In the 1990s and early 2000s, Kumar Sanu and Udit Narayan reigned supreme in the
playback singing
arena. They were the voices behind most of the leading Bollywood actors of the time and lent their vocals to countless chart-topping songs. But their professional
rivalry
has also been a topic of discussion over the years.
In a new interview, Kumar
Sanu
said that their rivalry was not marked by animosity or personal conflicts, it was more of a healthy competition for the top spot as the go-to playback singer in the Hindi film industry.
He told Bollywood Bubble that they are good friends and they often go on tours together, travel together and eat together. Talking about how their so-called rivalry started, Kumar Sanu said that Udit Narayan's film
Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak
was a massive hit and he has sung the songs fantastically.
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As Udit's market was about to open,
Aashiqui
came in 1989, which pitted Kumar Sanu against him in terms of the number of songs they recorded and their popularity among music directors and filmmakers.
Commenting on their healthy competition, Kumar Sanu revealed that there were songs where he felt he should have sung by him and not 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," he added.
Both singers received several awards and accolades for their contributions to the industry. They have won multiple Filmfare Awards for Best Male Playback Singer, and their rivalry may have driven them to strive for excellence in their craft. Their songs from the 90s continue to be beloved by audiences.