Shah Rukh Khan hi sab kuch hai toh bhai main kya..., singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya questions credit for iconic songs

Abhijeet Bhattacharya and Shah Rukh Khan

In a recent and rather candid interview with news agency ANI, veteran playback singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya reignited discussions about his once-iconic partnership and now-strained relationship with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

The singer, who lent his voice to several of Shah Rukh’s biggest romantic hits in the ’90s and early 2000s, expressed disappointment over being sidelined and unrecognized for his contributions to the chartbuster tracks that defined SRK’s on-screen charm.

Abhijeet and Shah Rukh Khan were once considered a magical playback duo, creating hits that became instant chart-toppers.

Tracks like Zara Sa Jhoom Loon Main, Woh Ladki Jo, Tauba Tumhare Yeh Ishaare, and Wada Raha Sanam are etched into the collective memory of Bollywood fans. These songs not only became iconic but also helped shape Shah Rukh Khan’s romantic hero image.

Abhijeet’s voice synced beautifully with SRK’s emotive expressions, lending a distinctive identity to the films.

However, despite such a glorious track record, Abhijeet now feels he has been forgotten in the grand narrative that surrounds SRK’s musical legacy.

In the interview, Abhijeet said, “We’re like twins when it comes to the voice. But now it feels like all the songs belong to Shah Rukh. People say, ‘It’s Shah Rukh’s song,’ and I end up wondering if I had any role at all.”

The singer further added, “Shah Rukh Khan hi sab kuch hai toh bhai mai kya…?”indicating his feelings of being overshadowed despite being an integral part of some of SRK’s most loved tracks.

Abhijeet reflected on the changing dynamics in their professional relationship. Initially, he was considered the voice that perfectly matched SRK’s screen persona. But over time, he felt left out of major projects and gradually faded from the Bollywood playback scene. According to him, this shift began when he wasn’t included in several of SRK’s big releases in the 2000s, despite being a constant feature in his earlier films.

He specifically pointed out the film Chalte Chalte as a tipping point. “The movie was average, only the songs were a hit. But even those were tagged as Shah Rukh’s, not mine.”

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The friction between the two, as suggested in the interview, stems from this lack of acknowledgment. For Abhijeet, who had a successful run in Bollywood, the lack of visibility and appreciation led him to slowly distance himself from playback singing in mainstream cinema. He admitted that being consistently sidelined despite contributing significantly to SRK’s romantic image deeply affected him.

With a career spanning over three decades and more than a thousand songs to his name, Abhijeet Bhattacharya remains a significant figure in Bollywood’s music history. However, this interview makes it evident that unresolved emotions still linger, especially concerning the erasure of his contributions in favor of the actors he once vocally supported.

Interestingly, this is not the first time Abhijeet has voiced his concerns publicly. His occasional outbursts and statements have often stirred conversations in the industry about the lack of due credit for playback singers. In the era of face-value stardom, the voices behind the screen are often forgotten, and Abhijeet’s comments strike at the heart of that issue.

While Shah Rukh Khan has yet to respond to these remarks, fans and industry insiders are likely to have differing opinions. Some may view Abhijeet’s comments as valid criticism of the Bollywood star system, while others might see them as unwarranted potshots at a former collaborator.