Shreya Ghoshal has never shied away from owning her catalogue, but on March 4, 2026, the singer struck a particularly candid note while revisiting one of her most talked about hits, Chikni Chameli. After facing online backlash over her earlier comments about not wanting to sing “raunchy” songs today, Ghoshal has now clarified her stance, saying she is not embarrassed by the track, but she has become more mindful about what she chooses to record now.
The singer addressed the conversation in a recent podcast appearance, where she spoke about how a song’s popularity can make it inescapable for an artiste, long after the recording is done.
The Latest Update
In her chat with Raj Shamani, Ghoshal revealed that after Chikni Chameli, she was offered multiple songs that felt objectifying, and she turned them down. She recalled a composer friend pitching lyrics that she found overtly objectifying and said she refused because even thinking about those words made her blush.
Speaking specifically about Chikni Chameli, Ghoshal said, “That song is not just a fun number; there’s a lot of artistry in it. There were toned-down versions too. The one that finally appeared in the film was more subtle than the original drafts, though still suggestive. At that time, I didn’t always understand what I was singing. I wasn’t mature enough to fully grasp the meaning of certain lines.”
She also explained why her thinking has evolved, pointing out that hit songs come with a lifetime of performances, sometimes in front of children. When Shamani brought up the trolling she faced for discussing objectification while still singing the track live, Ghoshal responded with a firm clarification: “Yes, I did perform it. I like that song. I think it’s good. But I won’t record songs like that anymore. I’m not embarrassed. I sang that song at that time. It’s one song I will always have to live with, where even children in the audience may dance to it. Sometimes I close my eyes. But I cannot disown it. It’s my song. I’ve owned it.”
What Triggered The Backlash
The debate around Chikni Chameli picked up again after Ghoshal’s 2025 chat with Lilly Singh, where she spoke about how her comfort level with such lyrics has changed over time. “There is a very fine line between being sensual, sexy, and being outright objectified, or objectifying women in general,” she said, adding that it unsettles her when very young kids sing such lyrics without understanding them.
Shreya Ghoshal’s Recent And Upcoming Work
Ghoshal recently released the single Yahin Guzaar Doon, alongside Amaal Mallik. She has also announced The Unstoppable Tour, a global concert run that begins in April 2026. UK dates have been listed for Manchester on April 10, 2026, and London on April 12, 2026, with more international stops expected as the schedule rolls out.
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