Last year, Aditya Narayan announced that he would quit hosting shows and move on to doing other things after fulfilling all his commitments towards reality shows. Aditya is currently hosting Indian Idol 13 and says that he is certain about his decision to quit hosting for a while.

He says, “I am not trying to break free from hosting, that’s not how I look at it. I’ve been hosting shows for 17 years now, have given it my 100 per cent and thoroughly enjoyed it. But God has blessed me with other talents too, and everybody knows that primarily I am a musician. Therefore, the current season of Indian Idol will be my final one for now. It is not a permanent retirement, but I wish to move away from hosting reality shows for some time.”

Aditya started singing when he was a child with his father Udit Narayan in Bollywood films. Ask him if he will focus on playback singing now and he says, “Times are different now. When we were growing up, every film used to be a musical and had six to seven songs— the entire soundtrack used to be sung by two-three singers with music by a composer duo. Now, there are fewer songs in a film and there are hundreds of singers waiting for an opportunity to sing for a film. There is clearly a disparity between the amount of talent versus opportunities available.”

He further adds, “Most music labels have their own artistes who are signed for a period of two to five years and are paid a certain percentage. Obviously they will be given priority. As for me, I won’t be happy working under a contract for years. I wish to pick up different opportunities, so that I am not boxed in and can create my own path.”

Talking about his plans ahead, he says, “I have become a music video producer, have an album lined up, have lent my voice to a Hollywood animation film and have sung for a big Bollywood film. So, life has organically moved towards a new direction.”

Sharing his thoughts about musicians taking to online platforms these days, Aditya says, “Today, independent music is at par with film music and I believe in making my own content and music. I am open to singing for films and just a call away for anyone who wants to collaborate or offer me an opportunity, but it’s not a priority now. Online platforms have discovered so many new musicians and the music industry has evolved and is headed in a new direction.”