When Arijit Singh revealed he tortured himself in career's early days, "People hated my voice isliye gale ko tod-tod ke texture banaya.."

When Arijit Singh revealed he tortured himself in career's early days, "People hated my voice isliye gale ko tod-tod ke texture banaya.."

• Arijit Singh announces he is quitting playback singing after a celebrated career
• He faced early rejection, reshaped his voice, and rose to fame with 'Tum Hi Ho'
• His journey showcases persistence and resilience in his iconic Hindi film songs.

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When Arijit Singh announced on January 27 that he was stepping away from playback singing, the news hit fans like a sudden silence after a long, emotional note. The voice that had defined love, heartbreak and longing for an entire generation was choosing to pause.

As listeners process the announcement, an old interview has resurfaced where Arijit spoke with rare honesty about how difficult his early journey was and how he once felt he had to “torture” himself to be accepted.

Failed to impress in Fame Gurukul

Arijit Singh’s musical journey began long before he became a household name. He first appeared on the reality show Fame Gurukul in 2005. While he did not win the competition, his raw talent caught the attention of people within the industry. However, recognition did not immediately translate into acceptance. His voice, now considered iconic, was once met with resistance and criticism.

He later went on to do another reality show 10 ke 10 Le Gaye Dil and went on to win a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh. He used the prize money from the show to make a studio in his hometown.

He caught the eye of Sanay Leela Bhansali, who asked him to record a song for Saawariya, but that song was never released.

He sang ‘Yun Shabnami‘ for Saawariya (2007) but his version was not released.

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Arijit Singh got a big break came with the hit song ‘Phir Mohabbat’ in Murder 2 (2011), which had Emraan Hashmi and Jacqueline Fernandez in the lead.

But his life changed completely two years later with ‘Tum Hi Ho’ for his film Aashiqui 2, earning Arijit Singh his first Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer.

People Hated my Voice: Arijit once admitted

Two years ago, during an appearance on The Music Podcast, Arijit Singh opened up about those early struggles and the drastic measures he took to change his sound.

Speaking candidly, he said, “People hated my voice. Maine jab pehle woh voice mein gaana shuru kiya, they didn’t like it at all.” It was a difficult truth to digest, especially for someone so deeply connected to music.

Instead of giving up, Arijit chose to reshape himself, both mentally and physically. Describing his process, he explained, “So I had to change my voice, kind of gale ko tod-tod ke texture banaya. It’s almost like sculpting your voice. Bahut torture kiya aapne aap ko taaki voice ka projection alag ho jaye.” For him, singing became an act of discipline and endurance, not just expression.

He went on to describe the gruelling practice routine that pushed his vocal limits. “Basically, voice ka muscle banane ki tarah. Then you can really push yourself, belt it out. Bahut riyaz karo raat mein, gala almost tired ho jaye, aur aap so jao,” he said, offering a glimpse into the unseen labour behind his effortless melodies. It was a phase defined by exhaustion, persistence and self-belief.

Everything changed in 2013 when Tum Hi Ho released. The song became a cultural phenomenon and transformed Arijit into the voice of modern romance. Yet even after his rise to fame, debates around his voice never truly stopped. Opinions from music veterans and online audiences continued, but Arijit’s emotional depth and consistency silenced most doubts over time.

In his recent farewell note, Arijit wrote, “I want to thank you all for giving me so much love all these years as listeners. I am happy to announce that I am not going to take any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on. I am calling it quits. It was a wonderful journey.”

From Tum Hi Ho and Laal Ishq to Kabira, Raabta and Kabhi Jo Baadal Barse, Arijit Singh’s voice has left an indelible mark on Hindi cinema. His story is a reminder that even the most celebrated talents are often shaped by rejection, relentless effort and quiet resilience.