EXCLUSIVE: Kumar Sanu talks about his infamous conflict with Udit Narayan: It’s not rivalry, this is a healthy competition

Singer Kumar Sanu is one of the singers who has been ruling the industry for over 4 decades. He has delivered several hits and given us evergreen songs like Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, Chura Ke Dil Mera, Iss Tarah Aashiqui, Tumhe Apna Banane Ki Kasam and many others. Though he sounds very similar to the legendary Kishore Kumar, his peculiar voice still makes him stand out from the crowd. Apart from Kumar Sanu, there was another singer who had the potential to give him tough competition Udit Narayan.

There was a time when there were reports of a rivalry between Kumar Sanu and Udit Narayan. However, during the recent podcast Let’s Talk with Bollywood Bubble, Kumar Sanu was asked about the infamous rivalry. Speaking about that, Kumar Sanu exclusively said that there was no rivalry but healthy competition.

Kumar Sanu on his rivalry with Udit ji

When asked about the same, the singer said, “Peheli baat shatruta Udit ke saath hamara hai nahi. Udit ke saath mera acha dosti hai, humlog abhi tour karne jaa rahe hai, humlogon ke bohot dosti hai. Healthy competitions ke andar jo rivalry paida hota hai na, gaana ko leke hota hai na wo hota hi hai. Main jis samay aaya na uss samay Udit ji ka film aaya tha Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and it was a massive hit. Aur gaya bhi Udit ji bohot fantastic, koi tulna hi nahi hoga. Toh unka market shuru hi hone wala tha that time Aashiqui came 89 mein. Toh ye mann mein ho sakta hai ki chalo thik hai.“

(First of all, I don’t have any enmity with Udit. He is a good friend, we go on tours. Rivalry is bound to happen between healthy competition when it comes to songs. When I entered the industry, Udit ji’s film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak was released and it was a massive hit. Udit has sung the songs fantastically and there are no comparisons. His market was about to open and that time Aashiqui came in 1989, so rivalry could have come in between.)

Kumar Sanu on his friendship with Udit ji

“Par uske baad bhi Udit ne bohot saara kaam kiye, bohot saara acha kaam diya. Kuch gaane aise lagte the ki Udit gata ya main gata toh acha hota tha. These are not rivalry, this is a healthy competition. Toh unke mann mein bhi hua ki arre yaar ye kaha se aagaya toh logon ne hi rivalry bana diya but aisa kuch nahi hai. We are good friends, hum saath mein shows bhi karte hai, hum saath mein travel bhi karte hai. Hum saath mein khaate bhi hai peete bhi hai saath me. Sorry hum peete nahi hai sirf khaate hai,” he further continued.

(Nevertheless, he worked a lot after that and that too good work. There were some songs where e felt that if the songs were sung by me or Udit then it would have been good. These are not rivalry, this is a healthy competition. People have made this a rivalry and nothing else. We are good friends, we do shows together, travel together and eat together.)

Interstingly, Kumar and Udit have sung quite a few songs together in their career. Songs like Dil Ne Yeh Kaha, Neend Churai Meri, Mhare Hiwda Mein Naache Mor, Hum Saath Saath Hain and many more.

Watch the full interview here

Also read: Udit Narayan, Kumar Sanu, Dipika Chikhlia and others felicitated by Maharashtra Governor for THIS reason

Nawaz Kochra

Nawaz Kochra has been an experienced journalist in the entertainment arena for the last 9 years. Worked with the biggest brands in the media fraternity, he now heads the editorial desk at Bollywood Bubble. In addition to that, he even hosts a podcast called, Let’s Talk with Bollywood Bubble. Someone who is calm, yet a firecracker, and holds a balanced opinion about things, Nawaz is strong-headed and determined. He loves films as well as web shows and TV (yes, he is from that generation!), and that’s why writing about them is more of a passion for him than just a job.