Abhijeet Bhattacharya throws shade at AR Rahman’s ‘unsystematic’ working style: ‘Recording at 3:33 am in the name of creativity…’

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As a seasoned veteran of Bollywood playback singing with over 6,000 songs under my belt across more than 1,000 films, I have seen it all! But my collaboration with AR Rahman, the maestro himself, remains a unique experience that left me scratching my head.

I remember vividly the day we were supposed to work together on Ae Nazneen Suno Na for Dil Hi Dil Mein. I was in high demand, receiving calls from top composers like Anu Malik, Anand-Milind, and Jatin-Lalit. Yet, here I was, waiting at a hotel to meet the one and only AR Rahman. Little did I know that this meeting would turn into an adventure of its own.

I couldn’t help but be surprised when he summoned me to the studio at 2 am! I was asleep, after all. But being the professional that I am, I decided to head to the studio in the morning. However, upon arrival, the maestro himself was nowhere to be found. Instead, his assistant took charge and insisted I sing despite my chattering teeth from the air conditioning.

I was taken aback by Rahman’s irregular working hours, as I am accustomed to a more systematic approach. I couldn’t comprehend why creativity had to mean recording at 3:33 am! Despite the unusual circumstances and a commercially flopped film, I must admit that the song was a hit thanks to Rahman’s genius.

I repeatedly asked for him, but his whereabouts remained elusive. In the end, I had prior commitments and couldn’t wait any longer. But let me tell you, an artist’s stature isn’t defined by such situations. It was a one-time collaboration, and I wouldn’t mind another chance to work with the maestro, as long as he sticks to a more predictable schedule – or at least gives me a heads up before summoning me at 2 am!

On a lighter note, I sometimes joke that AR Rahman must have been working on a secret project during those late-night hours, and that’s why he was absent when I arrived. Who knows? Maybe he was composing the next Bollywood blockbuster while the rest of us were asleep!

Abhijeet Bhattacharya, famous for tunes like “Zara Sa Jhoom Loon Mein” and “Main Koi Aisa Geet”, recently discussed his partnership with AR Rahman. They teamed up on “Ae Nazneen Suno Na”, but Abhijeet was taken aback by Rahman’s practice of working at unusual times. He confessed that he didn’t fully grasp this unique approach to artistic expression.

During a chat with Bollywood Thikana, Abhijeet Bhattacharya disclosed the cause of his sole partnership with AR Rahman. He detailed that during that period, he was in great demand, frequently receiving calls from prominent composers such as Anu Malik, Anand-Milind, and Jatin-Lalit. Overbooked with dubbing appointments, Abhijeet arranged a meeting with Rahman at a hotel, but instead found himself waiting there.

Initially, the performer had planned to record the following day, but unexpectedly, he was contacted by the studio late at night. Caught off guard, he said he was asleep and intended to visit the studio in the morning. However, upon arriving, A.R. Rahman wasn’t present. The artist had shared that he couldn’t stand waiting any longer and proposed recording early in the morning, but circumstances led him to receive a call asking for his immediate presence at the studio instead.

He noted that AR didn’t adhere to standard work schedules and expressed, “They aren’t accustomed to working within set hours. I, on the other hand, prefer a structured approach to my work. If you suggest we record at 3:33 am in the name of creativity, it doesn’t make sense to me.

Abhijeet mentioned that upon his arrival at the studio, it was Rahman’s assistant who was in control. Even though he was battling a cold due to the air-conditioning, the assistant persisted and made him perform. He reminisced about collaborating on a film song which ultimately turned out to be a financial failure, but he still attributed its success to Rahman.

Bhattacharya underscored the point that an artist’s standing doesn’t hinge on circumstances like these, and although he was told to be patient, he had previous obligations that prevented him from lingering any longer due to lack of a definite reply to his repeated inquiries about the individual.

Simultaneously, Abhijeet Bhattacharya, a popular playback singer in Bollywood, has sung over 6,000 songs across more than 1,000 films. Notably, he lent his voice to the song “Ae Nazneen Suno Na” for AR Rahman’s composition in the film Dil Hi Dil Mein, starring Kunal Singh and Sonali Bendre.

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2025-01-03 14:24