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Shaan Says Bollywood 'Dates' Singers, Not Stars as Playback Tradition Fades

He says label‑held rights keep him from redoing his own songs.

Overview

  • In a Sept. 18 Hindustan Times interview, Shaan said singers like him and Sonu Nigam are tagged as '90s artists while actors escape similar labels, citing Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan as an example.
  • He asserted that the classic playback practice of modulating a singer's voice to fit a specific actor has largely disappeared.
  • He added that singers today often are not told which actor a recording is for, which reduces efforts to match a voice to on‑screen persona.
  • He explained that recordings are owned by composers and ultimately labels, which prevents him from releasing remixes or reprises of his own hits without authorization.
  • He noted that Instagram and YouTube are introducing his past songs to new listeners, and he is set to perform a Kishore Kumar tribute at Mumbai's NMACC on Sept. 19.