Veteran playback singer, Abhijeet Bhattacharya, is in talks again, this time, for his fiery remarks at music composer Anu Malik. In his latest interview, Abhijeet called out some long-buried studio politics behind one of Bollywood’s most beloved soundtracks. In a candid and slightly cheeky chat with Mashable India, the Main Hoon Na singer claimed that the hit track, Gori Gori, was “snatched” from him and fellow singer KK by none other than Anu Malik himself.

Abhijeet Bhattacharya recalls Anu Malik taking over Gori Gori

Gori gori was the prom-night anthem for Bollywood buffs during the early 2000s. The peppy song, featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Sushmita Sen, Zayed Khan, and Amrita Rao, was originally recorded by Abhijeet and KK, according to the singer. However, the final version featured Malik’s voice instead, replacing its original singers. Reflecting on Anu Malik’s notorious habit of inserting himself into his own songs, Abhijeet joked:

“Uss picture me Gori Gori mera gaana tha. Can you believe that? (Mimicking Anu Malik) Chori chori…ab ye ho gaya. Maine kya gaaya tha – phadu! I think, maine aur KK ne. Baad me dekhta hoon ki bhaisaab unka (Anu Malik) voice aa gaya. Iss gaane (Tumhe Jo Maine Dekha) me bhi aisa hi kuchh hone wala tha.”

In his trademark candid style, Abhijeet Bhattacharya didn’t hold back while describing composer Anu Malik’s larger-than-life persona and penchant for singing his compositions. He took a cheeky dig at the composer with an amused tone, even calling him “crazy” for the habit. Reflecting on how times have changed, he remarked that those days are gone now and admitted he’s become “selfish” with age. In Abhijeet’s words:

“Jab bhi kabhi Anu Malik ka koi gaana hota hai na, to unka bas chale to picturise bhi khud pe kare. He is so crazy, wo bol sakta hai ki ye gaana bohot acha hai, main gaaunga, mere upar ho picturise kar do. Matlab, itna crazy hai! Bol raha hoon isiliye kyunki ab to wo time gaya. I’m very selfish, ab to koi farak nahi padta. Abhi kisi ka bhi time nahi hai.”

Abhijeet Bhattacharya shares the power struggles of playback singers

Not just Gori Gori, but every musical number from Farah Khan’s 2004 film, Main Hoon Na, has achieved iconic status. However, what often goes unnoticed behind these hit tracks is the struggle of playback singers, sidelined in the glamorous spectacle. In his latest revelation, Abhijeet pulled back the curtain on this reality, shedding light on the behind-the-scenes tussles that artists quietly endure. The 66-year-old singer shared that even though he eventually sang a song for the movie, it was rushed. He recalled:

“Agar ye gaane ko pehle se mujhe rehearsal kara ke agar gaana pehle se bolte. Set pe bula ke gawaya achanak, dubbing karwaya. I’m capable, fatafat gaa diya. Lekin agar fatafat ki jagah tayyari karke aate, to ye gaana isse bhi bada historical hota.”

This isn’t the first time Abhijeet has stirred the pot of controversy. The outspoken singer has often voiced his frustration with the changing dynamics of the music industry, whether it’s the shift towards auto-tuned vocals, the reduced involvement of singers in song creation, or, as in this case, the apparent appropriation of work.

What are your views on Abhijeet Bhattacharya’s revelations?

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