15 October,2026 02:06 PM IST | Mumbai | Rachel Pereira
Amit Sana and Abhijeet Sawant. Pics via Instagram
More than two decades after Amit Sana and Abhijeet Sawant faced off in Indian Idol season 1 finale, fans still debate who deserved to win. But Sana says the competition is now a distant memory for him, and he would rather focus on the music than revisit the past.
The singers are reuniting for Indian Idol Legends Return, and reflecting on the long-running debate, Sana spoke to mid-day exclusively, saying, "It's a very old thing, to be honest. It's more than two decades. So, definitely it did mean something for a couple of years. But slowly, it faded away. We started moving into our own direction."
For him, the competition was only the beginning of a much longer journey. "Music is like a lifelong process. You cannot think of it on the basis of one reality show," he said, explaining that singers must continue learning whether they want to become independent musicians or playback singers. "The competition actually, the memories are still there. But it doesn't mean much," he added.
Asked whether there was any awkwardness between them as they returned to the same platform, he was emphatic. "There is absolutely no awkwardness. You will find that in the show as well," he said, adding that viewers would see their "camaraderie and love and support".
"I don't know. There was no such thing before social media," he said, reflecting on how online platforms may have given the debate a longer life. "I mean, it becomes a platform to say what you feel."
For Sana, it is time to leave the arguments behind and let the music take centre stage. "So, I think it's been a long time now. So, I think it's time to make music together," he said, hinting that the two could work on something together after all these years.
Returning to the show was not an automatic yes for Sana. Although he was excited to hear from Indian Idol, he admitted that stepping back into a singing reality show after 22 years required some thought.
"It was not an easy yes for sure," he said. Having grown from the young contestant who first arrived on the show into an artist with years of experience, he wondered whether returning to the competition was the right move.
But the opportunity made him reflect on where his journey began. "I wanted to go back to that same person that came to this city 22 years back," he said. He also wanted to see how the standard of singing and competition had evolved.
Ultimately, returning to the platform felt like a way to reconnect with his original ambitions. "And wanted to compete and wanted to give his best," he said of the younger version of himself. "And again, there could not be a better place to start again."
Indian Idol Legends Return premieres on October 17 at 8 pm on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV.
