Singer Kutle Khan has responded to the backlash over Shilpa Rao’s interrupted efficiency on the Bollywood Music Mission 2026 in Mumbai, denying that he or his group had something to do with it. The incident on October 24 drew criticism after Shilpa’s microphone and stage lights had been switched off whereas she was thanking the viewers, whilst Kulte’s band started taking part in on the second stage.
In a video shared on Instagram on Tuesday, the singer defined his facet of the story, saying he was following the organisers’ directions and had no concept why Shilpa’s efficiency was reduce brief. He additionally revealed that his personal stage time had been decreased on the final minute,.
Kutle Khan speaks up concerning the BMP incident
Kutle Khan mentioned the performers had been assigned fastened slots and had been anticipated to stay to the schedule. “I want to share my perspective on what truly occurred there. All of the revered artists who had come to carry out had fastened time slots, and Shilpa’s timing was additionally fastened,” he mentioned in his video.
He maintained that he had no management over the technical preparations that led to Shilpa being silenced. “In the course of the efficiency, her microphone and the lights had been switched off. I don’t know the way that occurred, and it shouldn’t have occurred in any respect. It definitely didn’t occur from our facet. Both the competition organisers or their engineers would know what went unsuitable,” he acknowledged.
He additionally shared that his personal efficiency had been affected by a last-minute change. He mentioned he had initially been given 20 minutes on stage, however was later advised that he must end inside eight minutes. He selected to not problem the choice. “I mentioned there was no drawback as a result of I needed to comply with the directions of the competition organisers,” he defined.
He says he stopped performing whereas Shilpa Rao addressed the viewers
Kutle Khan additionally described what occurred when Shilpa got here again on stage and tried to thank the group from the primary stage. He mentioned he paused his personal efficiency so she might communicate, insisting that he had not intentionally tried to drown out her remarks. “In the midst of my efficiency, Shilpa mentioned from the opposite stage, ‘Mr. Kutle, you might be singing nicely. I want to thank the viewers.’ I paused my set to let her communicate. Whereas she was thanking the viewers, I finished performing,” he recounted.
In line with the singer, he resumed solely after receiving directions by means of his in-ear monitor. “I might hear by means of my in-ear monitor somebody telling me, ‘Mr. Kutle, begin, begin.’ So I resumed my efficiency,” he added.
The singer was additionally sad about being focused on social media over an incident he says was past his management. He careworn that he shares a detailed bond with Shilpa and didn’t need the controversy to show into a private concern between them. “Shilpa is an excellent pal of mine, like a sister. The trolling and negativity being unfold on social media proper now are very unlucky. It shouldn’t be occurring. That’s all I needed to make clear,” he mentioned.
BMP organisers apologise
Shilpa Rao carried out at BMP’s Tenth-anniversary celebrations, however her set was marred by sound points and delays. After her first microphone malfunctioned, she waited for a substitute, which additionally developed issues. Later, whereas singing Chuttamalle from Devara: Half 1, her microphone was switched off, leaving her visibly stunned. The state of affairs grew extra awkward when Kutle Khan and his band, The Kutle Khan Mission, started acting on the opposite facet of the stage whereas she was nonetheless there.
The singer later shared her disappointment on Instagram. The Nationwide Movie Award winner wrote, “Mumbai, a bit of piece of my coronary heart broke tonight. It hurts deeply to have one thing so stunning taken away from us like this. However even when the music stopped, you didn’t.”
The organisers apologised for the disruption, citing “unpredictable operational shifts” and curfew restrictions. Their assertion learn, “We deeply apologise. At BMP, our mission is at all times to ship an unparalleled reside music expertise for each our artists and their followers. We wish to handle the abrupt conclusion of Shilpa Rao’s efficiency at this weekend’s competition. Initially, we maintain Shilpa Rao within the highest regard. We deeply worth and respect her unbelievable legacy, her unparalleled artistry, and the profound impression she continues to make on the music trade. It was an absolute honour to have her on our lineuP.”
They additional defined, “Massive-scale music festivals characteristic advanced logistics and multi-artist lineups. Regardless of strict planning and coordination, reside occasions can expertise unpredictable operational shifts, together with prolonged units from earlier performances.”
Blaming delays and venue restrictions for the shortened set, the organisers added, “As a result of our festivals function underneath strict native authority tips and venue curfew laws, these compounding delays sadly compelled a untimely finish to her set. Whereas these circumstances had been totally out of our management, we deeply remorse that we couldn’t showcase her efficiency in its entirety.”
They ended by apologising to Rao, her group and the viewers. “We lengthen our sincerest apologies to Shilpa Rao, her group and most significantly, to her devoted followers who got here out to help her. We share in your disappointment and admire your understanding as we navigate the strict operational realities of reside competition manufacturing,” they wrote.
About Shilpa Rao
Shilpa Rao made her playback singing debut in 2007 with Tose Naina from Anwar, composed by Mithoon. She gained wider recognition with Khuda Jaane from Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008) and went on to ship widespread songs comparable to Ghungroo from Conflict, Bulleya from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Chaleya from Jawan. She gained a Nationwide Movie Award for Chaleya, additional cementing her place amongst Hindi cinema’s main playback singers.