“I am calling it off, it was a wonderful journey,” said Arijit Singh on Tuesday, announcing that he will not be taking up any new assignments as a playback singer, a decision that sent shockwaves across the industry and his fan base alike.

In a message shared on his social media pages, Singh said he has decided to step away from playback singing, a move that comes at the peak of his career as one of the most popular and indemand voices in Hindi cinema. “Hello, Happy New Year to all. I want to thank you all for giving me so much love all these years as listeners. I am happy to announce that I am not going to be taking any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on. I am calling it off. It was a wonderful journey,” he wrote.

The 38-year-old, however, clarified that he would continue to make music independently and complete existing commitments. “God has been really kind to me. I am a fan of good music and in future will be learning more and do more on my own as a small little artist. Thanks again for all your support. I still must finish some pending commitments, will finish them. So you might get some releases this year. Just to be clear that I won't stop making music,” he added.

The announcement was met with disbelief. “Too soon sir, can't be real,” wrote one user. Another said, “This cannot be true.”

Singh's rise in the Indian music industry has been nothing short of meteoric. He started out as a contestant on reality show “Fame Gurukul” in 2005 and made his playback debut in 2011 with “Phir Mohabbat” from the Emraan Hashmi-starrer Murder 2.

He broke into the big league with the soulful hit “Tum Hi Ho” from “Aashiqui 2” in 2013. The success of the song made him a household name. After that, Singh quickly became the voice of many moods, be it love, heartbreak or happiness. He went on to deliver a string of chartbusters such as “Channa Mereya”, “Agar Tum Saath Ho”, “Raabta”, “Kesariya”, “Gerua”, “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” and “Chaleya”. Over the years, he has lent his voice to nearly all of Hindi cinema's leading stars – from superstars Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan to actors like Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh.

Singh recorded songs in multiple Indian languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Marathi, and collaborated with leading composers and filmmakers. His work earned him numerous Filmfare Awards, including multiple Best Male Playback Singer honours. In July, Singh edged past global pop stars Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran to emerge the most followed artist on music streaming platform Spotify with 151 million followers.

She purrs. She preens. She stealthily walks around the white marbled floor, stretching lazily before snuggling back into sweet slumber. The light-eyed, feline beauty stares at me curiously, and then quickly turns away while batting her lovely lashes. She's a perfect diva, no less than her gorgeous owner Jacqueline Fernandez. Yes, I am talking about Mew Mew, Jackie's darlin' pet cat, who joins us for this interview (I heard she skipped her grooming session to be here). She sits pretty with us on the couch, eyes closed, but all ears. Jacqueline's life, on the other hand, is a far stretch from this. The actress is left with time only for catnaps in between her packed year ahead.

She says, “It's been such an amazing journey that I can't complain. In the beginning it was a struggle, I didn't know anyone in the industry and my first two films didn't do well. I wanted to pursue a career in acting but I didn't realise that Bollywood would be my calling. I came here and saw Katrina (Kaif), a foreigner who was doing so well, and she learnt Hindi, too. It was encouraging.“ “This was a new world for me, but after Murder 2 there was no looking back. I have a lot to thank Mohit Suri and the Bhatts (Mahesh and Mukesh),“ adds the actress.

There was no mentor to begin with and that in an industry that sets the cat amongst the pigeons. She quickly responds, “In my early days here everyone was a stranger to me, and there was no one to protect me or give any advice. It was difficult and there was a language barrier, too. I had decided that my last shot in Bollywood would be Murder 2, and if that didn't work I had planned to move on from India. Now, I love this film industry. I am so grateful to people like Salman Khan, Sonam, Sajid Nadiadwala and Sujoy Ghosh, who I know is always there for me. Well, it's the 'S' effect in my life, all of them have been instrumental in being where I am today.“ She adds that apart from being her support system, they are her toughest critics, too. Jacqueline says, “Salman is blatantly honest, so is Sajid. He will tell me, 'You look terrible, or this wasn't as good.' But they will also tell me how to better myself. Sonam calls a spade a spade, but she gives me compliments galore, too. We are each other's cheerleaders. I have faced criticism and been a part of movies that haven't done well. The ones who give up never see stardom, you've to hang in there. From one film a year in the past, I have four films releasing this year with some of the most amazing actors - Akshay Kumar in Housefull 3, Varun Dhawan and John Abhraham in Dishoom and Tiger Shroff in A Flying Jatt. It happened so fast that it's an unbelievable feeling.“

Talking about her BFF Sonam, they are in the same space. Competing for the same films, maybe? Do they keep her claws sharpened to stave off competition? Jackie answers straight up, “Sonam and I are competitive people, but we are not insecure.“ She pauses and adds, “Sonam is very confident of what she wants and what she is, which is what makes her so secure. She lives in her own space and in her own world, and I do the same. I am so focused on what I want that I don't focus on what other actresses are doing. Yes, we're chasing the same directors and the same movies, but at the same time you can't do every single movie that comes your way. I truly believe that you get what you deserve. I can show an interest in a certain role, but I would never hound anyone for a role. I would never want to be a part of a movie where I feel that someone was forced to take me.“

There were rumours about Sonam trying to play matchmaker between her cousin Arjun Kapoor and Jacqueline. Well, I am being the curious cat here, but I can't help ask. She breaks into a loud laugh, “Sonam never tried to set me up with Arjun, it was one of those lovely rumours. Sonam was one of the first people I met in the industry and from childhood she knows everyone here. So naturally, she introduced me to all of them. She has introduced me to Arjun and Varun, too. We are a group of friends now, and when these articles come out its really funny. We wonder which idiot opened his mouth, and did something silly or dumb. The good thing about having friends in the industry is that we also know what is going on in reality, so Arjun and I still joke about it. We say, 'Oh, we just heard we broke up!' Clarifying rumours with the person concerned is the most important thing, the rest don't count. Luckily, I have that equation with most of them to do that. Right now, the only love of my life is Mew Mew, and she's ignoring me.“

By now, Mew Mew has crawled cosily into Jackie's lap. A few minutes later, with little bit of TLC, she's back to snooze. And we are back chatting. From an absolute stranger here to a Bollywood star. Has it hit her, yet? She's quick to say, “Not at all! At times I don't even realise it. In my interviews when I get asked about stardom, or when I see a fan gathering, is when I realise that something is different. Salman tells me, 'You've got to believe that you're a star and act like that.' But it's weird, for some reason I still feel like this Sri Lankan girl from Bahrain who's come here to work.“

Pressures of stardom aren't easy and not everyone can handle it. Recently , the tragic case of the suicide of a TV actress (Pratuysha Banerjee) made headlines. It's disturbing, isn't it? “Yes, the pressure can be very detrimental. There is so much more to life than just being an actor. It's so sad when someone ends their life for it. It's so not worth it. I agree that it is an extremely tough job because the whole world expects something of you, and unfortunately, a lot of people don't realise what it is from the inside. Actors are human beings, too, and being an actor is a full-time job. It is about keeping a smile on your face even when you're at your saddest, otherwise you will be criticised and written about for it. So, please don't judge what's going on in the inside.Only our families, friends and people from our industry know,“ expresses the actress.

So, what's her inspiration? She replies, “Every time I watch someone's dedication, I get inspired. Like Tiger, who sniffs food but won't touch a morsel. Varun who will give 100 takes if he has to and Akshay who will kill himself to make the audience crack up in a comedy like Housefull 3. Even Sonam's commitment is inspiring. I have learnt a lot from the way Kangana performs. She started from nowhere; she didn't have it easy, and there was a lot going against her. She pulled through, and she's so free in front of the camera. Eventually, I want to be like that. There is a reason why these people are called icons. They move us and inspire us.

Jacqueline is a quick learner. She has lapped up the ways of the industry, and she's no more a stranger in wonderland. And if she falls from the heights of stardom, even for a little bit, she knows how to land on her feet. And climb again. Much like her Mew Mew.