown Munde, Excuses, With You, and Dil Nu, has finally opened up about why he has never lent his voice to Bollywood despite offers from some of the industry’s biggest stars. During a podcast with YouTube channel SMTV, the singer-producer revealed that his refusal stems from the way Bollywood treats artistes and their creative ownership.

Speaking in Punjabi, AP Dhillon said, “I’ll tell you why I’ve never done a Bollywood song yet. It’s only because I care for my people. It’s not about Bollywood; it’s about setting an example. I told them I’m happy to do a song, but they must first change the way they do business. They exploit the song and the artiste for their own profit.”

He further explained that even when major actors approached him to collaborate, the terms were unfair. “A couple of huge actors said they wanted my music in their film. I made the song and even visualised the scene. But they wanted to own the song — the rights, the remix rights — everything. That’s not correct,” AP Dhillon added.

The singer noted that he refused those offers to protect the interests of emerging artistes. “If I agree to these terms, then junior artistes will also be forced to do the same. I don’t want a young artiste to lose their source of income by selling their hit song. But the issue is that other A-listers are still saying yes to such deals,” he said.

AP Dhillon emphasised that unless Punjabi artistes collectively draw boundaries, exploitation will continue. “If I say no, they’ll go to the next artiste. There are only three or four of us right now. Until everyone refuses, things won’t change,” he stated.

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While several Punjabi stars including Diljit Dosanjh, Honey Singh, Badshah, and Karan Aujla have made their mark in Bollywood, AP Dhillon has remained independent. Recently, he collaborated with Shreya Ghoshal and Tara Sutaria on Thodi Si Daaru, a standalone project outside the film circuit.

AP Dhillon also announced his upcoming One of One India Tour, which will cover eight cities. Starting in Ahmedabad on December 5, the tour will travel through Delhi, Ludhiana, Pune, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Mumbai, and conclude in Jaipur on December 28.