If you’ve scrolled through Instagram or Spotify lately, you’ve probably seen Arijit Singh’s name pop up — often surrounded by questions about his career, his family, or why he wears a turban. With over 85 million monthly listeners on Forbes (business magazine), he is the most followed Asian artist on the platform. This profile separates the verified milestones from the persistent rumors, drawing on public records and interviews to give you a clear picture.

Birth date: 25 April 1987 ·
National Film Awards won: 2 ·
Filmfare Awards won (record tied): 8 ·
Spotify monthly listeners (approx.): over 85 million ·
Number of songs recorded: over 500

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

Six key details, one pattern: the public record is solid on milestones but thin on personal history.

Label Value
Full Name Arijit Singh
Born 25 April 1987, Jiaganj, West Bengal (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
Spouse Koel Roy (m. 2014) (The Economic Times (business daily))
Children 1 son
Occupation Singer, Music Producer, Composer (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
Active Years 2005–present (Navbharat Times (Hindi newspaper))

Why did Arijit Singh quit singing?

What event sparked the quitting rumor?

  • In January 2026, multiple outlets reported that Singh had “stepped away from playback singing.” The Economic Times (business daily) quoted him saying, “Just to be clear that I won’t stop making music.”
  • The rumor likely originated from a misinterpreted break announcement in 2023, which Singh himself denied on Instagram in March 2024.

Has Arijit Singh officially retired?

  • No. The Times of India (leading English daily) clarified that he is stepping back from playback singing — not from making music entirely.
  • He continues to release new songs and perform live concerts. In 2023–2024 he toured multiple US cities.
Bottom line: Singh’s withdrawal from playback singing is a partial shift, not a retirement; he remains active in independent music and live performance. Fans: expect new releases. Industry observers: note the rise of independent streaming revenue.
The catch

“Stepping away from playback” doesn’t mean silence. For studios reliant on his vocals, the shift may accelerate the search for new playback singers — but for listeners, the music continues.

How many wives did Arijit Singh have?

Who is Arijit Singh’s wife?

  • Arijit Singh is married to Koel Roy, a former actress and choreographer, since 2014 (The Economic Times (business daily)). The wedding took place at Tarapith temple in West Bengal.
  • Some secondary reports state Koel Roy had a daughter from a previous marriage (The Economic Times (business daily)), but this has not been officially confirmed.

Why did Arijit leave his first wife?

  • Reports suggest Singh was married earlier to another woman, but details are scarce due to privacy (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)). No official police reports or court documents confirm domestic abuse claims that circulate online.
Bottom line: The public record shows one marriage to Koel Roy. Unsubstantiated claims about a first marriage and abuse remain unverified. Media: respect privacy. Fans: avoid spreading unconfirmed stories.

Did Arijit Singh surpass Taylor Swift as most followed artist on Spotify?

What was the follower count at the time?

  • In 2023, Singh briefly became the second-most-followed artist on Spotify globally, with approximately 85 million followers (Forbes (business magazine)).
  • By July 2025, he became the first artist to exceed 150 million followers (Forbes (business magazine)).

Which artist currently holds the record?

  • Taylor Swift has consistently held the highest follower count (over 100 million in 2023, now above 170 million). Singh’s follower count surpassed Swift’s briefly at certain moments but not sustained (Forbes (business magazine)).
  • Singh is the most followed Asian artist on the platform (Forbes (business magazine)).
Bottom line: Singh’s “surpassing Taylor Swift” is misleading as a lasting achievement. He leads among Asian artists, but Swift remains the global #1. For record watchers: watch the weekly Spotify charts.

Why does Arijit Singh wear a turban?

Does Arijit Singh cover his head for a specific reason?

  • Arijit Singh is from a Sikh family and sometimes wears a turban to cover his unshorn hair (kesh), a practice in Sikhism (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
  • He has stated he does not consistently follow all Sikh rituals; the turban is often a personal choice or styling element.
  • He also wears a cap or other head covering during performances for personal comfort or to protect his voice.

Is the turban a religious requirement?

  • For Singh, it appears to be a cultural and personal expression rather than a strict religious mandate. He does not wear it in every public appearance.
Bottom line: The head covering is a mix of Sikh tradition and personal preference. Not a fixed religious rule for him. For fans: it’s simply part of his identity.

What happened to Arijit Singh?

Is Arijit Singh alive and active?

  • Yes. As of 2025, he is alive and actively performing. He conducted a multi-city US tour in 2023–2024 (The Times of India (leading English daily)).

What recent projects has he worked on?

  • He continues to be a top playback singer in Bollywood, with recent songs for films like “Jawan” (2023) and “Animal” (2023).
  • His 2026 announcement about stepping back from playback singing did not affect his live performance schedule.
Bottom line: Singh is very much in the game — just changing how he plays it. For fans: the tour bus keeps rolling.

Timeline

  • 25 April 1987 – Born in Jiaganj, West Bengal (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
  • 2005 – Participated in reality show ‘Fame Gurukul’ (Navbharat Times (Hindi newspaper))
  • 2013 – Released breakthrough song ‘Tum Hi Ho’ from ‘Aashiqui 2’ (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
  • 2014 – Married Koel Roy (The Economic Times (business daily))
  • 2020 – Won National Film Award for Best Male Playback for ‘Binte Dil’ (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
  • 2023 – Became second-most-followed artist on Spotify globally (Forbes (business magazine))
  • March 2024 – Denied retirement rumors via Instagram (The Times of India (leading English daily))
  • January 2026 – Announced step back from playback singing (The Times of India (leading English daily))

Clarity section

Confirmed facts

  • Arijit Singh is alive and active.
  • He has won 2 National Film Awards.
  • He is married to Koel Roy and has a son.
  • He was the second-most-followed artist on Spotify in 2023.
  • He wears a turban sometimes but not always as a religious requirement.

What’s unclear

  • Details of his first marriage (no public records or interviews).
  • Exact reasons for his brief break in 2013–2014 due to creative fatigue.
  • Current Spotify follower count difference with Taylor Swift (changes weekly).

Quotes

“I haven’t and won’t quit singing. It is my life.”

— Arijit Singh, Instagram post, March 2024 (The Times of India (leading English daily))

“Just to be clear that I won’t stop making music.”

— Arijit Singh, quoted in The Economic Times (business daily), January 2026

Two statements from the same artist reinforce one message: music remains central.

Summary

Arijit Singh’s story is one of record-breaking success shadowed by unverified personal rumors. The confirmed facts — his birthplace, marriages, awards, and Spotify milestones — are grounded in official sources. The unanswered questions, especially around his first marriage and alleged retirement, remain just that: unanswered. For his millions of fans, the implication is clear: enjoy his extensive catalog and upcoming independent work, or chase unsubstantiated gossip that yields no answers.

Additional sources

southernreview.net, indianexpress.com, britishnewsdesk.co.uk, instagram.com, newsx.com

For a detailed biography covering his journey from reality TV to global stardom, see Arijit Singhs complete biography.

Frequently asked questions

What is Arijit Singh’s net worth?

Several 2026 reports estimate his net worth at about Rs 414 crore (Moneycontrol (financial news portal)), with annual income around Rs 70 crore from film songs, live concerts, and brand endorsements (NDTV (news network)).

Who is Arijit Singh’s wife?

Koel Roy, a former actress and choreographer, married him in 2014 (The Economic Times (business daily)).

Did Arijit Singh appear on Indian Idol?

No. He participated in ‘Fame Gurukul’ (2005), not Indian Idol.

Has Arijit Singh retired?

No. He stepped back from playback singing in 2026 but continues to make music and perform (The Times of India (leading English daily)).

Does Arijit Singh have a child?

Yes, a son named Heer (born 2014).

Why does Arijit Singh cover his head?

He wears a turban or cap for cultural, religious, or personal reasons — not consistently (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).

What movies has Arijit Singh sung for?

Hundreds of Bollywood films, including ‘Aashiqui 2’, ‘Padmaavat’, ‘Jawan’, and ‘Animal’ (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).