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Arijit Singh's choice to step away from playback singing stunned fans, but his hometown Jiaganj took the news in stride. Locally known as 'Shomu', the singer prioritizes his peaceful West Bengal roots over Mumbai's glitter, and he is directing his resources toward his charitable foundation and local development, reaffirming a deep connection to his origins.
When news surfaced on January 27, 2026, that Arijit Singh was stepping away from playback singing, fans across India were stunned. For over a decade, his voice had been inseparable from Hindi film music and countless chartbusters.
Yet in Jiaganj, a quiet town in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, the reaction was far more subdued.
Here, he is not a superstar but simply “Shomu,” the boy everyone watched grow up. Away from Mumbai’s glamour, life in Jiaganj continues at its own unhurried pace.In an interview with The Telegraph India, his father Surinder Singh reflected on the family’s history. “Our ancestral home was near Lahore. After Partition, my father and his three brothers migrated to Lalgola,” he shared.
Like many displaced families, they rebuilt their lives from scratch as cloth merchants before eventually settling in Jiaganj by the river. Other relatives moved to Panjabipara, where a gurdwara became the heart of the local Sikh community.
Arijit Singh growing up as 'Shomu'
Long before fame, Arijit was known simply as Shomu in his neighbourhood. Haridasi Das, who runs a tea stall with her son Sanjoy “Bultey” Das, recalls watching him grow up. “I saw Shomu grow up,” she says, remembering how his father taught him to swim nearby.
The tea stall served as his regular evening hangout, a place of laughter and friendships rather than celebrity attention. Even today, locals claim he occasionally rides his scooter through the narrow lanes at night, blending in like any other resident.Jiaganj has also quietly hosted global stars. Social media posts have shown Ed Sheeran and Martin Garrix visiting the town. Garrix reportedly recorded “Angels for Each Other” at Arijit’s home studio, established a few years ago near his residence.
Choosing Jiaganj over Mumbai
Despite owning properties and workspaces in Mumbai, Arijit prefers to live in his hometown. According to The Economic Times, a close friend revealed that his sons, Jul and Ali, attend a local CBSE school, reflecting his desire for a grounded upbringing for them. He is also dedicating more time to Tatwamasi, his charitable foundation, which focuses on improving education and healthcare infrastructure in the region.
Plans include a hospital, music academy, sports complex, and school development projects.His father spoke about the town’s emotional pull. “Moja lagey (I enjoy it). I feel amused. People ask me ‘what is your son doing’, ‘what is his next project’,” he said. Explaining why Jiaganj still holds such power over the singer, he added, “This is such a peaceful place. Even my son couldn’t live in Mumbai and had to return.Though he has stepped away from playback singing, Arijit has not abandoned music entirely. He recently released the independent track “Raina,” composed by Shekhar Ravjiani and written by Priya Saraiya, which has begun gaining traction online. Unlike his film songs, the project reflects a more personal artistic direction.
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