Bollywood Music Project 2026: Roop Kumar Rathod Wins Hearts, Palash Sen Surprises With Marathi ‘Chikni Chameli’

Mumbai witnessed a celebration of Indian music across generations as the 10th edition of Bollywood Music Project brought established singers, popular performers and live collaborations to Jio World Gardens on October 24, 2026. The festival featured artists including Roop Kumar Rathod, Anu Malik, Palash Sen and Euphoria, Hariharan, Neeraj Shridhar, Shilpa Rao and Himesh Reshammiya.

From romantic melodies and 1990s chartbusters to rock performances and patriotic anthems, the event offered audiences a chance to revisit songs that have remained part of Indian popular culture. Several performances stood out for their musical arrangements, unexpected collaborations and the personal stories shared on stage.

Roop Kumar Rathod Brings Romance and Sufi Classics to the Stage

Roop Kumar Rathod and his wife, singer Sonali Rathod, set a nostalgic tone with their performance of “Tere Liye” from Veer-Zaara. Sonali took on the female portions of the song originally sung by the legendary Lata Mangeshkar, bringing her own interpretation to the much-loved composition.

Roop Kumar Rathod followed with “Maula Mere Maula” from Anwar, one of his best-known romantic songs. Sonali then performed “Yaara Seeli Seeli” from Lekin, before the couple continued with a set that included “Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai” from Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.

The performance concluded with “Sandese Aate Hain” from Border, shifting the mood from romance to patriotism. The selection showcased the singer’s range across different musical styles and generations.

Anu Malik Combines Humour, Hit Songs and Patriotism

Composer and singer Anu Malik brought his characteristic energy to the festival, combining familiar songs with humour and spontaneous exchanges with the audience.

His set opened with “In the Night No Control” from Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, a track that has found renewed visibility through short-form social media videos. He then performed songs including “Julie Julie”, “Jeene Ke Hai Chaar Din”, “Humko Tumse Pyaar Hai”, “No Entry”’s title track, “Tan Tana Tan Tan” and “Oonchi Hai Building”.

The performance also featured members of his family and musical collaborators. His daughter Ada Malik danced to some of his compositions, while Anmol Malik and Shahid Mallya performed songs associated with his film career.

One of the evening’s notable moments came when Anu Malik referred to “Sandese Aate Hain”, the patriotic song he composed for Border. After Roop Kumar Rathod had performed the track earlier, Malik reminded the audience of his role in creating it and spoke about the personal significance of the song and its connection to the Indian Armed Forces.

He then performed the anthem with his team, turning the segment into a tribute to the song’s enduring place in Indian cinema.

Palash Sen Surprises the Crowd With Marathi Original of ‘Chikni Chameli’

Palash Sen, frontman of Euphoria, brought an alternative-rock flavour to the festival. Accompanied by his son Kinshuk Sen and fellow performers, including Shalmali Kholgade, Vaishali Samant and Abhay Jodhpurkar, he performed songs from the band’s repertoire.

During his set, Sen spoke candidly about his experience in the Hindi film music industry, expressing disappointment that Bollywood had not given him the opportunities he had hoped for. He also discussed retaining ownership of his music, using Euphoria’s popular song “Maaeri” to underline the personal value he places on his work.

A particularly memorable moment came when Vaishali Samant joined him for a performance of “Kombdi Palali”, the Marathi song from Jatra that was later recreated as “Chikni Chameli” in Agneepath.

Sen performed the male portions of the Marathi original, offering a fresh live perspective on a song familiar to audiences through its later Hindi-film adaptation. The performance also drew attention to the relationship between regional music and mainstream Bollywood soundtracks.

Hariharan Delivers Classics With a Rock Twist

Veteran vocalist Hariharan took the stage with his son Akshay Hariharan for a performance spanning several decades of Indian film music.

Their set included the title track of Roja, “Nahin Saamne” from Taal, “Baahon Ke Darmiyan” from Khamoshi and “Telephone Dhun Mein Hasne Wali” from Hindustani.

One of the more unexpected arrangements was “Chappa Chappa” from Maachis, presented with a rock-oriented sound that gave the familiar song a different energy.

Hariharan also performed “Vande Mataram” before closing with “Tu Hi Re” from Roja. The selection demonstrated the enduring appeal of melodies that have continued to find listeners long after their original releases.

A Celebration of Different Generations of Indian Music

The festival’s wider line-up brought together artists associated with different musical eras and styles. Neeraj Shridhar added his popular pop numbers to the programme, while Shilpa Rao and Himesh Reshammiya were among the highly anticipated performers.

Amit Kumar also appeared, performing songs including “Dheere Dheere Chori Chori” and “Is Tarah Aashiqui Ka” from Imtihaan, along with classics such as “Bade Achhe Lagte Hain” and “Main Hoon Jhoom Jhoom Jhumroo”.

The range of performances reflected the festival’s broader format: bringing together playback singers, composers, independent musicians and artists whose work has shaped different chapters of Indian popular music.

Rather than focusing on one genre or generation, the event moved between Hindi film songs, rock, Sufi influences, regional music and patriotic compositions.

The Celebrity Hour Take

The 2026 edition of Bollywood Music Project demonstrated the continuing appeal of live performances built around familiar songs and the stories behind them. Roop Kumar Rathod’s romantic classics, Anu Malik’s energetic set and Hariharan’s enduring melodies offered moments of nostalgia, while Palash Sen’s Marathi performance highlighted the connections between regional music and mainstream cinema.

The festival also showed how a live setting can give established songs a new character through different arrangements and collaborations. For audiences, the appeal lay not only in hearing familiar tracks again, but also in seeing the artists revisit the music in their own way.

With its 10th edition, Bollywood Music Project brought together multiple generations of performers for a celebration of the many sounds that make up Indian popular music.

Sources & Verification

The article is based on published coverage of the October 24 festival and background information about the performers and songs. Individual performance details and reported on-stage remarks should be checked against available event footage before publication, particularly where quotations are concerned.