Alisha Chinai Slams ‘Illegal Contracts’ as Reason for Bollywood Hiatus

Indipop and playback singer Alisha Chinai, known for iconic hits like Made in India and Kajra Re, has opened up about her long absence from Hindi film music, calling it a conscious protest against the industry’s practices.

In a recent interview, the 60-year-old artist cited a combination of professional frustration and personal challenges for her selective work over the last decade.

Reasons for Stepping Away

Alisha Chinai outlined several factors that led to her hiatus from mainstream Bollywood playback singing:

Creative Burnout: She admitted, “To be honest, I was just bored with the Bollywood music. I felt a little burnt out as an artist.” She wanted to pursue different avenues.
Industry Politics & Injustice: The singer stated she was disillusioned with the “politics going on,” including copyright issues and a lack of “fair play” for artists.
Refusal to Sign ‘Illegal’ Contracts: This was a major point of contention. Alisha stated:“We were just being made to sign contracts, which were, in my opinion, completely illegal. So, I refused to sign them, and that was another reason why people didn’t choose to call me, which is fine. It suited me fine.”
Personal Issues: She also confirmed that personal challenges required her to step away from the limelight for a long period.

Alisha’s Career Timeline

Alisha Chinai was a highly prolific voice in the 90s and 2000s, but her output significantly slowed down in the last decade.

Last Major Hit: Dil Tu Hi Bata from the film Krrish 3 (2013).
Most Recent Film Song: Zinadgi Meri Dance Dance in the film Daddy (2017).
Indipop Queen: Her non-film career cemented her status as the “Queen of Indipop.” Her 1997 album Made in India remains one of the highest-selling non-film soundtracks in Indian music history, making her a household name across Asia.