It looks like popular singer Sonu Nigam isn’t too happy with the current Bollywood music scene. Having spent over two decades in the industry, the singer has, time and again, called out issues with the status of singers and quality of music. 

At the Agenda Aaj Tak summit, he took a jab at the popularity of Pakistani singers in India. "Sometimes, I feel as if it would have been better if I were from Pakistan. At least I would get offers from India," he said.

Sonu went on to make a comparison between the approach meted out to Indian and Pakistani singers, claiming that the former are being forced to pay to perform at shows. "Nowadays, singers have to pay music companies for shows. If we don’t shell out the money, they will play songs sung by other singers and highlight them. Then, they will take money from them," he claimed.

He said Pakistani singers get preferential treatment. "Why single out Indian singers? They don’t do the same with Pakistani singers. Atif Aslam is a very close friend of mine. He is never asked to pay to sing at shows, neither is Rahat Fateh Ali Khan," he said.

The singer also blamed this practice for the increasing number of remixes nowadays. "Earlier, the composers, lyricists and singers created a song. Now, the music companies have taken over that job," he said.

This is not the first time Sonu has stirred a nationwide debate. Last year he tweeted about a ban on the use of loudspeakers at religious places. Later his statement led to him shaving off his head as well as quitting Twitter.