‘Today, Shah Rukh Khan probably wouldn't greet me like he used to': Abhijeet Sawant reflects on declining fame, recalls hobnobbing with stars during prime
'Uss time par aisa hogaya tha ki bade bade stars aakar mil rahe thay… ki aare yaar Abhijeet, big fan. Ek baar Shah Rukh Khan sahab aakar mile. He was being very kind, ek baar show par bulaya mujhe perform karne ke liye… khud announce kiya mera naam, and said maine ghar par bohot dekhe iske gaane (At that time, it had reached a point where big stars would come up to meet me, saying, 'Hey Abhijeet… big fan.' Once, Shah Rukh Khan himself came up to me, he was very kind. He invited me to perform on a show… personally announced my name… and said he had watched many of my songs at home).'
Also Read | Indian Idol 1 winner Abhijeet Sawant says live performances are his biggest source of income: 'I spend most of my time on stage…it is my business'
But Abhijeet also candidly spoke about how fame is fleeting and how difficult it became to maintain his position as the industry evolved. 'Woh consistency nahi ho paa rahi… woh gaane nahi mil rahe hai… ya kuch aisi cheezain nahi ho rahi ki main hamesha uss level par chalta rahoon… agar aaj main milunga Khan sahab se toh shayad woh sirf hello karke chale jayenge (That consistency isn't there anymore… I'm not getting those songs… or things just aren't happening the way they used to, for me to remain at that same level… If I were to meet Khan sahab today, maybe he'd just say hello and walk away.)
Abhijeet further reflected on how many people rely on their initial impression or moment of fame to carry them through, but emphasised that this is not sustainable. He noted that one must consistently put in the work, not only to reach a position of success but also to maintain it over time, with hard work and perseverance.
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