Veteran playback singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya recently voiced his frustration after Dua Lipa’s performance in Mumbai went viral. Lipa’s tribute to Shah Rukh Khan, featuring a mashup of her hit song “Levitating” and the iconic Bollywood track “Woh Ladki Jo”, has sparked significant attention. However, Bhattacharya, the original voice behind the song, feels his contribution was unfairly overlooked.
Abhijeet Bhattacharya Criticizes Dua Lipa’s Performance
Abhijeet Bhattacharya expressed his dissatisfaction with how Dua Lipa’s tribute was handled. He believes that Lipa was unaware of the song’s creators and simply followed the script. Bhattacharya, along with composer Anu Malik and lyricist Javed Akhtar, was not properly credited for the song. Bhattacharya explained that after hearing his song at the concert, many fans reached out to acknowledge his work. Yet, he was disheartened to see no credit given when the tribute was shared online.
“My phone kept ringing with people calling it my song,” Bhattacharya said. “But seeing hashtags like ‘tribute’ trending without crediting the creators was disappointing.”
Fans Are ‘Mosquitoes’ in a Battle Between Two Lions
Bhattacharya went further, comparing the situation to a “battle between two lions”—himself and Shah Rukh Khan—and calling the fans “mosquitoes.” He criticized the fans who praised the performance without acknowledging the original creators of the song. Bhattacharya stressed that Lipa’s performance was just her dancing to his music, nothing more.
Bhattacharya’s Ongoing Rift with Shah Rukh Khan
This controversy has also brought attention to Bhattacharya’s long-standing rift with Shah Rukh Khan. The singer previously stopped singing for Khan after feeling ignored despite contributing to many of Khan’s iconic tracks. However, Bhattacharya clarified that he doesn’t hold any grudges against the actor. He acknowledged Khan’s immense success but made it clear that he remains on his own path in the industry.
The controversy over Dua Lipa’s tribute and Abhijeet Bhattacharya’s frustration highlights an important issue of fair recognition in the music industry. While the viral mashup gained widespread attention, Bhattacharya’s concerns serve as a reminder that creators deserve proper credit for their work.
