On Day Arijit Singh Quits Playback, Salman Khan Calls Past Rift a ‘Misunderstanding’

Arijit Singh choosing to retire from playback singing has landed on a day loaded with history. The decision comes as Salman Khan finally settles long-standing rumours about a rift, calling it a misunderstanding, while their latest collaboration for Battle of Galwan plays across playlists and social media.

Speaking on Bigg Boss 19’s Weekend Ka Vaar, Salman rewrote the old story in front of a primetime audience. Addressing the gossip directly, Salman said, "Arijit aur main bahut achhe dost hai… woh misunderstanding mere side se huyi thi. Uske baad usne gaane bhi kiye mere liye. Tiger 3 mein kiya usne, aage Galwan…"

Arijit Singh Salman Khan feud and Sultan song

The first spark of tension traces back to the 2014 Star Guild Awards, when Arijit walked on stage half-asleep after nonstop shows. Host Salman joked, "So gaye the? (Were you sleeping?)" Caught off guard yet smiling, Arijit replied, "Aap logon ne sula diya yaar (You guys made me fall asleep)," which many later claimed did not go down well.

What looked like light banter soon became raw fuel for whispers in the industry. Over time, stories spread that Arijit had upset Salman, and that songs recorded by Arijit were quietly replaced in projects linked to Salman. The film Sultan and its love track Jag Ghoomeya turned into the prime example people repeatedly cited.

By 2016, the tension spilled online when Arijit posted a long, emotional note addressed to Salman, asking for another chance. The message read: "I never insulted you… I tried so many times to apologize. Please don't remove the song I sang for Sultan. Let me retire with that song in my library." The post vanished later, but screenshots had already circulated.

Arijit Singh Salman Khan retirement, Bigg Boss 19 and Battle of Galwan

Salman’s fresh statement now directly counters the narrative built since that deleted post. By saying the misunderstanding started on Salman's side, not Arijit’s, the host framed the matter as closed. The acknowledgement also explained why Arijit’s voice has been heard again in recent Salman-led releases without any visible hesitation.

Arijit has lent vocals to multiple projects for Salman after the supposed fallout, including a track in Tiger 3. Salman’s Bigg Boss shout-out to "Galwan" pointed towards the new film Battle of Galwan, where Arijit sings the patriotic number Maatrubhoomi. The song has been promoted as a strong emotional anthem focused on sacrifice and national pride.

Recent collaborations between Arijit Singh and Salman Khan can be mapped through their shared film music.

Amid this patch-up story, Arijit’s retirement announcement hit fans hard, especially younger listeners who grew up with Tum Hi Ho and countless heartbreak tracks. Many online users even questioned if the retirement post was real, with comments alleging possible hacking and one user calling it the "worst post seen of 2026".

The singer has clarified that playback work will stop, not music itself. Arijit plans to step away from film recording schedules yet continue creating songs, likely through independent releases, live gigs, and other formats. For Bollywood, however, this still marks the end of a phase where Arijit’s voice dominated albums across genres.