From reality show rejection to Bollywood: Arijit Singh’s journey to the top

If you think winning every contest or always coming first is the key to success, think again. Birthday boy Arijit Singh, one of India’s most celebrated and beloved singers, turned 38 today, April 25, and has hundreds of celebrated songs to his name. But his rise to fame wasn’t easy or full of quick success.

Today, with millions of fans across the globe, Arijit is one of the best the music industry has to offer. Would you believe it if we told you that Arijit did not end up winning the first reality show he participated in? He did not even reach the top five! Here is his surprising and inspiring story.

Arijit Singh and his humble beginnings

Born on April 25, 1987, in the small town of Jiaganj in West Bengal, Arijit showed an early interest in music, learning classical music and later experimenting with various genres. His big break, however, came when he participated in the 2005 season of the popular reality show ‘Fame Gurukul’ when he was just 18.

Arijit was full of talent but despite his vocal prowess, he struggled to reach the top 5. His journey on ‘Fame Gurukul’ ended with him finishing in sixth place, far from the coveted top spot.

While most would have seen this as a failure, Arijit viewed it as just another step in his journey.

During the course of the show, Arijit caught the attention of filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, one of the biggest names in the Indian film industry. Bhansali, impressed by Arijit's unique voice and depth, offered him a chance to record a song for his film ‘Saawariya.’ Arijit recorded ‘Yoon Shabnami’, but his version was never released.

However, that did not deter Arijit from his goals, and he went on to participate in the show ‘10 Ke 10 Le Gaye Dil.’ The show was a musical face-off between contestants of ‘Fame Gurukul’ and ‘Indian Idol’.

Arijit won the competition and took home a prize of ₹10 lakh. This allowed him to set up his own music studio, a pivotal moment in his career. It was from here that he started producing his own music, refining his craft, and paving his way to success.

His Bollywood journey

Arijit Singh made his playback singing debut in 2011 with the song ‘Phir Mohabbat’ from ‘Murder 2’. However, it was in 2013 that he shot to fame overnight with the chart-topping track ‘Tum Hi Ho’ from ‘Aashiqui 2.’

Today, Arijit is one of the most in-demand singers in Bollywood, with a string of hits to his name, including ‘Dilliwali Girlfriend’, ‘Kabira’, ‘Samjhawan’, ‘Gerua’, ‘Channa Mereya’, ‘Nashe Si Chadh Gayi’, and ‘Zaalima’. Over and above that, though, he is proof that wins and losses don’t define one’s overall success in life.