After Arijit Singh, Is Pritam Also Quitting Bollywood Music? Composer’s Emotional Note Sparks Speculation

One of Bollywood’s most celebrated music composers, Pritam Chakraborty, has left fans emotional and confused after sharing a deeply personal note on social media that hinted at stepping away from mainstream Bollywood music.

The composer, who turned 55 on June 14, took to Instagram to thank fans for their birthday wishes. However, it was not the gratitude message but his reflective words about “new journeys” and living life differently that grabbed everyone’s attention.

Sharing a series of black-and-white photographs, Pritam wrote,
“Today, I have decided to gift myself a few years to live life differently. To catch up on what I’ve missed. Time to set off on new journeys, which have been kept on the back burner for long. Mainstream is a great ride. But I’ve always been more curious about the roads unexplored.”

The emotional message instantly sparked speculation online, with many fans wondering whether the composer is preparing to retire from Bollywood music — or at least take a long break from the industry.

The development comes just months after singer Arijit Singh reportedly spoke about stepping away from playback singing for a period, making fans fear that Bollywood may temporarily lose one of its most iconic musical duos.

Social media quickly flooded with emotional reactions. One fan commented, “First Arijit, now Pritam… Bollywood music will never feel the same.” Another wrote, “Maybe this is the beginning of a new indie music era for Pritam da.”

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time the composer has spoken about taking a break from the hectic world of film music. In earlier interviews, Pritam had admitted that he was exhausted from constant deadlines, pressure and back-to-back project commitments.

Last year, during promotions for Metro… In Dino, the composer revealed that he wanted to reduce his involvement in commercial cinema to spend more time with his children, who were preparing to move abroad for higher studies.

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In another candid interview earlier this year, Pritam openly admitted that he had been thinking about retirement for quite some time. He explained how a wellness retreat helped him reconnect with himself and realise how badly he needed rest.

“It felt like my body was hugging me for taking a break and not doing anything,” he had said.

The composer also revealed that he has already started reducing his workload and requested exits from some unfinished projects. However, he confirmed that he still has several commitments lined up, including projects connected to filmmakers like Anurag Basu, Kabir Khan, and Vikramaditya Motwane.

Despite the retirement chatter, industry insiders believe Pritam may simply be planning a creative pause rather than a permanent goodbye. Over the last two decades, the composer has delivered some of Bollywood’s biggest musical blockbusters, creating unforgettable songs for films like Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Barfi!, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Life in a… Metro, and many more.

His collaboration with Arijit Singh in particular has defined an entire generation of Bollywood music lovers.

For now, fans are hoping that Pritam’s “new journey” eventually leads him back to music — even if in a different form.