Sonu Nigam on skipping college, romance: 'I chose to struggle at 18'
Synopsis
Sonu Nigam has admitted he desperately wanted girlfriends and romance at 18 — but chose to move to Mumbai and grind instead, guided by his father's blunt two-choice philosophy. By 21, he was on Sa Re Ga Ma. The candid confession reframes one of Indian music's biggest careers as a deliberate, early sacrifice.
Key Takeaways
Sonu Nigam spoke on Komal Nahta's podcast 'Game Changers: The Music Series' , revealing personal sacrifices made at 18 .
He moved to Mumbai after completing 12th grade , forgoing college and romantic relationships to pursue music.
By age 21 , he had landed the iconic show Sa Re Ga Ma , which helped launch his career.
Nigam credits his father's advice — 'struggle now, enjoy later' — as the defining philosophy behind his choices.
He describes himself as an 'early bird' who caught the wave of India's nascent television industry.
Playback singer Sonu Nigam has opened up about a personal crossroads he faced at 18 — choosing relentless ambition over romance and college life — crediting his father's advice for steering him toward one of Indian music's most celebrated careers.
The Choice That Defined His Career
Speaking on trade expert Komal Nahta's podcast 'Game Changers: The Music Series', Nigam recalled the guiding principle his father drilled into him: 'You have two choices, either enjoy yourself now and struggle later, or struggle now and enjoy life later.'
Nigam said he took that counsel to heart. 'I worked hard after the age of 18 instead of going to college and hanging out with girls. I really wanted to, I was a romantic guy. I wanted to have girlfriends, I wanted to have affairs. But then I thought, my father is saying this for a reason. Let's not waste time. Let's work hard,' he said.
The Move to Mumbai at 18
After completing his 12th grade, Nigam left for Mumbai — then known as Bombay — at 18, a decision he now regards as pivotal. 'That turned out to be the right decision. If I hadn't come then, I probably wouldn't have gotten work until I was 19. By the age of 21, I was doing Sa Re Ga Ma,' he said.
He described his timing as fortuitous, arriving just as Indian television was taking its first steps. 'I came at the right time, and the right things happened. I also witnessed the beginning of television and caught that wave,' he added.
Pioneer Mindset and Gratitude
Nigam reflected on the competitive edge that early arrival gave him. 'If I had come later, I would have been second or third in line. I was a pioneer, an early bird. So, everything worked out beautifully,' he said.
He reserved particular gratitude for his family and mentors. 'I have every reason to thank God and all the people around me — my father, my parents, and my teachers,' he added.
A Career Built on Early Sacrifice
Today, Sonu Nigam is widely regarded as one of the most versatile voices in contemporary Indian music, with thousands of hit songs spanning multiple languages and genres over several decades. His candid admission offers a rare glimpse into the sacrifices that underpinned that success — and the parental wisdom that made them feel worthwhile.
Point of View
And the television timing point is underappreciated: his generation of playback singers rode a media expansion that will not repeat. Younger artists face a far more fragmented, algorithm-driven landscape where arriving early means little without viral leverage.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sonu Nigam reveal about his personal life at 18?
Sonu Nigam admitted that at 18 he genuinely wanted to pursue romantic relationships but chose to focus on his music career instead, guided by his father's advice to 'struggle now and enjoy later.' He moved to Mumbai after completing 12th grade rather than attending college.
Where did Sonu Nigam share these revelations?
Nigam made these disclosures on trade expert Komal Nahta's podcast 'Game Changers: The Music Series,' where he spoke candidly about his early career decisions and personal sacrifices.
How did moving to Mumbai at 18 shape Sonu Nigam's career?
Nigam says the move was perfectly timed — by 21 he was performing on the popular show Sa Re Ga Ma, and he also caught the early wave of Indian television's expansion. He believes arriving later would have made him 'second or third in line.'
What was Sonu Nigam's father's advice that guided his choices?
His father told him he had two choices: 'either enjoy yourself now and struggle later, or struggle now and enjoy life later.' Nigam says he listened and chose to work hard through his youth, a decision he credits for his comfortable life today.
Why does Sonu Nigam consider himself a pioneer?
Nigam describes himself as an 'early bird' who arrived in Mumbai at the right moment, witnessing and benefiting from the birth of Indian television. He believes his early entry gave him a competitive head start that later arrivals could not replicate.
