'Selfish, petty and classless': Shilpa Rao’s husband slams organisers after Mumbai concert

Shilpa Rao with husband Ritesh Krishnan. Pic/Ritesh`s Instagram account

Singer Shilpa Rao's performance at Mumbai's Bollywood Music Project on Saturday, October 24, was abruptly interrupted amid scheduling delays, with her microphone switched off midway. Several videos circulating online showed the singer being hurried off the stage before she could finish addressing the audience and thanking them.

Following the incident, Shilpa Rao's husband, Ritesh Krishnan, expressed his anger and disappointment over the way she was treated. Reacting to the disrespect, he said he felt "angry, disappointed and helpless" watching his wife go through such an experience.

Taking to his social media account, Ritesh shared a note, writing, "I felt angry. I felt disappointed. I felt helpless!! And more than anything, it hurt to see someone I love and admire so deeply being put through this."

He further added, "People know Shilpa Rao as the voice behind some of the most beautiful songs. But I know the woman behind that voice. I know how much her audience and her fans mean to her. And to stand there last night, watching my wife being treated with such disrespect, was something I will never forget! BMP, your PR team is working overtime to convince Mumbai it did not see what it saw. Cute!"

He slammed the organisers, adding, "And above all, denying a fellow artist just two minutes to say goodbye to her audience was selfish, petty, shameless and utterly classless!! To everyone who stood by her, THANK YOU."

Appreciating his wife, he wrote, "Shilpa, I am incredibly proud of you, my love. Mumbai, we will be back. Your love deserves a beautiful ending. And we owe you that."

The incident drew massive criticism on social media, with fans expressing utter disappointment over the way the singer was treated, calling out the organisers for their mismanagement. Shilpa also shared an Instagram note, feeling 'heartbroken' with the event, writing, "Mumbai, a little piece of my heart broke tonight. It hurts deeply to have something so beautiful taken away from us like this. But even when the music stopped, you did not. The way you kept calling my name, the love in your voice. I could feel it all. Our story tonight was left unfinished. I promise, I will come back. I love you, Mumbai. Forever and ever. Shilpa"