“Wish I were from Pakistan” says Sonu Nigam: Here is why!

Sonu Nigam said "they don’t do the same with Pakistani singers. But then why single only Indian singers out? Atif Aslam is a very close friend of mine. He is never asked to pay to sing at shows, neither is Rahat Fateh Ali Khan,"

While talking at a summit, Sonu said that Indian singer nowadays often has to pay music companies to perform at shows and that is not the case with Pakistani singers.

NEW DELHI: Singer Sonu Nigam is angry over the way Bollywood treats its singers and claimed that Pakistani singers are more popular in India these days than Indian singers. The singer blamed his plight on the growing popularity of Pakistani singers. Nigam said “Sometimes, I feel as if it would have been better if I were from Pakistan. At least I would get offers from India.” While talking at a summit, Sonu said that Indian singer nowadays often has to pay music companies to perform at shows and that is not the case with Pakistani singers. News18 reported that Nigam said "They don’t do the same with Pakistani singers. But then why single only Indian singers out? Atif Aslam is a very close friend of mine. He is never asked to pay to sing at shows, neither is Rahat Fateh Ali Khan," Nigam later clarified his statement on Facebook and wrote "Sometimes in an attempt to make headlines catchy and sensational, some journalists miss the real content. Yesterday's Aajtak Summit happened so amazing, and look what have they reduced it to... My point about being better off being born in Pakistan was about the music companies in India asking Indian singers to pay 40-50% of their concerts remunerations to them, and only then they'll work with those artistes.. but they don't ask the same from the singers from abroad, namely Pakistan..! This was the important point I made... and these guys...! Changed it to "I would have been better off born in Pakistan I'd have work come my way.. " This is not the first time Nigam has made a statement such as this. Last year Nigam, in a series of tweets, had described the loud sermons from the loudspeakers as hooliganism. This led to a 'fatwa' being issued against him by a Kolkata-based cleric. The tweet evoked angry reactions, with Samajwadi Party's Abu Azmi saying, "Such irresponsible comments have been made in the past also. I am unable to understand what kind of people they are. I would like to know how does azaan, which otherwise purifies you on hearing, bother her. May be her sleep is more important."