Arijit Singh’s journey into the Indian music industry began in 2005, when his mentor, Rajendra Prasad Hazari, encouraged him to participate in the reality show Fame Gurukul. At 18, Singh entered the competition to assess his standing among peers. Although he finished sixth, the experience provided valuable exposure. During the show, filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali recognized Singh’s talent and had him record “Yun Shabnami” for the film Saawariya. However, the song was ultimately not included in the final cut.
Following Fame Gurukul, Singh participated in another reality show, 10 Ke 10 Le Gaye Dil, which he won. He invested the prize money of ₹1 million to establish his own recording studio. Relocating to Mumbai in 2006, he began freelancing as a music producer and composer, creating music for advertisements, news channels, and radio stations. During this period, Singh collaborated with prominent music directors such as Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, Vishal–Shekhar, Mithoon, Monty Sharma, and Pritam. His work involved supervising vocals and chorus sections, and he gradually took on more responsibilities in music production and programming.
Singh’s early career was marked by perseverance and a commitment to honing his craft behind the scenes. His collaborations with established composers allowed him to develop a deep understanding of the music industry, setting the stage for his eventual emergence as a leading playback singer in Bollywood.
