Bollywood playback singer Sonu Nigam ridiculed the demand for Pakistani singers in India. He stated it would have been good if belonged to Pakistan. He was talking on a national news channel about the offers for singers from the neighbouring country.
"Sometimes, I feel like it would be better if I were from Pakistan. At least I would get offers from India. Nowadays, singers have to pay music companies for shows," he claimed.
He further stated, "This is not done with Pakistani singers. But then why single only Indian singers out? I know all Pakistani singers. Atif Aslam is a very close friend of mine. He is never asked to pay to sing at shows, neither is Rahat Fateh Ali Khan," he said.
Sonu also criticised the practice of making remixes. "Earlier, the composers, lyricists and singers created a song. Now, the music companies have taken over that job by creating remixes," he said.
On singing less number of songs, he said, “When I announced that I will be reducing my commitments, I did not mean that I will not work with good composers. Somehow I reduced my work because composers stopped working with me. I have not sung for Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy for four years. I have not worked with Pritam for two years. The last time I sang for Vishal-Shekhar was in 'Om Shanti Om'. I feel when you are exclusive, good composers should respect that and should come to you with good compositions. But the above-mentioned composers never came to me with their compositions. It's sad but true. I haven't refused them. I declined bad songs. I had worked with AR Rahman and Salim Merchant. I don't want to sing B-grade songs,” the 45-year-old, who is also a popular TV host, was quoted as saying.