- By Sidhi Agarwall
- Mon, 09 Feb 2026 08:31 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Just days after sending shockwaves through the Indian music industry with the announcement of his retirement from playback singing, Arijit Singh made a surprise and deeply moving return to the stage. On Sunday, 8 February 2026, the celebrated vocalist performed live in his home state at Kolkata’s Netaji Indoor Stadium, proving that while his Bollywood era may be ending, his musical journey is far from over.
The appearance marked Arijit’s first public performance since his January 27 social media post, in which he confirmed he would no longer be taking on new film assignments. The concert was a prestigious collaboration featuring sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar and renowned percussionist Bickram Ghosh, offering fans a glimpse into the singer's new artistic direction.
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The evening was a significant departure from the high-energy Bollywood sets fans are accustomed to. Arijit appeared visibly moved by the reception, admitting to the crowd, "I am very nervous. Thank you for having me." The performance focused on a blend of classical and contemporary styles. Social media has been flooded with viral clips of the event, with fans expressing relief and joy at seeing the ‘King of Hearts’ back in his element.
Meanwhile, Arijit Singh’s decision to quit playback singing at the height of his career remains a major talking point. Having started his journey in 2005 on Fame Gurukul, he became the defining voice of a generation with hits like Tum Hi Ho, Channa Mereya, and Kesariya. In his retirement message, he stated, "Hello, Happy New Year to all. I want to thank you all for giving me so much love all these years as listeners. I am happy to announce that I am not gonna be taking any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on. I am calling it off. It was a wonderful journey."
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While he will still be heard in upcoming projects like Vishal Bhardwaj’s O Romeo, this Kolkata concert confirms that Arijit Singh is ready to embrace a new phase of his career.