Shahid Mallya blames ‘reality show’ contestants for lack of work, says he was replaced in 25 songs

After spending a decade in the music industry, singer Shahid Mallya is set for a new inning. Mallya who started with a bang with tracks like Rabba Main Toh Mar Gaya Oye to his credit slowly started singing fewer songs in the movies. “I always think of myself as a beginner. I came to the city with a lot of dreams and till now the only dream that has been fulfilled is that I got a break. Mujhe mere hissab se kaam nahi mila, mujhe meri capability ke anusar kaam nahi mila. I hope with this second decade I start my dream work,” he shares.

In the last couple of years, there are a handful of songs that Mallya is credited for. He suggests that hefty competition is what became his nemesis. “Back in the day if a singer made his debut, all the music composers would work with him. Fir kitne saare reality shows aaye. Lekin wo fir bheed itni bad gayi, ki apni pehchan banana mushkil ho gaya. Jo struggle humne kiya hai woh humne reality shows ke liye nahi kiya hai, woh kiya hai playback singer banne ke liye, long term chalne ke liye, accha kam karne ke liye, Reality show singers come and stay in the limelight for six months. People also started experimenting a lot, due to which bohot saare singers ne janam leliya. That is why everyone is not getting work because there are so many people. There are a few composers who know who will sing in their songs, rest are clueless. They just make a song and don’t even see if the voice is going with the actor, bas pass karwa lete hain. There is a lot of confusion,” Mallya laments.

“Jinhone mujhe break diya unhone ne hi mujhe replace kiya. But I still respect them. There is a lot of groupism in the industry. Even when I came to this industry I replaced Rahat Fateh Ali Khan for Rabba Main toh Marr gaya. Unse bhi wo gaana gawaya tha. But I never expected this trend to last this long. There were a few songs that I have lived with for almost two years. Even after singing those songs there used to be a fear that I might be redubbed. And when that happens, it breaks you down. Mera mental break down ho gaya tha. But then take hold of yourself and then stand up again is what matters,” he ends.