Amaal Mallik Opens Up On Arijit Singh’s Return For ‘Awarapan 2’: ‘He Is Still Coming In And Working’

Music composer Amaal Mallik has opened up about collaborating with Arijit Singh on the title track of ‘Awarapan 2’, clarifying that the singer’s return to the project should not be viewed as a comeback to film music.

Arijit Singh had previously announced his decision to step away from playback singing in films. However, he has lent his voice to the ‘Awarapan 2’ title track, marking a reunion with Mallik. The film, starring Emraan Hashmi, is scheduled to release on August 14, 2026.

Speaking about Singh’s decision, Mallik said that the singer chose to step away from film music on his own. According to the composer, those who had worked closely with Singh had already sensed his growing disinterest in the format well before the announcement.

Mallik also stressed that the industry’s tendency to associate a hit with a particular singer has changed. He noted that simply having a prominent voice such as Singh’s does not guarantee the success of a song, adding that the quality of the composition and the chemistry between the singer, composer and lyricist ultimately determine whether a track connects with listeners.

How Arijit Singh Came on Board

Mallik revealed that the song was originally in his own voice and had remained that way for nearly a year. As part of their usual creative process, Mallik shared several tracks with Singh, who eventually responded positively to this particular composition.

The singer recorded the song around three to four months before the film’s release. Mallik said Singh initially questioned why he needed to sing the track when Mallik had already sung it well, but eventually agreed after being persuaded by the composer.

Mallik further clarified that the track was not an old recording being released post Singh’s decision to step away from playback singing. Instead, it was a recent recording that Singh chose to undertake because he connected with the song.

Addressing speculation around Singh’s so-called “return” or “retirement”, Mallik said that the singer has stepped away from film music, not music itself. He added that Singh could still choose to record a song in the future if a composition inspires him.

The collaboration brings together Singh and Mallik for ‘Yeh Awarapan’, the title track of ‘Awarapan 2’, with lyrics by Rashmi-Virag.