The All India Cine Workers’ Association (AICWA) has condemned the abrupt curtailment of Shilpa Rao’s performance at the Bollywood Music Project on Saturday. In a statement issued Sunday, the cine workers’ body called the disruption “completely unacceptable.”
Rao’s set was cut short, and her microphone was abruptly switched off mid-performance at the 10th-anniversary edition of the Bollywood Music Project in Mumbai on Saturday.
AICWA shared a statement on the official X handle on Sunday: “The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) strongly condemns the treatment of National Award-winning singer Shilpa Rao during her live performance at the 10th edition of the Bollywood Music Project (BMP) in Mumbai on 24 October 2026.”
“Shilpa Rao was performing live on stage when her microphone and lights were forcibly switched off by the organisers. She remained on stage for some time. After her mic was switched off, another performer, Kutle Khan of the Kutle Khan Project, was allowed to sing in her place, and he began singing midway through her address. Forcibly cutting a performing artist's sound and lighting mid-show, and then handing the stage to another act, is completely unacceptable,” read the post.
“To treat an artist of her stature this way, on the stage of an anniversary edition, is a direct insult to her dignity and to the honour she has earned. When the mic and lights were switched off, the audience stood by Shilpa Rao and kept calling out her name,” it added.
The organisation said it will support Rao if she decides to take any action against the Bollywood Music Project.
“We ask the organisers to respect artists. If this behaviour continues, artists will refuse to perform at their events. Artists are invited to showcase their art. Paying for a performance does not mean owning the performer. Anyone who believes otherwise is mistaken, and that attitude is wrong. An artist wants respect, not humiliation. No artist should ever face such treatment on a live stage,” it said.
Addressing the incident in an Instagram note on Saturday, Rao admitted she was “hurt” by what happened while expressing deep gratitude to her audience for their support.
The organisers shared an apology statement, which read, “We deeply apologise. At BMP, our mission is always to deliver an unparalleled live music experience for both our artists and their fans. We want to address the abrupt conclusion of Shilpa Rao's performance at this weekend’s festival. First and foremost, we hold Shilpa Rao in the highest regard.”
“We deeply value and respect her incredible legacy, her unparalleled artistry, and the profound impact she continues to make on the music industry. It was an absolute honour to have her on our lineup,” it added.
The organisers said, “Live events can experience unpredictable operational shifts, including extended sets from earlier performances.”
“Large-scale music festivals feature complex logistics and multi-artist lineups. Despite strict planning and coordination. Because our festivals operate under strict local authority guidelines and venue curfew regulations, these compounding delays unfortunately forced a premature end to her set,” they added.
“While these circumstances were entirely out of our control, we deeply regret that we could not showcase her performance in its entirety,” the statement said.