‘You’ll fall in love and never return’: Sonu Nigam reveals the funny reason his father stopped him from performing in Mumbai

Mumbai: Playback singer Sonu Nigam has shared a humorous story from the early days of his career, revealing that his father once refused to let him perform in Mumbai because he feared the young singer would get distracted by love and eventually settle in the city.

Speaking on filmmaker and trade analyst Komal Nahta’s podcast Game Changers, Sonu reflected on his journey to becoming one of India’s most celebrated playback singers and spoke about the strict discipline his father instilled in him.

According to Sonu, his father believed that performing regularly in Mumbai could divert his attention from his main goal of establishing himself in the film industry.

Recalling the conversation, Sonu said his father warned him that because he was good-looking and talented, he might fall in love with a singer or dancer, become close to musicians and colleagues, and ultimately decide to stay in Mumbai permanently instead of remaining focused on building his career.

His father advised him that his only purpose in Mumbai should be to look for opportunities in the music industry, while continuing to stay based in Delhi. Sonu added that he respected his father’s guidance and never questioned the decision.

“I was an obedient child. I respected him and didn’t rebel,” the singer shared.

Struggles before success

Sonu also looked back on the financial challenges he and his father faced after moving to Mumbai in 1991.

He revealed that before the era of television singing reality shows, finding opportunities was extremely difficult. Whenever their savings ran out after spending a few months in Mumbai, the father-son duo would return to Delhi to perform and earn money before coming back to continue chasing Sonu’s dream of becoming a playback singer.

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Describing his father as a strict yet highly knowledgeable person, Sonu credited him for keeping him disciplined during the most challenging phase of his career.

Recently went viral during surgery

The singer was recently in the news after a video surfaced online showing him singing Mohammed Rafi’s classic “Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki” while undergoing a minor surgical procedure.

After the clip went viral, Sonu clarified that he was fully conscious during the operation because it was performed under local anaesthesia to remove a recurring growth on his left ring finger.

A legendary musical journey

Over the past three decades, Sonu Nigam has become one of India’s most respected playback singers, lending his voice to numerous blockbuster songs across Hindi and regional cinema.

Some of his most iconic tracks include Accha Sila Diya, Sandese Aate Hain, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Suraj Hua Maddham, Main Agar Kahoon, and Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin, songs that continue to remain favourites among music lovers.

His latest revelation has given fans a glimpse into the disciplined upbringing and sacrifices that shaped one of the country’s finest musical talents.