Vishal Dadlani says ‘I want my time back’ as he quits Indian Idol as a judge

After six consecutive seasons as a judge on the popular singing reality show Indian Idol, singer-composer Vishal Dadlani has announced his departure. The 51-year-old musician took to Instagram to share a heartfelt video, bidding farewell to the show that he described as “home” for the past few years.

Dadlani, who joined Indian Idol as a judge in 2018, expressed gratitude to his co-judges Shreya Ghoshal and Badshah, host Aditya Narayan, and the entire production crew. "That's all from me, folks! Six straight seasons later, tonight is my last episode as a judge on Indian Idol. I hope the show will miss me as much as I'll miss it," he said in the video.

Known for his high-energy performances and sharp musical insight, Dadlani has been a key figure on the judging panel, mentoring budding singers and offering both encouragement and tough love. In his farewell note, he emphasized the emotional connection he has developed with the show over the years. "It really has been home! That stage is pure love,” he wrote.


In his post’s caption, Dadlani elaborated on his reason for quitting: "I'm literally only leaving because I want my time back. Can't stay stuck in Mumbai for six months each year." He added that saying goodbye was emotional, as the fun he had during six seasons would be remembered even more fondly. He shared that he received more love than he could have ever expected because of the show and expressed eternal gratitude to everyone involved. The singer also shared his excitement about returning to his musical roots. “Time to get back to making music, playing concerts, and never putting on make-up. Jai Ho,” he quipped.

Internet reacts

Aditya Narayan called it the end of an era, saying Indian Idol would never be the same without Vishal Dadlani and thanked him for all the great memories they shared. Badshah expressed his emotions by insisting that they wouldn’t let him go. Hazel Keech Singh, wife of cricketer Yuvraj Singh, noted the use of an emotional audio clip from All Dogs Go To Heaven, one of her favorite animated films growing up. She added that her mother would be sad not to see Vishal getting emotional on TV anymore. Former Indian Idol contestant and actor Meiyang Chang said the show would miss Vishal, but he personally missed his music more and looked forward to seeing him dominate the music scene once again.

About Vishal Dadlani

Over the years, Vishal Dadlani has built an illustrious career as both a singer and composer. He is known for chartbusters like Ik Junoon, Jhoome Jo Pathaan, Selfie Le Le Re, Dhoom Again, and Balam Pichkari. He got his first big break in playback singing with Dhoom Again, composed by Pritam, followed by Kiss of Love in Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, under the guidance of Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy.