Can’t stay stuck in Mumbai: Vishal Dadlani explains why he’s leaving Indian Idol after 6 seasons

Singer and music composer Vishal Dadlani has announced his exit from the popular music reality show Indian Idol after serving as a judge for six consecutive seasons. The news came via a heartfelt post on his Instagram account, where Dadlani shared a short video featuring fellow judges Shreya Ghoshal and Badshah.

In his post, Dadlani expressed his gratitude to the show, its team, and the viewers, but explained that he would not be returning for the next season due to personal reasons. “I’m literally only leaving because I want my time back. Can’t stay stuck in Mumbai for 6 months each year” he wrote. His message continued with a nostalgic note: “Alvida, yaaro. 6 seasons mein jitna mazaa kiya, uss se bhi zyada yaad aayegi,” translating to "Goodbye, friends. I had so much fun in these six seasons, and I will miss it even more."

The popular music composer thanked his co-judges, Shreya Ghoshal and Badshah, as well as the entire production crew, musicians, and everyone involved in the show over the years. “Thanks Shreya, Badshah, Adi, Aradhana, Chitra, Anand ji, Ananya, Sonal, Pratibha, Sahil, Saloni, Muskaan, Abisha, the entire production crew, Vilas, Pakya, Kaushik (Pinky), and all the singers and musicians down the years!” he wrote. He also expressed his gratitude towards the tech and sound crew, the lighting team, stagehands, and even the cleaning crew, highlighting the teamwork that went into creating the show.

Dadlani concluded the post with a cheerful message about his future plans, stating, “Time to get back to making music, playing concerts and never putting on make-up! It’s #VishalAndSheykhar season!! Jai ho!” signaling that he would be returning to his music career with his long-time collaborator Shekhar Ravjiani.

Vishal Dadlani first joined Indian Idol as a judge in 2013, took a brief hiatus in 2016, and then returned to the judging panel in 2018. 

The announcement comes right after the conclusion of Indian Idol Season 6, where 24-year-old Manasi Ghosh from Kolkata claimed the title. Ghosh, who impressed the judges and viewers throughout the season, walked away with the trophy, a prize of Rs 25 lakh, and a brand-new car.

with ANI inputs