Singer Kutle Khan has responded to the backlash over Shilpa Rao ’s interrupted performance at the Bollywood Music Project 2026 in Mumbai, denying that he or his team had anything to do with it. The incident on October 24 drew criticism after Shilpa’s microphone and stage lights were switched off while she was thanking the audience, even as Kulte’s band began playing on the second stage.
He said he had originally been given 20 minutes on stage, but was later told that he would have to finish within eight minutes. Shilpa Rao made her playback singing debut in 2007 with Tose Naina from Anwar, composed by Mithoon. She gained wider recognition with Khuda Jaane from Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008) and went on to deliver popular songs such as Ghungroo from War, Bulleya from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Chaleya from Jawan.
He also revealed that his own stage time had been reduced at the last minute,. She won a National Film Award for Chaleya, further cementing her place among Hindi cinema’s leading playback singers. He also shared that his own performance had been affected by a last-minute change. He chose not to challenge the decision. “I could hear through my in-ear monitor someone telling me, ‘Mr. Kutle, start, start. So I resumed my performance,” he added. He stressed that he shares a close bond with Shilpa and did not want the controversy to turn into a personal issue between them. “Shilpa is a very good friend of mine, like a sister. The trolling and negativity being spread on social media right now are very unfortunate. It should not be happening. The singer later shared her disappointment on Instagram. The National Film Award winner wrote, “Mumbai, a little piece of my heart broke tonight. It hurts deeply to have something so beautiful taken away from us like this. But even when the music stopped, you did not.
“I said there was no problem because I had to follow the instructions of the festival organisers,” he explained. He resumed only after receiving instructions through his in-ear monitor, according to the singer. The singer was also unhappy about being targeted on social media over an incident he says was beyond his control. That’s all I wanted to clarify,” he said.
In a video shared on Instagram on Tuesday, the singer explained his side of the story, saying he was following the organisers’ instructions and had no idea why Shilpa’s performance was cut short.
Their statement read, “We deeply apologise. At BMP, our mission is always to deliver an unparalleled live music experience for both our artists and their fans. We want to address the abrupt conclusion of Shilpa Rao’s performance at this weekend’s festival. First and foremost, we hold Shilpa Rao in the highest regard. We deeply value and respect her incredible legacy, her unparalleled artistry, and the profound impact she continues to make on the music industry. It was an absolute honour to have her on our lineuP.”
The organisers apologised for the disruption, citing “unpredictable operational shifts” and curfew restrictions.
