Oct 25, 2026 2:44pm IST
Bollywood Music Project Concert Debacle: From Shilpa Rao’s Mic Being Cut Off Mid-Performance to Cine Workers Association Condemning the Disrespect
The Bollywood Music Project concert at Jio World Gardens in Mumbai on October 24, 2026, had quite the makings of a masala Hindi movie. A series of delays, overshot sets and sound glitches reportedly marred the audience experience of what was otherwise touted to be a fantastic lineup of Indian musical artists: From legends like Hariharan and Roopkumar, and Sunali Rathod and 90s nostalgia drivers like Neeraj Shridhar, Euphoria and Anu Malik to young artists like Bombay Bandook, Anjana Padmanabhan and Junaid Ahmed and headliners Shilpa Rao and Himesh Reshammiya.
While delays and tech glitches are part and parcel of live events, it was the abrupt cutting off of Shilpa Rao’s set and the truncated time for Himesh Reshammiya’s performance that sparked audience ire. Rao even posted a message for her fans on her Instagram, sharing in their heartbreak, while several concertgoers also posted about their shock and dissatisfaction with the organisers on social media.
Here’s decoding everything that went down at the Bollywood Music Project (BMP) and what might have caused it.
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The delay that began it all
The Bollywood Music Project has two stages: A main stage with mainstream acts that last 30-45 minutes and the headliner, who usually has a 90-minute set. And a secondary stage where indie bands and artists perform 15-minute sets. According to the original schedule shared by the BMP official Instagram page, a total of 17 acts were scheduled for the concert. The gates were set to open at 1 pm, with the performances starting at 2 pm, with Xogi on the second stage.
However, at 1.37 pm, an official update was sent by District to ticket holders that the revised time for the gates to open was now 1.45 pm, suggesting that this was already a delayed start to the event. Following this, every act ran late by 15-20 minutes or more. And while some acts on the second stage were cut short to accommodate the major acts on the main stage, a few artists did overshoot their time, adamant to finish their set, causing a domino effect.
Ultimately, Shilpa Rao’s 30-minute set was abruptly truncated to 15 minutes, and Himesh Reshammiya’s 90-minute act was barely an hour-long, only because he kept performing beyond the cutoff of 10 pm.
In another update sent at 2 pm, patrons were informed that due to excise-related restrictions in Maharashtra, alcohol would not be available at the venue.
What happened with Shilpa Rao at the Bollywood Music Project
The National-Award-winning singer was the second-biggest act in the lineup, slated to perform between 7.45 pm and 8:15 pm as the third-to-last act of the night. However, owing to the delays, she was only able to start her set at 8.30 pm, kicking it off with “Tose Naina” from "Anwar". However, her mic lost sound not once but twice in the middle of the performance.
Even as she continued to perform a couple more songs, at around the 15-minute mark, the main stage was completely blacked out, and her sound was cut off. Simultaneously, the music began playing from the second stage as Kutle Khan Project began their performance.
Rao remained on her stage, as she and a visibly (and audibly) stunned audience were trying to figure out what had just happened. After Khan’s first song, when Rao tried to take a minute to apologise to the audience that was chanting for her return, she was once again cut off, with Khan starting his next song.
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Concertgoers’ reactions
Later in the night, Rao posted a heartbroken note on her Instagram that garnered massive support from fans.
Meanwhile, BMP also put out an official apology post to Rao on their account, citing “unpredictable operational shifts” and “extended sets from earlier performances” as reasons for being forced to curtail her set.
However, many fans took to social media to call out Bollywood Music Project for the “insult” to Shilpa, who was one of only two main female performers in the lineup. Comments asking #JusticeForShilpaRao were posted under the posts, with fans criticizing not the shortened set but how it was carried out, since none of the evening's other major performers were cut off the same way. Considering this was the 10th edition of the Bollywood Music Project, the audience claims to expect better.
The AICWA condemns the insult to Shilpa Rao
AICWA Condemns Disrespect Shown to National Award-Winning Singer Shilpa Rao at the Bollywood Music Project 10th Edition Mumbai, 25 October 2026 The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) strongly condemns the treatment of National Award-winning singer Shilpa Rao during her live performance at the 10th edition of the Bollywood Music Project (BMP) in Mumbai on 24 October 2026. Shilpa Rao was performing live on stage when her microphone and lights were forcibly switched off by the organisers. She remained on stage for some time. After her mic was switched off, another performer, Kutle Khan of the Kutle Khan Project, was allowed to sing in her place, and he began singing midway through her address. Forcibly cutting a performing artist's sound and lighting mid-show, and then handing the stage to another act, is completely unacceptable. Shilpa Rao is a National Award winner and one of the most respected voices in Indian music. Her songs have been loved by audiences across the country, including "Tose Naina" (Anwar), "Khuda Jaane" (Bachna Ae Haseeno), "Bulleya" (Ae Dil Hai Mushkil), "Chaleya" (Jawan) and "Ghungroo" (War). To treat an artist of her stature this way, on the stage of an anniversary edition, is a direct insult to her dignity and to the honour she has earned. When the mic and lights were switched off, the audience stood by Shilpa Rao and kept calling out her name, lifting her spirits. In a heartfelt note on Instagram, she wrote that a little piece of her heart broke that night, that the audience's love was felt even after the music stopped, and that she will come back to Mumbai. AICWA salutes the audience for standing with a true artist. AICWA's position: •AICWA condemns, in the harshest terms, the humiliation the Bollywood Music Project inflicted on National Award-winning singer Shilpa Rao while she was performing live on stage. Such behaviour towards an artist will never be tolerated. •AICWA stands firmly with Shilpa Rao. If she chooses to take any action against the Bollywood Music Project, AICWA will support her through every legal avenue. •If any artist is mistreated in the future, AICWA will take strict action against those responsible, as per the law. The humiliation of an artist will not be tolerated. •We call on the organisers to respect artists. If this behaviour continues, artists will refuse to perform at their events. •Artists are invited to showcase their art. Paying for a performance does not mean owning the performer. Anyone who believes otherwise is mistaken, and that attitude is wrong. •An artist wants respect, not humiliation. No artist should ever face such treatment on a live stage. | #ShilpaRao | #AICWA | #AllIndianCineWorkersAssociation | #Singer | #BollywoodMusicProject | | @shilparao11 | @bmp_online | @ANI | @PTI_News | @ians_india |
— All Indian Cine Workers Association (@aicwaofficial) October 25, 2026
The All-Indian Cine Workers Association has put out a statement condemning BMP’s disrespect to the singer. As tweeted from their official X handle, “AICWA condemns, in the harshest terms, the humiliation the Bollywood Music Project inflicted on National Award-winning singer Shilpa Rao while she was performing live on stage. Such behaviour towards an artist will never be tolerated. AICWA stands firmly with Shilpa Rao. If she chooses to take any action against the Bollywood Music Project, AICWA will support her through every legal avenue.”
It further added, “An artist wants respect, not humiliation. No artist should ever face such treatment on a live stage.” The AICWA’s words do ring true.
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