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AP Dhillon reveals why he refuses Bollywood collaborations, criticises top Punjabi artistes for giving in to unfair deals, and explains how he’s setting an example for others.
AP Dhillon has opened up about rejecting multiple Bollywood offers, saying the industry exploits Punjabi artists by taking complete ownership of their songs and rights.
Global Punjabi music sensation AP Dhillon has finally revealed why he has never collaborated with Bollywood — despite receiving multiple offers from top producers and A-list stars. In a candid conversation on the SMTV YouTube channel, the Brown Munde hitmaker said that he refuses to be part of an industry that, according to him, “exploits artists and their art for profit.”
The singer-producer shared that he once came close to making his Bollywood debut, having finalized a track for a film starring two of the industry’s biggest names. However, the deal collapsed at the last minute after he refused to surrender the song’s ownership rights.
“I’ll tell you why I’ve never done a Bollywood song yet — it’s because I care for my people,” AP said. “It’s not about Bollywood, it’s about setting an example for my community. I told them I’m happy to do a song, but they must first change how they do business. When a Punjabi artist gives a song to a Bollywood film, the producer owns everything — the track, the remix rights, all of it. They exploit the song and the artist for their own profit. I put my foot down and said no.”
“They Want To Own The Song, The Rights, Everything”
AP revealed that the incident that changed his perspective involved two major stars. Without taking names, he said, “A couple of huge actors wanted my music in their movie. I made the song; we even had the scene planned out. But they wanted to own the song, the rights, everything. That’s not correct. So I told them, until they change this, I can’t work with them.”
He explained that his refusal wasn’t about ego but about creating a precedent for the next generation of Punjabi artists, “If I do it, then the junior artists will have to do it too. And I don’t want them to go through that. I don’t want a young artist to lose their source of income by selling their hit song. I don’t want them to be exploited.”
“Other A-Listers Are Still Giving Songs”
The singer also expressed disappointment toward some of his peers for continuing to collaborate with Bollywood despite what he called “unfair practices.”
“The only problem is that other A-listers are still giving songs. Until they draw a line in the sand and say no, we won’t make progress. Because if I refuse, Bollywood producers will just go to the next big Punjabi artist. There are only three or four of us anyway,” he said.
While AP didn’t name anyone, his remarks seemed to reference Karan Aujla and Diljit Dosanjh, both of whom have lent their music to Hindi films in the past.
“I’ve Burned Bridges”
This isn’t the first time the Excuses singer has spoken about rejecting Bollywood. In a previous chat with creator Ranveer Allahbadia, AP revealed that his decisions have cost him industry relationships, “I was offered movies — even acting roles — and songs two years ago. I’ve been rejecting them and burning my bridges from one to another, just because I don’t want to be like the other sheep,” he said.
Despite the tension, AP believes the Punjabi and Hindi industries can coexist — but only through fair collaboration, “Both industries must work hand-in-hand,” he said. “I want to see artists and producers uplift each other — not one side taking advantage of the other.”
AP Dhillon’s Next Chapter
After conquering global charts with tracks like Brown Munde, Insane, and Summer High, AP Dhillon is now preparing to take his electrifying stage presence across India. The singer will embark on an eight-city tour in December 2025, bringing his signature sound and unapologetic attitude to fans nationwide.
For AP, the message remains clear — integrity first, fame later, “If you want to change the system,” he said, “you can’t be part of what’s broken.”
Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he’s breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, he’s always on the hun…Read More
Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he’s breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, he’s always on the hun… Read More
October 18, 2025, 21:00 IST
