Singer Shilpa Rao has expressed disappointment after her performance at Mumbai's Bollywood Music Project (BMP) was abruptly cut short on Saturday. Her microphone was switched off before she could complete her set, and the next act began while she was still addressing the audience.
The singer later took to Instagram to share her feelings about the incident, thanking fans who continued cheering for her even after the music stopped.
“Mumbai, a little piece of my heart broke tonight. It hurts deeply to have something so beautiful taken away from us like this,” she wrote.
Despite the interruption, the audience continued chanting her name, offering support as she was unable to finish her performance.
“But even when the music stopped, you did not. The way you kept calling my name, the love in your voices. I could feel it all. Our story tonight was left unfinished. I promise, I will come back. I love you, Mumbai. Forever and ever,” she added.
Organisers apologise for abrupt ending
Following Shilpa's post, the festival organisers issued a statement on their official Instagram account late on Saturday night, apologising for the premature end to her performance. They also acknowledged the singer's contribution to the music industry and said it was an honour to have her on the lineup.
“We deeply apologise. At BMP, our mission is always to deliver an unparalleled live music experience for both our artists and their fans. We want to address the abrupt conclusion of Shilpa Rao's performance at this weekend's festival. First and foremost, we hold Shilpa Rao in the highest regard. We deeply value and respect her incredible legacy, her unparalleled artistry, and the profound impact she continues to make on the music industry. It was an absolute honour to have her on our lineup,” the statement read.
Festival cites scheduling delays and curfew rules
Explaining why the performance ended early, the organisers pointed to scheduling complications at large music festivals, where delays in earlier acts can affect subsequent performances.
“Large-scale music festivals feature complex logistics and multi-artist lineups. Despite strict planning and coordination, live events can experience unpredictable operational shifts, including extended sets from earlier performances. Because our festivals operate under strict local authority guidelines and venue curfew regulations, these compounding delays unfortunately forced a premature end to her set.
While these circumstances were entirely out of our control, we deeply regret that we could not showcase her performance in its entirety,” they said.
The Bollywood Music Project also featured performances by Himesh Reshammiya, Hariharan, Euphoria, Anu Malik and Shahid Mallya.