“Yeh Remix Hai Ya Bhajan?”: Abhijeet Bhattacharya’s Remark on Varun Dhawan's Chunnari Chunnari 2.0 Remake Sparks Debate Online

Bollywood and remakes have become almost inseparable in recent years. After every few months an old hit song comes back with louder beats, a fresh cast, and a modern production style. The audience has a love hate relationship with this genre. Sometimes they enjoy the nostalgia and at times they absolutely hate it.This time, the controversy revolves around Chunnari Chunnari, the iconic track from the 1999 film Biwi No.1. Originally featuring Salman Khan, Sushmita Sen, and Karisma Kapoor, it became a cultural classic and till date is enjoyed by everyone. From weddings to school annual functions, the track defined late 90s Bollywood music for an entire generation. Now the song is being recreated for Varun Dhawan ’s upcoming film Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai . But before the audience could even digest the song, singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya publicly expressed his disappointment.

“It Sounds Like a Bhajan”

In a recent interview with ANI, Abhijeet criticised the recreated version of the song saying it no longer carries the energy or vibe of the original. His sharpest remark quickly went viral online when he said the remake sounds “more like a bhajan.” The statement instantly grabbed attention because of how blunt and unexpected it was. Abhijeet, who sang the original version alongside Alka Yagnik, felt strongly about the emotional identity of the song being changed. But the singer did not stop there. He also made headlines for commenting on Varun Dhawan directly, saying, “Varun Dhawan iss gaane se Salman Khan nahi ban sakta.” The remark quickly spread across social media platforms with users debating whether Abhijeet was simply protecting a classic or unnecessarily comparing actors from different generations.

Why Audiences Take These Songs Personally

The intense reaction online once again proves how emotionally attached people are to 90s Bollywood music. Songs like Chunnari Chunnari are not just tracks listeners casually listen online, they are deeply tied to memories, childhood moments, family celebrations, and a particular era of Bollywood that many people still adore. That emotional attachment is exactly why remakes often receive harsher criticism than entirely new songs. Audiences do not simply compare melodies, they compare feelings.For some viewers, recreating a classic is a way of introducing iconic music to younger audiences. But for others, remakes feel like Bollywood is relying too heavily on nostalgia instead of creating fresh, original music.The debate has become increasingly common in recent years as several old songs have been recreated for modern films.

Nostalgia vs Remix

Whether audiences agree with Abhijeet or not, his comments have once again highlighted a growing frustration among Bollywood fans. Many feel the industry has become dependent on remakes because familiar songs already come with built in popularity. At the same time, supporters of recreated tracks argue that music evolves with every generation, and reimagining classics is not necessarily disrespectful. But one thing is certain whenever Bollywood touches a beloved 90s classic, reactions are never neutral. And with one “bhajan” comment, Abhijeet Bhattacharya has once again pushed the remake debate right back into the spotlight.