Bollywood’s remake culture just hit another breaking point. Veteran playback singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya publicly trashed the newly released version of his 1999 megahit “Chunnari Chunnari,” taking direct shots at both the musical arrangement and lead actor Varun Dhawan. The track dropped Tuesday as the promotional centerpiece for the upcoming comedy Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, but the original vocalist wants absolutely nothing to do with it.
Abhijeet did not hold back. He openly labeled Dhawan’s recent projects as “second-hand films,” specifically targeting the string of remakes directed by Varun’s father, David Dhawan. The singer stated firmly that “Varun Dhawan iss gaane se Salman Khan nahi ban sakta” (Varun Dhawan cannot become Salman Khan with this song). The original track defined a distinct era of Salman Khan’s rise to superstardom following the 1999 hit Biwi No. 1.
The creative choices behind the new version also drew Abhijeet’s ire. He complained that arrangers Akshay Raheja and Abhishek Singh stripped the vibrant energy from the dance track, claiming they turned it into something resembling a “bhajan.” He confirmed no one from the music or direction team had the courage to contact him beforehand, though fans are already crowding social media to voice their frustration with the recreated audio.
The friction extends beyond just the original singer’s disapproval. The remake has triggered an active legal dispute within the industry. Vashu Bhagnani’s Pooja Entertainment and Tips Music are currently clashing over the unauthorized use of the catalogue rights for the song in the new film.
Salman Khan himself couldn’t resist weighing in on the situation. During a recent PVR INOX event, Khan publicly teased Dhawan in front of a live crowd, joking, “Isne mera ek aur gaana utha liya” (He picked up another one of my songs).
Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai is scheduled to hit theaters on June 5, 2026. The film marks the fourth direct collaboration between Varun and David Dhawan. With Remo D’Souza handling the choreography for the new video, the visuals are pushing hard to recreate that late-90s magic, but the audio reception paints a very different picture.