Abrarul Haq gets credit in Karan’s ‘JugJugg Jeeyo’

News Desk

Lahore: Pakistani singer Abrarul Haq has received official credit for his hit song “Nach Punjaban” in the Bollywood film JugJugg Jeeyo, bringing a fresh turn to the controversy surrounding the song’s use in the Indian production.

Abrarul Haq’s name appears on the promotional poster for “The Punjaabban Song”, alongside Indian composer Tanishk Bagchi, with both credited for the song’s music and lyrics.

The development follows a public dispute between Abrarul Haq and the filmmakers over the use of his popular track in the film.

The Pakistani singer had earlier claimed that his song was being used without his permission and said he had not sold the rights to Nach Punjaban for use in an Indian movie.

“I have not sold my song Nach Punjaban to any Indian movie and reserve the right to go to court to claim damages,” Abrarul Haq had said in a social media post.

He had also criticised filmmaker Karan Johar and alleged that his songs had repeatedly been copied.

However, the controversy took another turn when UK-based record label Moviebox Birmingham Limited, which is associated with the song’s rights on Spotify, stated that “Nach Panjaban” had been officially licensed for inclusion in JugJugg Jeeyo.

The label said T-Series and the film’s producers had the legal rights to use the song and rejected Abrarul Haq’s allegations, describing his earlier social media statement as defamatory.

The appearance of Abrarul Haq’s name in the official promotional material now formally acknowledges his contribution to the song, while the question of licensing and rights had previously remained at the centre of the dispute.

“Nach Punjaban”, originally written and performed by Abrarul Haq, became one of the singer’s most recognised Punjabi hits and has remained popular with audiences across generations.

Abrarul Haq rose to prominence in the 1990s with his album Billo De Ghar and went on to establish himself as one of Pakistan’s prominent Punjabi pop and bhangra singers.

Besides music, he is known for his philanthropic work through the Sahara for Life Trust, which focuses on healthcare and education initiatives for underserved communities.

The JugJugg Jeeyo song is expected to further introduce the popular Pakistani track to a wider Indian and international audience, while the earlier dispute has highlighted the complex issue of music rights and licensing across borders.