Adnan Sami says Pakistani music industry thought he was finished, reveals Asha Bhosle advised him to come to India

During an interview, Adnan Sami revealed that his decision to move to India was influenced by his dissatisfaction with the Pakistani music industry.

Singer and music composer Adnan Sami, who was born in Pakistan and later became an Indian citizen in 2016, has often faced criticism from Pakistani citizens for his decision to move. Many speculated that financial motives were behind the shift. However, during a recent appearance on India TV's Aap Ki Adalat, Adnan set the record straight, opening up about the real reason behind his move to India. (Also Read: 'This illiterate idiot': Adnan Sami blasts former Pak minister for questioning his nationality after Pahalgam attack)

Adnan Sami talked about the Pakistani music industry not supporting him

Adnan Sami talked about his decision to move from Pakistan to India,

Adnan recalled feeling disheartened by the Pakistani music industry and said, "I come from a very privileged family. I was never greedy for money because I was born in a home where I always had everything. An artiste is always wishing for audience. I got a lot of love from Pakistan, but I wanted a larger audience. After the songs I released in 1998, people in the Pakistani music industry thought my songs wouldn't work and I’m finished. So they didn’t provide any publicity for those songs. Nobody got to know when the album released and vanished. I was very dejected. I was in Canada at that time. I knew they’d done that on purpose."

Adnan Sami recalls how Asha Bhosle asked him to come to Mumbai

He added that the love and acceptance he received in India was unlike anything he had experienced before. Adnan further noted that it wasn't just him—iconic artists like ghazal legends Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Mehdi Hassan, as well as folk singer Reshma, also found success in Pakistan, but their fame multiplied significantly in India. He attributed this to the country's vast audience and deep respect for music, which he believes is unmatched elsewhere.

Apart from his hit albums, Adnan Sami has lent his voice to several popular Bollywood tracks, including Tu Sirf Mera Mehboob in Ajnabee, Nashe Nashe Mein Yaar in Janasheen, Shayad Yahi To Pyar Hai in Lucky: No Time for Love, Dil Kya Kare in Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute to Love, and Baatein Kuch Ankahein Si in Life in a... Metro, among others.