iWorld
Achha Chalta Hoon: How Arijit Singh’s quiet goodbye broke the internet
MUMBAI: The news didn’t come via a grand press conference or a glitzy televised special. In true Arijit fashion, low key and deeply personal, the announcement arrived as a quiet series of social media posts on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
“I am happy to announce that I am not gonna be taking any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on,” he wrote. “I am calling it off. It was a wonderful journey.”
Just like that, the man who soundtracked every monsoon drive, every first love, and every 2 AM heartbreak for over a decade decided he had sung his last note for the silver screen.
Why now? The search for the small artist
For fans, the timing feels impossible. Arijit is currently at his commercial and critical peak. So, why walk away? The singer was refreshingly candid about his reasons:
• Creative burnout: Arijit admitted that he simply “got bored” with the repetitive nature of playback singing. He confessed to changing song arrangements during live shows just to keep himself interested.
• The small artist dream: He expressed a deep desire to shed the “brand” of being a superstar and return to being a “small little artist.” He wants to go back to his roots, Hindustani Classical Music.
• Courage to change: “Finally, I have gathered the right courage,” he shared. He isn’t quitting music; he’s quitting the industry to rediscover the joy of making music without the pressure of a box office hit.
The Industry in shock: A chorus of tributes
The reaction from legends, peers, and major brands was instantaneous and emotional, reflecting a sense of collective heartbreak across the nation.
MS Dhoni shared a rare, moving tribute, writing: End of an era, but your voice will live forever in our hearts. Thank you for every emotion, every song, every memory. Legend always.
Badshah simply called him “Sadiyon mein ek” (One in centuries).
Amaal Mallik noted that film music would never be the same, comparing the exit to a legend walking into the sunset without asking for a standing ovation.
Shreya Ghoshal supported his move, writing that it was “time to soar higher” and that an artist of his genius cannot be boxed into a set formula.
Even the brands that soundtrack our lives joined the mourning. Saregama posted: When you said “vida karo”, this isn’t what we were expecting. Balaji Wafers added a touch of modern grief, stating: Channa Mereya just got too real, he ate and left no crumbs.
Zepto posted, “Who is cutting onions?”, while JioSaavn noted, “Pal bhar thahre jao just became a little heavier.” YouTube India promised he would “always remain in our playlist.”
Fans have flooded the internet with the lyrics of “Channa Mereya,” the song that has now become the unofficial anthem of his departure.
What’s Next? (The silver lining)
Before you delete your streaming apps in despair, there is a glimmer of hope. Arijit clarified that he isn’t disappearing entirely:
• Pending projects: He will finish his current commitments. Fans can still look forward to his final playback releases throughout 2026, including songs in Vishal Bhardwaj’s O’Romeo and the patriotic track “Maatrubhumi” from Salman Khan’s Battle of Galwan.
• Independent music: He plans to release his own music on his own terms. We are likely moving away from “Arijit the Playback Singer” and toward “Arijit the Independent Composer.”
• Classical exploration: He intends to dedicate his time to learning and performing Indian Classical Music, a lifelong passion that the busy schedule of Bollywood rarely allowed him to pursue.
The bottom line
Arijit Singh’s retirement marks the end of an era. He didn’t just sing songs; he curated the feelings of a billion people. By walking away now, he ensures his legacy remains untarnished, leaving us all wanting more, which is perhaps the greatest gift an artist can give.
He may be leaving the playback booth, but as long as it rains and as long as hearts break, his voice will never truly be gone.
Gaming
Bluestone FY26 revenue rises to Rs 2,436 crore, turns profitable
Q4 profit at Rs 31 crore, full-year profit at Rs 13 crore vs loss last year.
MUMBAI: From sparkle to numbers, Bluestone seems to be polishing more than just jewellery this year. Bluestone Jewellery and Lifestyle Limited reported a sharp turnaround in FY26, with revenue from operations rising to Rs 2,436 crore (Rs 24,364 million), up from Rs 1,770 crore (Rs 17,700 million) in FY25. The company posted a full-year profit of Rs 13 crore (Rs 131.79 million), a significant recovery from a loss of Rs 222 crore (Rs 2,218 million) a year ago.
Total income for the year stood at Rs 2,486 crore (Rs 24,860 million), compared to Rs 1,830 crore (Rs 18,300 million) in the previous year, reflecting both topline growth and improved operational momentum.
The March quarter, however, told a more nuanced story. Revenue from operations came in at Rs 681 crore (Rs 6,814 million), down from Rs 748 crore (Rs 7,486 million) in the year-ago period, though higher than Rs 461 crore (Rs 4,613 million) in the preceding December quarter. Net profit for Q4 stood at Rs 31 crore (Rs 311.81 million), compared to Rs 68 crore (Rs 688 million) a year earlier, but a clear reversal from a loss of Rs 51 crore (Rs 512 million) in Q3.
Margins were shaped by higher input costs, with raw material consumption rising to Rs 2,204 crore (Rs 22,043 million) for the full year, alongside employee benefit expenses of Rs 282 crore (Rs 2,824 million) and finance costs of Rs 210 crore (Rs 2,104 million). Other expenses came in at Rs 371 crore (Rs 3,715 million), slightly lower than Rs 393 crore (Rs 3,938 million) in FY25.
On the balance sheet front, total assets expanded to Rs 4,961 crore (Rs 49,610 million) as of March 31, 2026, from Rs 3,532 crore (Rs 35,322 million) a year earlier, driven largely by a surge in inventories to Rs 2,672 crore (Rs 26,718 million). Equity also strengthened to Rs 1,803 crore (Rs 18,030 million), nearly doubling from Rs 911 crore (Rs 9,107 million).
Cash flows reflected the cost of growth. Net cash used in operating activities stood at Rs 199 crore (Rs 1,990 million), while investing activities saw an outflow of Rs 239 crore (Rs 2,392 million). Financing activities, however, generated Rs 497 crore (Rs 4,971 million), helping the company end the year with cash and cash equivalents of Rs 108 crore (Rs 1,075 million), up from Rs 49 crore (Rs 487 million).
Earnings per share for FY26 came in at Rs 1.10, a sharp improvement from a negative Rs 79.74 in FY25, underlining the shift from losses to profitability.
With revenue scaling up, costs still glittering on the higher side, and profitability finally back in the black, BlueStone’s FY26 performance suggests a business mid-transition less about shine alone, and more about sustaining it.
