Arijit Singh may currently stand as one of the most celebrated playback voices in the country, but there was a time when other reality television stars enjoyed far greater prominence. When Arijit recently announced his decision to step away from playback singing, it left countless admirers disheartened. Even so, fans can still look forward to hearing his new tracks for a while as he wraps up existing commitments, including his upcoming feature in Shah Rukh Khan's movie ‘King’. Amidst these developments, the inaugural winner of ‘Indian Idol’, Abhijeet Sawant, has openly reflected on how his initial stardom stacked up against Arijit's journey in the music industry.
The 2005 Reality TV Landscape and Diverging Paths
Anyone who followed early singing competitions will easily recognize Abhijeet Sawant, who shot to widespread fame after winning his show in 2005. Around that exact same period, Arijit Singh was also gaining initial exposure through ‘Fame Gurukul’, a contest ultimately won by Qazi Touqeer, who later appeared on ‘Bigg Boss 20’. Back then, Abhijeet's popularity reached unprecedented heights, capturing a level of public adoration that few subsequent reality winners ever managed to replicate. Yet, as years passed, the tides turned completely, and Arijit evolved into the defining playback icon of his generation.
Abhijeet Held the Upper Hand Early On
Discussing their respective career trajectories in an interview, Abhijeet emphasized the powerful role that sheer chance plays in the entertainment business. He shared that while both artists tasted initial public attention back in 2005, their professional routes branched off in entirely opposite directions. Winning ‘Indian Idol’ netted Abhijeet a cash prize of 1 crore rupees along with an immediate contract to produce an album with the network, whereas Arijit had to rebuild his efforts from scratch. While Abhijeet instantly became a household name across the nation, Arijit struggled to secure meaningful singing breaks during those formative years.
A Decade Spent Working Behind the Scenes
Recalling those transitional years, Abhijeet noted that for at least a decade following 2005, Arijit remained completely away from the public spotlight. He spent those quiet years frequenting recording studios and collaborating closely with major music composers, not as a frontman, but operating as a music producer and programmer. Abhijeet observed that Arijit quietly returned to the fundamentals of music and restarted his professional climb from the ground up, at a time when ordinary listeners did not even know his name. Compared to Arijit's relative anonymity then, Abhijeet was undeniably the much bigger star.
Contrasting Pressures and the Turning Point
Reflecting on the distinct dynamics of that era, Abhijeet explained that the immense public pressure he faced was entirely different from the challenges Arijit navigated. By quietly putting in years of tireless studio work alongside various instrumentalists and producers, Arijit built the foundation that eventually landed him his breakthrough opportunity. Although his very first notable song was ‘Dil Sambhal Ja Zara’ from ‘Murder 2’, it was the monumental track ‘Tumhi Ho’ from ‘Aashiqui 2’ that cemented his legendary status. Abhijeet stressed that landing such a defining track is entirely a matter of destiny, noting that ‘Tumhi Ho’ single-handedly created the phenomenon known as Arijit Singh.
Perspective on Public Perception and Success
Concluding his remarks, Abhijeet pointed out a common tendency among audiences to constantly praise those at the peak while hyper-analyzing the flaws of those who achieve lesser commercial success. He remarked that every individual follows a distinct life journey and works relentlessly hard to make a living, urging people to appreciate the diverse paths artists take rather than judging them based solely on fleeting metrics of fame. Everyone is simply trying their best to navigate life and work, and they deserve the space to do so.
