The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has come out in support of Shilpa Rao after the singer’s performance at a Bollywood music project in Mumbai was cut short on Saturday. The association has criticized organizers for turning off his microphone and stage lights midway through his set, calling the incident “totally unacceptable”.
Rao was performing at the 10th anniversary edition of the festival on October 24 when the sound and lights were switched off. According to AICWA, the singer stayed on stage for some time before Kutle Khan of the Kutle Khan Project took over and started singing.
A statement posted on its official website also said it would support Rao if he chose to take legal or other action against the management.
“The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) strongly condemns the treatment meted out to National Award winning singer Shilpa Rao during her live performance at the 10th edition of Bollywood Music Project (BMP) in Mumbai on 24 October 2026.
“Shilpa Rao was performing live on stage when her microphone and lights were forcibly turned off by the management.”
AICWA further objected to another act being brought on stage while Rao was still present. It said that after the singer’s microphone was switched off, the audience kept chanting her name.
“Forcibly cutting off a performing artist’s sound and lighting mid-show, and then handing the stage over to another act, is completely unacceptable,” the statement said.
The association added, “To treat an artiste of her stature like this on stage at an anniversary edition is a direct insult to her dignity and the respect she has earned. When the mic and lights were off, the audience stood by Shilpa Rao and chanted her name.”
It also warned organizers against treating performers in such a way that their contribution and time could be disregarded once booked for an event.
“We ask the organizers to respect the artists. If this behavior continues, the artists will refuse to perform at their events. Artists are invited to perform their art. Paying to perform does not mean owning the artist. Anyone who believes this is wrong, and this attitude is wrong. An artist wants respect, not humiliation. No artist should ever face such behavior,” on a live stage. AICWA said.
AICWA condemns disrespect shown to National Award-winning singer Shilpa Rao at Bollywood Music Project 10th edition Mumbai, October 25, 2026 All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has strongly condemned the behavior of National Award-winning singer Shilpa Rao during a live performance at Bollywood Music Project 10th edition (B6MP2 October). Shilpa Rao was performing live on stage when the organizers forcibly turned off her microphone and lights. She stayed on stage for some time. After his mic was switched off, another artist from the Kutle Khan Project, Kutle Khan, was allowed to sing in his place, and he began singing in the middle of his address. Forcibly cutting off a performing artist’s sound and lighting mid-show, and then handing the stage over to another act, is completely unacceptable. Shilpa Rao is a National Award winner and one of the most respected voices in Indian music. His songs have been loved by audiences across the country, including “Tause Naina” (Anwar), “Khuda Jaane” (Bachna Ae Hasino), “Buleya” (Ae Dil Hai Mushkil), “Chaliya” (Jawan) and “Ghungru” (Waar). To treat an artiste of his stature like this on the stage of an anniversary function is a direct insult to his dignity. When the mic and lights went off, the audience stood by Shilpa Rao and chanted her name. In a heartfelt note on Instagram, she wrote that a small piece of her heart broke that night, feeling the love of the audience even after the music stopped, and that she would be returning to Mumbai. AICWA salutes the audience for standing by a true artist. AICWA’s Position: •AICWA condemns in the strongest possible terms the insult done to National Award winning singer Shilpa Rao by Bollywood Music Project while she was performing live on stage. Such behavior towards any artist will never be tolerated. • AICWA stands firmly with Shilpa Rao. If she chooses to take any action against Bollywood Music Project, AICWA will support her in every legal way. • If any artist is mistreated in future, AICWA will take strict action against the responsible persons as per law. Insulting any artist will not be tolerated. • We ask the organizers to respect the artists. If such behavior continues, artists will refuse to perform at their events. • Artists are invited to exhibit their art. Paying for performance does not mean owning the artist. Anyone who believes otherwise is wrong, and this attitude is wrong. • An artist wants respect, not humiliation. No performer should face such treatment on a live stage. | #ShilpaRao #AICWA | #AllIndianCineWorkersAssociation | # singer | #BollywoodMusicProject | @shilparao11 | @bmp_online | @ANI | @PTI_News | @ians_india
– All Indian Cine Workers Association (@aicwaofficial) October 25, 2026
Shilpa Rao thanks the audience for standing by her
Rao shared his reaction to the incident on Instagram on Saturday. Admitting that the experience hurt him, he thanked the Mumbai audience for continuing to cheer for him even after the musical ended.
“Mumbai, a piece of my heart broke tonight. It’s so sad that something so beautiful was taken away from us like this. But even when the music stopped, you didn’t,” she wrote.
“The way you kept calling my name, the love in your voices, I could feel it all. I promise I will come back to Mumbai,” she added.
BMP organizers blame the schedule delay
The organizers of Bollywood Music Project have apologized for the way Rao ended his set. In their statement, they said that they had a lot of respect for the singer and regretted that her performance could not go as planned.
“We sincerely apologize. At BMP, our mission has always been to provide an exceptional live music experience for our artists and their fans. We would like to address the sudden end of Shilpa Rao’s performance at this Saturday’s festival. First and foremost, we extend our deepest respect to Shilpa Rao,” the statement read.
The organizers also praised Rao’s contribution to music, describing his presence at the festival as an honour.
“We deeply appreciate and respect his incredible legacy, his unparalleled artistry, and the profound impact he continues to have on the music industry. It was an absolute honor to have him in our lineup,” they added.
Explaining why the set ended early, the organizers pointed to the delay caused by past performances and restrictions that come with hosting a large-scale concert. He said the elaborate sets affected the schedule, while local authority regulations and venue curfews limited the time available.
“Large-scale music festivals involve complex logistics and multi-artist lineups. Despite rigorous planning and coordination. As our festivals operate under strict local authority guidelines and venue curfew regulations, these compounding delays unfortunately forced his set to end prematurely.”
Organizers said the delay was beyond their control but acknowledged the disappointment caused by the short showing.
“Although these circumstances were completely beyond our control, we deeply regret that we were unable to showcase his performance in full,” the statement said.
While organizers have attributed the incident to scheduling constraints, the AICWA has made it clear that such circumstances should not come at the cost of an artiste’s dignity.
Also Read: Shilpa Rao says she is ‘heartbroken’ after being cut from Mumbai show mid-set, organizers react