Aditya Narayan recently found himself in an unpleasant situation. The singer-TV host, who has crooned chartbusters including Tattad Tattad (Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela; 2013) and Ji Huzoor (Shamshera; 2022), reveals he recorded for a “very big song”, but was replaced last-minute.

“I had sung a very big song this year, but my rendition was replaced at the last minute. This particular time, I was very upset,” he tells us, without naming anybody in particular. “Maybe I will talk about it more when some time has passed,” he adds.

Dubbing it the “biggest song” of his career thus far, Aditya adds, “It is out and a big hit. At the last moment, the makers — and not the music composer — decided to go the conventional way and pick another singer. I was looking forward to the song... But they replaced me with the best, so it’s not a bad feeling really. I am just happy that these composers are calling me. I’m very particular about the songs I associate with.”

This isn’t the first time an artiste has spoken about being replaced without notice. Aditya clarifies there’s never a contract in place which ensures that the song featuring a particular singer will be the final version — recordings are done in good faith.

“It happens to the best, it’s not a new thing. My father (Udit Narayan, singer) saw this in his time, too. The thing with Bollywood is, you are not the creator of the song. In our films, it isn’t just one person taking the call — actors, producers, everyone is involved. Time time ki baat hoti hai,” he reasons.

Doesn’t this lead to ill relations with the people who replaced you? “It could,” says the 35-year-old, adding, “I am absolutely okay with it now. I was upset then, for four or five days, when the song was playing everywhere. I knew I had done an equally good job [as the one who sang it eventually]. But at the same time, I thought, ‘Kahaan maine itne gaane gaaye honge jo doosron ke liye honge’.”