Recently, AP Dhillon opened up about why he has been staying away from Bollywood music. He revealed that he has turned down multiple offers to contribute songs to films. In a candid conversation on a podcast, the artist explained that he has no interest in “selling his music” to the film industry. Instead, he is focused on releasing his own individual albums, staying true to his identity as an independent artist.
Dhillon said, “I don’t want to be like other sheep, selling my music.” He admitted that working with Bollywood films can bring him much-needed exposure and financial gains through increased streams and marketing support, but it doesn’t help him in the long run. From a business perspective, it makes sense,” he said, noting that film songs often come with higher budgets and push the artist to a larger audience. “But I don’t want that to be my legacy. I want to set an example for budding artists that you don’t have to conform to the traditional route.
In his interview, the Dil Nu singer was quick to point out he wishes to be a role model for upcoming artists, especially those looking into maintaining artistic value. According to him, he finds it more sensible to stand by his art though it meant forgoing the commercial benefits coming his way for working with film music. “What example would I set for others if I just followed the same path? The goal isn’t to just make a song for a movie and ride on its success. The bigger goal is to build something meaningful, something that can inspire future artists.”
Dhillon also shared that turning down offers to be part of movies, even to appear in them, has not been easy. “I’ve been rejecting movie offers for two years, even if it meant burning some bridges,” he revealed. Despite the challenges, Dhillon says he remains committed to his vision. “The fact that Punjabi music has done so well without Bollywood’s promotional push is proof that artists can succeed on their own terms,” he says. “At one point, the top 10 songs were all Punjabi. That’s a huge example that you don’t need anyone else to push your music.”
In the end, Dhillon’s stance shows an ongoing movement in the music industry whereby some independent artists prefer authenticity over commercial gain. Ultimately, it proves that one can perform well without compromising his artistic personality.
