SALMAN VS ARIJIT- Sabotage/Publicity Stunt/Star System/Persecution Complex
The singer's mentor Mukesh Bhatt has texted him to know the justification of his letter addressed to Salman
The only thing that is being discussed in the industry today is Arijit Singh's open letter on Facebook to Salman Khan (Arijit aplogises, pleads with Salman to retain his song in Sultan, May 25). It was a heart rending one alright, but did Arijit really mean it or is there more to it than meets the eye? You don't need to read between the lines that the letter-writer wanted to say that Bollywood is ruled by Star System, but why has the singer woken up after two years and that too exactly on the day when Sultan's trailer was launched?
A source close to the film called up SpotboyE to say, "Arijit's letter reeks of foul play. He is simply trying to point out that if his song is not retained in the film, you know whom to blame. Isn't that accusing Salman beforehand? Isn't that an attempt to sabotage the film Sultan? Besides, how does Arijit know whether other singers have also sung the same number or not, and if their version is better or worse than his?"
Even his mentor, producer Mukesh Bhatt (who introduced Arijit's playback in Bollywood in Murder 2 and followed it up with Aashiqui 2 and Citylights which catapulted him to fame) feels that the Muskurane Ki Vajah Tum Ho singer has not done the right thing. SpotboyE has it that Mukesh sent a text message to Arijit yesterday: If you are successful, learn to live life on your own terms.
Says Mukesh, "Yes, I sent him that message. What he has done was simply not required. It was a minuscule incident which happened two years ago, now he has made it gain focal attention all over again. Why? I am so baffled."
The bitterness between the two dates back to Star Guild Awards in Feb 2014, when Salman Khan hosted the Star Guild Awards and Arijit Singh blamed Salman for making him fall asleep. In return, Salman mocked at Arijit by saying it was all thanks to his song Tum Hi Ho which got people snoozing.
Trade analyst Amod Mehra, however, attributes Arijit's letter to Star System. "The big hero always decides everything, and this is the practice in Bollywood since ages. You cannot displease a big star, he is the captain of the ship. The director is the captain of the ship only on the set. The director is like a man who says 'I am the boss of the house and I have my wife's permission to say so'. Mind you, Star System is an age-old phenomena which exists even in Hollywood."
A source (on condition of anonymity) disagrees, "Big deal. A big star guarantees you collections. What's wrong if he wants to have like-minded people in the team and certainly not those with whom he has had a history? If a team has 4 players and all 4 players think in different directions, what are the chances of their success rate even if they are the best in their respective fields?"
"And who created this history between Salman and Arijit? Wasn't it Arijit himself?" senior lyricist Sameer points out, adding, "Arijit ne pehle tevar dikhaye, toh ab maintain karna chahiye. Jab tab aapne garmi dikhayi thi, toh ab kya hua? He almost hinted to Salman 'Aap honge Salman apne ghar pe', toh phir ab kya hua? Look, Arijit has only pulled off a publicity stunt. He suddenly wants to be written and discussed about."
Is Arijit indeed feeling helpless in the industry? Has he indeed lost out on work due to Salman or is it a case of persecution complex? Salman's family friend Abhishek Dogra, who directed Dolly Ki Doli for Arbaaz, says, "Arijit is a much sought after singer. He has lost out on no work. Besides, Salman is a man with a big heart. He has launched actors and even singers, look where is Amaal Malik today."
Adds Dogra, "Frankly Arijit shouldn't have reacted that day, I was present there and I think he was wrong. Salman is a senior and he should be respected. Salman won't put a spanner in his career, he is extremely busy. Jab unko theek lagega, he will definitely forgive him.'
Asks Mukesh, "Why is Arijit behaving like a beggar? Even if Salman is holding something against him, why is Arijit sounding so helpless? He has won many accolades and has loads of money. He is behaving bankrupt when he is actually so rich. I just can't recover from what he has done."
Is Arijit giving himself too much importance? Agrees Sameer, "Arijit should stop giving himself so much importance. Gone are the days of Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar and Mohd Rafi who were indispensable. Let me say it here that Salman can sing his own songs and make them into hits. Didn't he do that with Main Hu Hero Tera?" Adds Mukesh, "If Arijit doesn't sing for me tomorrow, does it imply that the music of my films will stop clicking? Definitely not. A graveyard consists of people who once thought they were indispensable."
But Arijit sounds serious. Hasn't he gone about saying that he wants to retire with one song of Salman in his library? He is even thinking of going to Salman's house to apologise yet again. "I think Arijit has lost it. And I hope he stops this pronto. Even Salman wouldn't want him to pursue his rant," Mukesh has the last word.
P.S: Arijit has not yet replied to Mukesh.
We reproduce Arijit's letter herwith:
Image Source: Manav Manglani & facebook/ArijitSingh, , Indian showbiz and YRF
A source close to the film called up SpotboyE to say, "Arijit's letter reeks of foul play. He is simply trying to point out that if his song is not retained in the film, you know whom to blame. Isn't that accusing Salman beforehand? Isn't that an attempt to sabotage the film Sultan? Besides, how does Arijit know whether other singers have also sung the same number or not, and if their version is better or worse than his?"
Even his mentor, producer Mukesh Bhatt (who introduced Arijit's playback in Bollywood in Murder 2 and followed it up with Aashiqui 2 and Citylights which catapulted him to fame) feels that the Muskurane Ki Vajah Tum Ho singer has not done the right thing. SpotboyE has it that Mukesh sent a text message to Arijit yesterday: If you are successful, learn to live life on your own terms.
Says Mukesh, "Yes, I sent him that message. What he has done was simply not required. It was a minuscule incident which happened two years ago, now he has made it gain focal attention all over again. Why? I am so baffled."
The bitterness between the two dates back to Star Guild Awards in Feb 2014, when Salman Khan hosted the Star Guild Awards and Arijit Singh blamed Salman for making him fall asleep. In return, Salman mocked at Arijit by saying it was all thanks to his song Tum Hi Ho which got people snoozing.
Trade analyst Amod Mehra, however, attributes Arijit's letter to Star System. "The big hero always decides everything, and this is the practice in Bollywood since ages. You cannot displease a big star, he is the captain of the ship. The director is the captain of the ship only on the set. The director is like a man who says 'I am the boss of the house and I have my wife's permission to say so'. Mind you, Star System is an age-old phenomena which exists even in Hollywood."
A source (on condition of anonymity) disagrees, "Big deal. A big star guarantees you collections. What's wrong if he wants to have like-minded people in the team and certainly not those with whom he has had a history? If a team has 4 players and all 4 players think in different directions, what are the chances of their success rate even if they are the best in their respective fields?"
"And who created this history between Salman and Arijit? Wasn't it Arijit himself?" senior lyricist Sameer points out, adding, "Arijit ne pehle tevar dikhaye, toh ab maintain karna chahiye. Jab tab aapne garmi dikhayi thi, toh ab kya hua? He almost hinted to Salman 'Aap honge Salman apne ghar pe', toh phir ab kya hua? Look, Arijit has only pulled off a publicity stunt. He suddenly wants to be written and discussed about."
Is Arijit indeed feeling helpless in the industry? Has he indeed lost out on work due to Salman or is it a case of persecution complex? Salman's family friend Abhishek Dogra, who directed Dolly Ki Doli for Arbaaz, says, "Arijit is a much sought after singer. He has lost out on no work. Besides, Salman is a man with a big heart. He has launched actors and even singers, look where is Amaal Malik today."
Adds Dogra, "Frankly Arijit shouldn't have reacted that day, I was present there and I think he was wrong. Salman is a senior and he should be respected. Salman won't put a spanner in his career, he is extremely busy. Jab unko theek lagega, he will definitely forgive him.'
Asks Mukesh, "Why is Arijit behaving like a beggar? Even if Salman is holding something against him, why is Arijit sounding so helpless? He has won many accolades and has loads of money. He is behaving bankrupt when he is actually so rich. I just can't recover from what he has done."
Is Arijit giving himself too much importance? Agrees Sameer, "Arijit should stop giving himself so much importance. Gone are the days of Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar and Mohd Rafi who were indispensable. Let me say it here that Salman can sing his own songs and make them into hits. Didn't he do that with Main Hu Hero Tera?" Adds Mukesh, "If Arijit doesn't sing for me tomorrow, does it imply that the music of my films will stop clicking? Definitely not. A graveyard consists of people who once thought they were indispensable."
But Arijit sounds serious. Hasn't he gone about saying that he wants to retire with one song of Salman in his library? He is even thinking of going to Salman's house to apologise yet again. "I think Arijit has lost it. And I hope he stops this pronto. Even Salman wouldn't want him to pursue his rant," Mukesh has the last word.
P.S: Arijit has not yet replied to Mukesh.
We reproduce Arijit's letter herwith:
Image Source: Manav Manglani & facebook/ArijitSingh, , Indian showbiz and YRF
