Popular singer and rapper Honey Singh, known for his chart-topping Punjabi and Bollywood hits, recently shared an intriguing revelation about his journey in the music industry. During an interview with Lallantop, Singh revealed that the iconic song “Lungi Dance” from the blockbuster film Chennai Express was initially rejected by none other than Shah Rukh Khan.
Honey Singh, who has been open about his struggles with drug abuse and depression, reflected on how the song came to be. “After the success of tracks like ‘Angreji Beat’ and ‘Party All Night,’ I was approached to create a similar song,” Singh said. He proposed the now-famous “Lungi Dance” but was met with an unexpected response from Shah Rukh Khan. “Shah Rukh said, ‘Beta maza nahi aaya’ (Son, I didn’t enjoy it),” Singh recalled, describing his disappointment after the rejection.
Despite the initial setback, Singh remained confident in the song’s potential. He sought advice from Bhushan Kumar of T-Series, who encouraged him, saying the song was a “superhit.” The plan was to release it as a single, but when director Rohit Shetty heard the track, he decided to include it in Chennai Express. Singh admitted that being stereotyped in the industry led him to turn down other offers, saying, “I’ve had to say no to a lot of big people.”
‘Testing My Patience’ on the Set of ‘Lungi Dance’
Recalling his experience during the shoot, Singh revealed a humorous incident in a conversation with Cine Connect. He mentioned waiting for 12 hours to have his makeup done on the set of “Lungi Dance.” “It seemed like they were testing my patience. Everyone was incredibly kind, including Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, but they didn’t give me a chance to shoot until the very end,” Singh said. As soon as his scene was filmed, the crew called it a day. Singh laughed off the incident, calling it “the craziest and funniest thing.”
About ‘Chennai Express’
Directed by Rohit Shetty, Chennai Express starred Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. The 2013 film follows the story of a man traveling from Mumbai to Rameshwaram, where he falls in love with a local don’s daughter. The film was a major hit and marked Deepika’s first collaboration with Shetty, while the “Lungi Dance” became an instant sensation.
