Bollywood playback singer Shreya Ghoshal has addressed the trolling she faced over singing Chikni Chameli from Agneepath, featuring Katrina Kaif. In a recent conversation, the singer spoke about objectification in song lyrics, artistic responsibility and why she has become more conscious about the kind of songs she chooses to record.
‘There have been moments where I folded my hands and walked away’
Recalling how certain songs made her uncomfortable, Shreya revealed that after Chikni Chameli, she was offered tracks that felt overtly objectifying.“There was one film in particular. The composer is a dear friend of mine and a very musical person. He offered it to me very lovingly. But the song had too much objectification. It wasn’t even subtle — lines like ‘make me into chicken and eat me’ or ‘hold me like this.’ Just thinking about those words makes my face turn red. I couldn’t say them. I said no,” she shared with Raj Shamani.She added that there have been “a few such moments” where she “folded her hands and walked away.”
‘Songs don’t come with certificates, children can hear everything’
Reflecting on Chikni Chameli, Shreya admitted that while the song brought her immense recognition and appreciation, it also led to introspection.“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 said.Now, she explained, she consciously evaluates lyrics because songs don’t have age restrictions.“Films have certificates. But songs don’t. Children can listen to anything. If I sing something today and it becomes a hit, I will have to perform it everywhere — even in front of small children who may sing or dance to it. I cannot watch that comfortably. So the choice has to be ours. I’ve become conscious of that now.”
‘I’m not embarrassed. I’ve owned that song’
Shreya also responded to the trolling that followed when she spoke about objectification but continued to perform Chikni Chameli at live events.“The trolling was that I made these statements and then, within a few days, I performed the same song live. Yes, I did. I like that song. I think it’s good. But I won’t record songs like that anymore,” she clarified.“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.”
‘It wasn’t about becoming a mother’
Addressing whether motherhood changed her perspective, Shreya said her sensitivity towards children existed much earlier.“This realization didn’t happen after I became a mother. It was even then. It wasn’t about thinking how my son would hear it. I’ve always been sensitive about what children hear. I grew up in Rajasthan — there’s a culture of respect in how you speak, even to children. You have to be aware of what is appropriate for them.”She concluded that while she appreciates the artistry of many songs she has sung, she now makes more mindful choices, balancing creative freedom with social responsibility.
