SRK's couldn't even say sorry once: Singer Abhijeet blames actor's ego for fallout
Abhijeet Bhattacharya has spoken again about his long-running fallout with Shah Rukh Khan. He said the rift was rooted in ego, self-respect, and the absence of an apology from the superstar.
Singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya has once again spoken about his strained relationship with Shah Rukh Khan, years after the two parted ways professionally. The singer, whose voice was closely linked to SRK’s on-screen persona in the 1990s and early 2000s, said their fallout stemmed from “ego” and “self-respect.” He also admitted that the absence of an apology from the superstar left him deeply hurt.
Abhijeet's fallout with SRK
Speaking on a podcast with Nidhi Vasandani, Abhijeet said, “Shah Rukh Khan’s ego and my self-respect are the reasons for the rift. Shah Rukh is younger than me, yet when Farah Khan’s husband abused him so much, Shah Rukh still hugged him. Aamir Khan even named a dog after Shah Rukh, and the two of them still became friends.”
He added that what affected him the most was the lack of acknowledgement after what he considered a mistake. “What hurt me was that you couldn’t even say sorry once. You are such a big person, yet no apology,” he said, noting that the experience had a lasting emotional impact on him.
The Chaand Taare singer also clarified that his decision to distance himself from the actor's projects was not driven by arrogance but by personal disappointment. He explained that at one point, he stopped singing for other actors as well, as he strongly associated his voice with King Khan’s on-screen image and felt deeply invested in that collaboration.
Looking back at the past, Abhijeet Bhattacharya said he often felt overlooked despite being around SRK, adding that a simple gesture from the actor could have eased the tension between them.
Addressing claims that people invoke SRK’s name for publicity, the singer dismissed the notion, saying he had no need to seek attention that way. He emphasised that his voice had played a key role in shaping several memorable songs associated with the actor’s on-screen image.
SRK and Abhijeet's collaborations
For years, Abhijeet was widely regarded as one of the most recognisable playback voices for Shah Rukh Khan, lending his voice to several hit tracks, including songs from films like Baadshah and Main Hoon Na.
However, their professional collaboration reportedly came to an end after Billu (2009). Over the years, Abhijeet has consistently maintained that the fallout stemmed from a lack of proper recognition and credit, particularly during Main Hoon Na (2004), which he said affected his self-respect.