In July, Sonu Nigam attended an event where he was asked about his views on the protests over the NEET paper leak. However, the singer declined to comment, sparking a debate on social media over whether he should have addressed the issue. Now, in an interview with Bombay Times, Sonu has explained his decision, saying it was less about avoiding a difficult question and more about choosing when and what he should speak about.
Sonu said that after spending more than three decades in Mumbai, he had learnt a basic etiquette for press conferences: sticking to the agenda of the occasion and avoiding unrelated topics. He said, “Talking politics when you have come to talk about your tribute to your Guru Pankaj Udhas is disrespectful in my eyes. And I would very politely expect the press and media gathered to maintain the same decorum. I have also given a word to my father to not comment on just anything which I’m not knowledgeable about.”
The singer added, “I don’t have social media on my phone. My life is about music and Bhakti. I have taken enough stands throughout my life and have been instrumental in bringing many mammoth changes in the system. From my outcry against loudspeakers on religious places to the right to royalty for performers, I have belled the cat alone bravely. Now let others take up new courageous stands and see what changes they can bring through their steadfastness. Let them become real warriors and not just social media lampoons.”
Several celebrities, including Huma Qureshi, Sonakshi Sinha, Salman Khan and Alia Bhatt, had expressed support for students protesting at Jantar Mantar over the NEET paper leak and demanding the resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. On July 25, Dharmendra Pradhan resigned.
Sonu most recently lent his voice to the song Tabassum from Batwara 1947. Composed by AR Rahman and written by Javed Akhtar, the song is picturised on Ali Fazal, Isha Sandhir, Karan Deol and Kanikka Kapur. Helmed by Rajkumar Santoshi, the film also stars Sunny Deol, Shabana Azmi, Preity Zinta and others in key roles. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on August 14.
Meanwhile, Sonu is set to perform live at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre on August 30 as part of his Revolution Tour.
Riya Sharma is a content producer at Hindustan Times who lives and breathes entertainment. If there’s gossip making noise in Bollywood or a reality show moment breaking the internet, chances are she’s already writing about it. She loves digging out the juiciest stories, spotting viral pegs and turning it into easy-to-read content. A journalism graduate from IP University, Riya began her career as a social media executive, where she learned the art of grabbing attention in a scroll-heavy world. But her love for showbiz soon pulled her into entertainment journalism, because for her, it’s always been entertainment, entertainment and more entertainment. An artist at heart, Riya has a deep passion for acting, music and dance, which shapes how she watches and writes about films and reality shows. She loves sharing her views and reviews, especially when something excites, surprises or completely disappoints her. A hardcore reality show fan, Riya enjoys tracking every twist, task and meltdown, and breaking them down for readers who can’t get enough of high-voltage drama. Movies are equally close to her heart, whether it’s a big theatrical release or a binge-worthy OTT series, she’s always watching, and analysing what’s worth the time. She loves talking to celebrities, asking questions that go beyond the usual. When she’s not working, she’s either glued to a new web series, hunting for underrated thrillers on OTT platforms, or rewatching iconic Bollywood moments.Read More
