Playback singer Shilpa Rao’s performance at the Bollywood Music Project in Mumbai was abruptly cut short on Saturday, October 24, when her microphone was switched off due to scheduling delays.
Videos from the event show Rao attempting to address and thank her audience before being rushed off stage, with the next act, The Kutle Khan Project, beginning while she was still present.
Her husband, Ritesh Krishnan, has since expressed his anger and disappointment over the incident on Instagram. He described feeling ‘angry, disappointed, and helpless’ witnessing his wife’s treatment. Krishnan emphasized Rao’s deep connection with her fans, stating, ‘to stand there last night, watching my wife being treated with such disrespect, was something I will never forget!’
Shilpa Rao herself had earlier shared her heartbreak on Instagram, thanking fans for their support despite the premature end to her set. She wrote, ‘Mumbai, a little piece of my heart broke tonight. It hurts deeply to have something so beautiful taken away from us like this.’
Known for hits like ‘Bulleya,’ ‘Ghungroo,’ and ‘Chaleya,’ and a National Film Award recipient, the incident has sparked debate among fans and industry insiders about artist treatment at live events.