Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Abhijeet Sawant Reflects on Early Fame and Arijit Singh’s Rise
Abhijeet Sawant and Arijit Singh became known through reality shows in 2005.
Sawant won the first season of Indian Idol and became famous very quickly.
He said Arijit was not well known at that time.
Arijit spent about 10 years working in music studios instead of being in the spotlight.
He worked as a producer and programmer with musicians and composers.
His song “Dil Sambhal Ja Zara” came before his biggest breakthrough.
“Tum Hi Ho” from Aashiqui 2 made him a major star.
Sawant said hard work and destiny both played a role in Arijit’s journey.
He also said people should remember that every artist follows a different path.
Abhijeet Sawant won the first season of Indian Idol in 2005, receiving Rs 1 crore and an album deal.
Sawant said he was much more popular than Arijit Singh after their respective reality-show appearances.
He said Singh spent about 10 years working behind the scenes as a producer and programmer.
Sawant described “Tum Hi Ho” from Aashiqui 2 as Singh’s breakthrough and attributed its success partly to destiny.
Singh has retired from playback singing but is completing earlier commitments, including work for Shah Rukh Khan’s King.
- Who
- Singer Abhijeet Sawant discussed his early popularity compared with singer Arijit Singh.
- What
- Sawant described their different career paths, Singh’s behind-the-scenes work, and his later breakthrough with “Tum Hi Ho.”
- When
- The comparison concerns their rise to fame in 2005; Sawant made the comments in a recent interview.
- Where
- Sawant spoke to Filmygyan.
- Why
- He said the two singers had different journeys and urged audiences not to judge artists only by their visible success.
- Reality-show year
- Abhijeet Sawant and Arijit Singh became associated with reality television in 2005.
- Sawant’s win
- Sawant won the first season of Indian Idol.
- Prize and deal
- Sawant said he received Rs 1 crore and an album deal with Sony.
- Singh’s early work
- Sawant said Singh spent about 10 years working in studios as a producer and programmer.
- Earlier song
- Singh’s first cited song was “Dil Sambhal Ja Zara” from Murder 2.
- Breakthrough
- “Tum Hi Ho” from Aashiqui 2 turned Singh into a major playback star, according to Sawant.
- Current commitments
- Singh has announced his retirement from playback singing but is completing earlier commitments, including Shah Rukh Khan’s King.
