Sunidhi Chauhan, one of the industry’s most popular singers, recently opened up about the presence of the music mafia in Bollywood. Appearing on Raj Shamani’s latest podcast episode, she discussed the malpractices she has personally encountered. Sunidhi shared her perspective on how songs are often created in advance and later chosen for films, highlighting the challenges singers face in the industry.
Unpaid Performances
When asked about the existence of a music mafia, Sunidhi acknowledged that lobbying is pervasive and inescapable. She admitted that singers often go unpaid after recording songs. Sunidhi explained, “When you reach a certain stature, they have to pay you because you can demand payment upfront. However, if you choose to sing first without worrying about money, it’s your choice, and you can’t complain about not getting paid.”
Balancing Ego and Payment
Sunidhi further elaborated, “I haven’t been paid for many movies even today. It’s not that they don’t offer payment; sometimes, I choose not to take it because I feel the amount offered isn’t worth it. I prefer to help without making them realize it. I state my price, record the song, and then say I don’t want the payment to avoid hurting anybody’s ego.” She also emphasized the importance of communication, stating that creators should inform singers if their performance is being replaced, as it often comes as a surprise.
