Shreya Ghoshal Says ‘Chikni Chameli’ Made Her Rethink Lyrics: ‘I Didn’t Always Understand What I Was Singing’

Playback singer Shreya Ghoshal has spoken about the criticism surrounding the popular Bollywood track Chikni Chameli, clarifying that she is not embarrassed about performing the song despite debates around its lyrics.

During a candid conversation with entrepreneur and podcast host Raj Shamani, the singer explained how the track made her reflect more carefully on the lyrics she chooses today.

Shreya Ghoshal reflects on ‘Chikni Chameli’

The song, which featured Katrina Kaif and appeared in the 2012 film Agneepath, became a massive chartbuster. However, Ghoshal admitted that the experience also prompted her to think more deeply about the meaning behind the words she sings.

According to the singer, the track carried strong artistic elements and had gone through several lyrical drafts before the final version was used in the film.

She explained that the version audiences heard in the movie was comparatively toned down from earlier drafts, though it still contained suggestive undertones.

Looking back at that stage of her career, Ghoshal acknowledged that she did not always fully grasp the implications of certain lyrics.

“At that time, I didn’t always understand what I was singing. I wasn’t mature enough to fully grasp the meaning of some lines,” she said.

Singer says she has become more selective about songs

After the huge success of “Chikni Chameli,” Ghoshal revealed that she began receiving offers for many songs with overtly suggestive lyrics.

While she respects the composers who approached her, she admitted that some of the lyrics made her uncomfortable.

Recalling one such incident, the singer said a composer friend once offered her a song that contained extremely explicit lines.

She shared that the lyrics involved phrases that objectified women in a way she was not comfortable performing.

“Just thinking about those words makes my face turn red. I couldn’t say them. I politely refused,” she said.

Ghoshal added that such situations occurred more than once, and whenever she encountered lyrics that crossed her comfort level, she chose to decline the offer respectfully.

Over the years, the singer has increasingly prioritised songs that align with her personal values while still maintaining artistic expression.