Kutle Khan’s team has addressed the backlash the singer faced after Shilpa Rao’s performance was cut short at the 10th anniversary edition of the Bollywood Music Project (BMP) in Mumbai on October 24. The team alleged that Shilpa interrupted the singer’s performance to interact with the audience, claiming that his set had already been shortened by organisers.
Kutle Khan’s manager says Shilpa Rao interrupted Khan’s performance
The incident drew widespread outrage on social media after Shilpa’s performance was cut short while she was thanking the crowd for their love and support. As the singer addressed the crowd, Kutle Khan began his performance, and her microphone was switched off, leaving several fans and attendees disappointed.
Addressing the event controversy, Kutle Khan’s manager, Sharad Sharma, told News18, “The festival team had allotted each artist 15-20 minutes onstage. But they chopped Khan saab’s performance time further. He was only given 10 minutes. But we were okay with it since they paid us. Shilpa finished her performance and left the stage. Once Khan saab began his set, she interrupted his performance and said that she would want to thank everyone.”
He further added, “He stopped his performance for her. Thereafter, the festival organiser, Deepak Chaudhary, came to us and told Khan saab to sing Dil Pe Zakham Khate Hain. He kept telling him ki start karo, start karo. We should instead be upset about his performance being disrupted by Shilpa. She should’ve thanked everyone at the end of her own performance. She went backstage and then came back when Khan saab was halfway through his set.”
Kutle Khan’s manager claims false narrative against singer
Sharad also slammed what he called the false narrative being discussed on social media against Kutle Khan. While saying he isn’t angry with Shilpa, he alleged her PR team was trying to put up a narrative that Kutle Khan interrupted her live performance. Sharad stated that the situation was the opposite, alleging that Shilpa interrupted Khan’s act midway, adding that the singer’s team could have also taken to social media to address his side of the story but preferred to stay away from such matters.
Kutle Khan’s manager blames Himesh Reshammiya
Sharad further described that the organisers had taken permission for only one day this year, prompting them to schedule all the performances together. He claimed that Himesh Reshammiya’s sound check took three hours, causing further delays that hampered the performance slots of other artists. He said the delay led to the performance time being cut short for several artists, including both Shilpa Rao and Kutle Khan.