Madhubanti Bagchi on Arijit Singh: `His space can`t be taken up`
Madhubanti Bagchi: ‘The industry puts you in a box and overuses it’
13 July,2026 07:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka Sharma
Madhubanti Bagchi says she refused to be typecast after the success of Aaj Ki Raat, adding that artistes must shape their own identity. She also believes Bollywood should rely on more singers instead of overburdening Arijit Singh
Madhubanti Bagchi. Pic/By Special Arrangement
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It’s not common for a singer to bring out a chartbuster even as their last song is dominating everyone’s playlists. But that’s the kind of run Madhubanti Bagchi is enjoying at the moment. Her latest track, Jab Talak, from Cocktail 2 continues to make waves even as Shararat from Dhurandhar (2025) as well as her other numbers released years ago continue to be popular. “It’s a fulfilling feeling for sure,” she tells mid-day, as she sits down for a chat about the industry’s tendency to pigeon-hole artistes and preserving her art in a business that over-relies on a few voices.
Excerpts from the interview
A still from âCocktail 2′
How did Jab Talak happen?Jab Talak was recorded after the film’s first teaser was dropped. I am happy with the way the female part was composed. Pritamda is a magician. Who doesn’t want to work with him? It’s a dream for any artiste to sing a song composed by him
Ranveer Singh in âDhurandhar’
It’s the latest addition to your streak of hits that began with Aaj Ki Raat. After that song’s success, you must have been flooded with offers of similar songs. How tough was it to avoid that trap?It wasn’t difficult to say no to such offers. The industry seems to put you in a box and then overuse it as much as possible until you do something else. Then they will put you in another box. Before Aaj Ki Raat, my Heeramandi song [Nazariya Ki Maari] came and everybody saw me as a classical singer. When Aaj Ki Raat released, people jumped from âShe is a classical singer’ to âShe sings dance numbers’. As artistes, we have to think about the narrative we are going to set for the audience. Why would I restrict myself to [one genre]?
Arijit Singh often mentioned that there was an overuse of his voice. Is there a way out of the industry’s over-reliance on a few voices?Arijitda’s problem is of a different scale altogether because he is so versatile. He is one of those artistes who plays a character when he sings. There was no other male singer [dominating the scene] since he arrived. Also, Bollywood music industry is male-dominated. An album will have five male songs, and at best two female-led songs. So, for 13-14 years, an industry is producing 90 per cent male songs, of which Arijitda is the only one singing. There will obviously be fatigue because he doesn’t have anybody to share that load with. Now, it’s time for the industry to find not another Arijit Singh, but five-six singers. His space cannot be taken up by one person.
How do you balance the independent artiste and playback singer in you?First and foremost, I am a playback singer. My non-film journey started much later. As a playback singer when I sit with a composer, I like getting into the details of the song and character. For instance, if you have an outspoken character, the song’s rendition will be different from that of a shy character. But when I’m doing a non-film song, I’m being myself. These are stories from my own life. As a non-film artiste, there is no purdah between my audience and me.
No to remixes, but yes to âRamba Ho’
(L-R) The singer with Usha Uthup. Pics/Instagram, Youtube
Madhubanti Bagchi is admittedly “scared” of remixes, but she voiced the âRamba Ho’ recreation for âDhurandhar’ (2025). It earned appreciation not only from listeners, but also from Usha Uthup, who had sung the original. “After the song released, I was stressed and wanted some kind of validation from Usha ma’am. So, I called her and sent her the song. Later, we made a video on the song. That reel went viral,” recalled Bagchi
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Usha Uthuparijit singhCocktail 2DhurandharMusicbollywood newsEntertainment News
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