AP Dhillon, the global Punjabi music star behind hits like ‘Brown Munde’, has finally lifted the lid on why he has never collaborated with Bollywood, despite receiving countless offers from top producers, directors, and even A-list actors. Dhillon recently revealed that his decision comes down to one thing, standing up for his people and refusing to be part of an industry that, in his words, “exploits” artists for profit.
Why has AP Dhillon not worked in Bollywood yet?
In a chat on the SMTV YouTube channel, he said, “I’ll tell you why I’ve never done a Bollywood song yet, it’s because I care for my people. 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.”
AP Dhillon rejects Bollywood songs over unfair deals
AP Dhillon revealed that he was approached by several major Bollywood actors who wanted to feature his music in their films. However, when it came to the ownership of the song, he refused to compromise. He further added, “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.”
AP Dhillon protects young Punjabi music artists
AP Dhillon made it clear that his refusal was not just for himself but also for the younger generation of Punjabi artists trying to make their mark in the industry. He explained, “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.”
AP Dhillon seeks fair partnership between industries
“Both industries must work hand-in-hand. I want to see artists and producers uplift each other, not one side taking advantage of the other,” he said. Despite his criticism of Bollywood’s business practices, Dhillon believes that both the Punjabi and Hindi music industries can work together, but only when there is mutual respect and fair treatment.
