Mumbai: Singer and performer Parleen Gill, who rose to fame from Indian Idol Season 3 and has sung songs in languages like Hindi, English, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Marathi, and Nepali, including sharing the stage with the who's who of the industry, like Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Shankar Mahadevan, Strings, Sonu Nigam, Shaan, Mika, K.K., and Sunidhi Chauhan, among others, has been living in Mumbai for the past 18 years. Though the city initially took him by surprise, he is happy to call it his home now.
He said, "When I first came to Mumbai, I was completely dazzled. The pace of the city took me by surprise; everyone seemed to be moving at lightning speed, and at times you can barely see the roads because they’re filled with a sea of cars."
"I remember a gentleman once telling me, 'If you manage to stay here for more than seven years, this city will become your home forever, and you won’t want to live anywhere else.' At that time, I didn’t fully understand what he meant. But after living here for 18 years, I can say he was absolutely right. Mumbai has taken a lot from me, but it has given me even more. It has shaped me, both personally and professionally," he added.
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Apr 2, 2026He believes Mumbai is extremely professional and calls it one of its biggest strengths. He said, "In any industry, especially ours, professionalism is the need of the hour. When the environment is competitive and disciplined, it naturally pushes everyone to raise their standards. That competition ultimately leads to better quality output, and that benefits both artists and audiences."
Parleen loves the fast pace of the city, as he feels it constantly motivates him to keep moving forward. He explained, "Its pace pushes me to evolve, to improve, and to outperform my previous versions. For me, that energy is inspiring rather than stressful."
He even shared his thoughts on the safety in the city and said, "I have personally seen men and women of all ages moving around the city even at 3 a.m. without fear. That sense of safety is truly commendable and is not something you find in many other parts of our country. It’s one of Mumbai’s most admirable qualities."
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Apr 2, 2026And though he feels that the city's biggest advantage is that it is the corporate and entertainment hub, he emphasized that the space is limited. He added, "Opportunities are abundant if you’re willing to work hard and stay consistent. On the downside, the city’s surface area is stretched, and new buildings are constantly coming up without a proportional upgrade in road infrastructure. That imbalance sometimes makes daily life more challenging than it needs to be."
Any changes he would like to suggest? "There can be many improvements, but I would begin with strengthening road infrastructure to match the city’s growth. Secondly, there should be more regulation around excessive construction so that dust levels and pollution can be controlled better. Sustainable growth is the key to keeping Mumbai livable and thriving," Parleen ended.
