Sep 20, 2026 3:44pm IST
Raghav Chaitanya Keeps It Cool About Churning Out Hindi Hits: ‘I Do Not Think About How Famous A Song Will Be’ (EXCLUSIVE)
"Spotlight" Season 4 continues the music IP’s tradition of teaming up established hitmakers with rising independent acts. And this season’s roster unites headliners like Sanju Rathod, Raghav Chaitanya, Aditya Rikhari and Ninja with emerging artists like Juilee Joglekar, Mehtab Ali Niazi, Shifaqat Ali and Ravator. Variety India caught up with Raghav Chaitanya for a quick chat to talk about his journey so far, even as he readies for an upcoming collaboration with Mehtab Ali Niazi for ‘Spotlight’ Season 4.
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Chaitanya, best known for hits like “Mashooqa” (“Cocktail 2”) and “Hua Main” (“Animal”), is one of Hindi cinema’s rising talents, with a distinct bent towards acing romantic ballads. With Arijit Singh adopting a selective approach to film playback, he is being spoken of, as a potential voice in the reckoning to bridge the gap. He avers, “It just feels nice that people are saying that. I just want to be humble and want to keep working and singing nice songs and be true to my heart; not think about the streams, not think about how famous the song will be. That is how I go about it.”
That focused approach is paying off with top composers trusting his raw talent. In an exclusive interview with Variety India, Sachin-Jigar revealed that they kept his original scratch vocal straight through to the final release, a rare occurrence in Hindi playback music. On working with the composer duo, Raghav says, “They are sweethearts… some of the best people to work with in Hindi cinema; very chill guys. With them, I do not sing for two hours; I just chill, and it doesn’t feel like work. I love working with them. My thing is, I just want to deliver. I do not think about a song going in my voice or not.”
After 11 years of persistence in the industry, having composers trust his instincts directly in the recording booth is a milestone he values deeply. "I have been in Mumbai for 11 years now. It is finally happening. I really treasure it, and I really value it and I want to keep working on it," he shares.
When it comes to his signature effortless vulnerability, Raghav reveals that his emotional delivery is completely intuitive rather than calculated. "I have never calculated and sung; it is just me. I approach every song differently. Since my childhood, I have heard a lot of artists. I have grown up listening to Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Nirvana, Pink Floyd, AC/DC. In my school and college days, I literally used to copy James Hetfield [of Metallica]. I do not do it now, but you can hear the influence and the nuance of my voice. I do not calculate it; it is all the music that I have heard,” he explains.
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