News Desk |
Indian singer Sonu Nigam has clarified his statement of wanting to be from Pakistan after the singer confronted backlash for his controversial statement.
Sonu Nigam in his recent interview took a jibe at Pakistani singers getting ample working opportunities in the Indian media industry. The singer sarcastically commented that, had he hailed from Pakistan he would have been better off. He stated, “Sometimes, I feel as if it would have been better if I were from Pakistan. At least I would get offers from India.”
Soon the singer’s statement caused a whirlwind of criticism on Indian media that prompted the singer to offer a clarification on his statement. In his following statement, he expressed remorse over the journalist publishing his statement out of context.
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“My point about being better off being born in Pakistan was about the music companies in India asking Indian singers to pay 40-50% of their concerts remunerations to them, and only then they’ll work with those artists. But they don’t ask the same from the singers from abroad, namely Pakistan..! This was the important point I made,” he stated.
“These guys changed it to ‘I would have been better off born in Pakistan I’d have work come my way. What do I say. Pathetic,” he added.
Sonu Nigam’s ironic statement is the manifestation of collective discontentment of local singers towards Pakistani singer working in the Indian film industry. Sonu Nigam whose career in the Indian film industry spanned for over two decades is unhappy with the Pakistani singers locking a greater share of work in Bollywood. He has been amongst the proponent of the ban imposed on Pakistani actors and celebrities working in Indian film industry.
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Over the time, Pakistani singers like Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Shafqat Amanat Ali, and Atif Aslam– in particular who is crowned for lending voice to some smashing records in the recent years– have established their stronghold as the finest playback singers in the Indian film industry that has overwhelmingly eroded the presence of well-established names like Sonu Nigam, Kumar Sanu, and Abhijeet.
These singers are often heard whining about the Indian film producers increased inclination towards Pakistani singers. Several Indian film producers, however, have failed to comply with the ban imposed and continue to work with Pakistani singers.