AP Dhillon reveals why he didn't make a song for Bollywood

Global Punjabi music sensation AP Dhillon has opened up about why he has yet to lend his voice to a Bollywood film – and his reasons go way beyond creative choice. AP Dhillon opens up about why he didn’t make music for Bollywood. In a candid reflection, AP Dhillon revealed in a Punjabi interview on the SMTV YouTube channel that his decision stems from a desire to protect and empower Punjabi musicians in an industry that, he believes, often sidelines their rights. He said, “I will tell you why I have never done a Bollywood song. It is only because I care about my people. It is not about Bollywood. I want to set an example for my people. I told them that I am happy to do a song for them, but they should first change the way they do business. For example, when a Punjabi artist does a song for the Bollywood, they film everything right, they mix everything right for the Bollywood… the song and the artist for their own gain. I put my foot down and said no.” AP Dhillon, who rose to international fame with hits like Brown Munde and Excuses, shared that he has been approached by big film names in the past – but refused to compromise on ownership. “I don’t want to take names, but some big actors have said that they want my music in their movie. I made the song; we even had the scene in mind. But they want to own the song; they want the rights to the song; they want to exploit it. It’s not correct. So, I told them until they change it, I can’t do a song with them, and then I have to do it too, and then I won’t want to do it. to to do it.” The singer-producer added that the Punjabi and Hindi film industry should find a more balanced way to work together. “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. But the only problem is that the 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 say no, then the Bollywood producers of us just go to the next four artists or there are only three big artists.” With his firm stance, AP Dhillon continues to champion creative independence – not just for himself, but for the new generation of Punjabi musicians who look up to him. His refusal to bow to Bollywood norms has sparked conversation across the music industry about fair ownership, artistic integrity and the changing power dynamics between regional and mainstream music.