Kutle Khan Responds to Shilpa Rao’s Interrupted Set at Bollywood Music Project 2026

Singer Kutle Khan has responded to the criticism surrounding Shilpa Rao’s interrupted performance at the Bollywood Music Project (BMP) 2026 in Mumbai, saying he followed the festival organisers’ instructions and had no control over the technical issues that brought her set to an abrupt halt.

The incident took place on October 24 during the festival’s 10th-anniversary celebrations. Rao’s microphone and stage lights were reportedly switched off while she was thanking the audience, as Kutle Khan and his band, The Kutle Khan Project, began performing on another stage. The episode triggered criticism on social media, with some viewers questioning the transition between the two performances.

In a video shared on Instagram on Tuesday, Kutle Khan explained that his performance slot had also been reduced at the last minute, from 20 minutes to just eight minutes. He denied deliberately interrupting Rao and said he resumed singing only after receiving instructions through his in-ear monitor.

The singer also stressed that he shares a close personal bond with Rao and regretted that the controversy had led to online trolling and negativity. Meanwhile, the Bollywood Music Project organisers issued an apology, attributing the shortened performance to scheduling delays, operational challenges and venue curfew restrictions.

Kutle Khan Says He Followed the Organisers’ Instructions

Addressing the controversy, Kutle Khan explained that performers at the Bollywood Music Project had been assigned specific time slots and were expected to follow the festival schedule.

He said Rao also had a designated performance window and maintained that he was unaware of why her microphone and stage lights had been switched off.

Explaining his position in the Instagram video, the singer said, “During the performance, her microphone and the lights were switched off. I don’t know how that happened, and it should not have happened at all. It certainly did not happen from our side. Either the festival organisers or their engineers would know what went wrong.”

His statement placed the focus on the festival’s technical and organisational arrangements rather than on any deliberate action by his team.

Kutle Khan also revealed that his own performance had been affected by a last-minute scheduling change. According to him, he had initially been allotted 20 minutes on stage but was later informed that he would have to complete his set within eight minutes.

He said he accepted the revised timing because he believed he had to follow the organisers’ instructions.

“I said there was no problem because I had to follow the instructions of the festival organisers,” he explained.

The singer’s account suggests that scheduling constraints affected more than one performance. However, the exact sequence of decisions that led to Rao’s microphone being switched off has not been independently established in the information available.

Kutle Khan Says He Paused His Set While Shilpa Rao Addressed the Audience

One of the main points Kutle Khan addressed was the moment when Rao attempted to thank the audience while he was performing on another stage.

According to his account, he paused his performance when he heard Rao addressing him and the crowd. He denied deliberately singing over her remarks or attempting to prevent her from speaking.

“In the middle of my performance, Shilpa said from the other stage, ‘Mr. Kutle, you are singing well. I would like to thank the audience.’ I paused my set to let her speak. While she was thanking the audience, I stopped performing,” he recounted.

Kutle Khan added that he subsequently heard instructions through his in-ear monitor telling him to resume.

“I could hear through my in-ear monitor someone telling me, ‘Mr. Kutle, start, start.’ So I resumed my performance,” he said.

An in-ear monitor allows performers to hear audio feeds and instructions while on stage. Kutle Khan’s explanation was that he followed the directions he received during the event rather than independently deciding when Rao’s remarks should end.

His statement did not identify the person who gave the instructions or establish precisely who was responsible for the technical interruption.

The episode has raised questions about coordination between performers, stage managers and technical teams at multi-artist music festivals, where several performances may need to be accommodated within a fixed schedule.

Singer Calls Shilpa Rao a Friend Like a Sister

Kutle Khan also expressed disappointment over the online criticism directed at him following the incident.

He said he did not want the controversy to damage his relationship with Rao, whom he described as a close friend.

“Shilpa is a very good friend of mine, like a sister. The trolling and negativity being spread on social media right now are very unfortunate. It should not be happening. That’s all I wanted to clarify,” he said.

His remarks sought to distinguish the professional controversy from his personal relationship with the singer.

The incident generated discussion because Rao’s performance was interrupted while she was still engaging with the audience. For fans attending a live music event, such moments can affect the experience, particularly when technical problems and abrupt stage transitions occur.

Kutle Khan’s response was aimed at clarifying his version of events and explaining why he resumed singing. The organisers, meanwhile, acknowledged that Rao’s performance had ended prematurely and apologised for the disruption.

What Happened During Shilpa Rao’s Bollywood Music Project Performance?

Shilpa Rao performed at the Bollywood Music Project’s 10th-anniversary celebrations in Mumbai on October 24. Her set was reportedly affected by multiple sound problems and delays.

According to the account of the incident, her first microphone malfunctioned, forcing her to wait for a replacement. The replacement microphone also reportedly developed problems.

The situation became more awkward while Rao was performing Chuttamalle from Devara: Part 1. Her microphone was switched off, leaving her visibly surprised.

At the same time, Kutle Khan and his band, The Kutle Khan Project, began performing on the other side of the stage while Rao was still present.

The combination of technical issues, the abrupt end to Rao’s performance and the overlapping stage activity drew criticism from viewers and music fans.

Rao later shared an emotional message on Instagram, expressing disappointment about how the evening had unfolded while acknowledging the audience’s support.

“Mumbai, a little piece of my heart broke tonight. It hurts deeply to have something so beautiful taken away from us like this. But even when the music stopped, you did not,” she wrote.

Her statement conveyed the emotional impact of the interruption and thanked the audience for remaining supportive despite the disruption.

The incident also highlighted the importance of reliable sound systems, effective communication between stage teams and clear scheduling at large live music events.

Bollywood Music Project Organisers Apologise to Shilpa Rao

Following the backlash, the Bollywood Music Project organisers issued an apology to Rao, her team and the audience.

The organisers said they valued the singer and regretted that her performance had not been presented in its entirety.

In their statement, they wrote, “We deeply apologise. At BMP, our mission is always to deliver an unparalleled live music experience for both our artists and their fans.”

They also praised Rao’s contribution to the music industry, saying it had been an honour to include her in the festival lineup.

The organisers explained that large-scale music festivals involve complex logistics and multiple artists performing within a coordinated schedule. They said unexpected operational changes, including earlier performances running longer than planned, could create difficulties.

“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,” their statement read.

Curfew restrictions and scheduling delays cited

The organisers also pointed to local authority guidelines and venue curfew regulations as factors behind the shortened performance.

They said delays had accumulated during the event and that the resulting time constraints forced Rao’s set to end prematurely.

“Because our festivals operate under strict local authority guidelines and venue curfew regulations, these compounding delays unfortunately forced a premature end to her set,” they stated.

The organisers added that they regretted being unable to present the singer’s complete performance and apologised to everyone affected.

“We extend our sincerest apologies to Shilpa Rao, her team and most importantly, to her dedicated fans who came out to support her. We share in your disappointment and appreciate your understanding as we navigate the strict operational realities of live festival production,” the statement concluded.

Although the organisers offered an explanation for the shortened set, their statement did not provide a detailed account of the specific technical failure involving Rao’s microphone and stage lights.

The incident has therefore left questions about the precise sequence of events, even as Kutle Khan has denied responsibility and the organisers have acknowledged the disruption.

Who Is Shilpa Rao?

Shilpa Rao is one of the recognised playback singers in Hindi cinema, known for her distinctive voice and work across a range of film soundtracks.

She made her playback singing debut in 2007 with Tose Naina from the film Anwar, composed by Mithoon.

She gained wider recognition with Khuda Jaane from Bachna Ae Haseeno in 2008. Over the years, she has performed songs across different musical styles, building a repertoire that includes several popular Hindi film tracks.

Some of her well-known songs include Ghungroo from War, Bulleya from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Chaleya from Jawan.

Her work has earned recognition from audiences and the film industry, and she received a National Film Award for Chaleya, further strengthening her standing as a playback singer.

The interruption at the Bollywood Music Project was particularly disappointing for fans who had come to hear her perform live. Her response reflected the emotional significance of the performance, while the subsequent apology from the organisers acknowledged the shortcomings in how the set concluded.

The Bottom Line

Kutle Khan has denied responsibility for Shilpa Rao’s interrupted performance at the Bollywood Music Project 2026, saying he followed the organisers’ directions and resumed singing only after receiving instructions through his in-ear monitor.

He also revealed that his own stage time had been cut from 20 minutes to eight minutes and expressed regret over the social media trolling that followed the incident.

Rao described the experience as deeply disappointing, while the festival organisers apologised and cited scheduling delays, operational challenges and curfew restrictions.

The precise circumstances behind the microphone and lighting interruption remain unclear from the statements provided. The controversy has nevertheless highlighted the importance of coordination, technical reliability and clear communication at live music festivals.

This article is based on publicly available information and statements attributed to the people involved.