Our Bureau
Mumbai
Singer Arijit Singh’s surprise announcement that he is retiring from playback singing has not only stunned the music industry but also triggered a wave of social‑media jokes centred on former India captain MS Dhoni, whose IPL career continues despite persistent retirement speculation. The 38‑year‑old National Award‑winning vocalist declared on Tuesday that he would no longer take on new film assignments, citing boredom and a desire to step away from the structured world of Bollywood music, even as he insists he will keep creating music independently.
Singh, who rose to fame with the 2013 hit Aashiqui 2 after a 2010 playback debut in Telugu cinema, has spent roughly 15 years as one of Bollywood’s most in‑demand voices, with a vast catalogue of chart‑topping romantic and mass numbers. His decision to “call it quits” on new film projects has prompted tributes from fans and colleagues, as well as industry concern about the void his exit could leave in mainstream Hindi cinema.
On X, however, the dominant reaction has been humorous comparisons between Singh’s early‑career retirement and Dhoni’s refusal to hang up his gloves at 44. Posts such as “Didn’t expect Arijit Singh to retire even before MS Dhoni” and “Arijit Singh retires before MS Dhoni” have trended widely, highlighting how the cricket legend’s continued presence in the IPL, where he remains a key finisher and leadership figure for Chennai Super Kings, feels almost timeless by contrast.
