Dua Lipa’s recent performance in Mumbai took an unexpected turn when the global pop star acknowledged the viral Levitating x Woh Ladki Jo mashup, originally crafted by DJ Ruchir Kulkarni. While Shah Rukh Khan fans celebrated her nod to the 1999 Bollywood classic from Baadshah, singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya, the original voice behind the song, expressed mixed feelings.
Speaking to News18, Abhijeet emphasized the importance of crediting the creators, calling the song composer Anu Malik’s “finest.” He remarked, “Dua Lipa should’ve mentioned Anu Malik, Javed Akhtar, and myself. But it’s okay; the song was popular before her performance and continues to be.” However, the singer admitted he was unfazed by Dua’s omission. “To be frank, I don’t care who Dua Lipa is. It made the song even more popular, and that’s what matters.”
Abhijeet’s son, Jay Bhattacharya, however, took to Instagram to criticize the lack of recognition for his father and Anu Malik. “Why is it always about actors in this country? Dua Lipa must have heard the song and not seen it. She didn’t appreciate the artist behind it,” Jay wrote in a lengthy post.
Despite the controversy, Abhijeet shared his version of Dua’s performance on Instagram, blending clips of her stage act with his own rendition of Woh Ladki Jo at a concert, highlighting the song’s enduring appeal.