Anuv Jain Expected AP Dhillon to Bring ‘Big Star’ Aura to Their Collab ‘Afsos’: ‘Hilarious How Wrong I Was’

One of the standout moments of Punjabi-Canadian artist AP Dhillon’s Brownprint India tour last year was the Chandigarh show, where he brought out indie singer-songwriter star Anuv Jain for a surprise performance of their collaboration “Afsos,” written just days earlier.  

The release marks Jain’s first-ever collaboration and his 13th single overall. Sonically, “Afsos” is in the general area of what you might expect from a collaboration between Jain and Dhillon. If anyone had imagined such a thing, that is. The acoustic track about heartbreak and longing, co-produced by Jain’s longtime producer Angad Bahra, is heightened by poignant string arrangements. Given both artists’ massive popularity on streaming platforms, it’s hit over 40 million Spotify streams, peaking at fourth place on the India Top 50 chart on Spotify. After India, “Afsos” has been streamed most in Pakistan, the U.K., the U.S., Canada, and the U.A.E.

Shortly after the live debut of “Afsos”, Jain and Dhillon hosted a listening party together (a first for both artists) on Feb. 7, 2025. At the event put together by Spotify, the two artists interacted with fans, talked about making “Afsos” together, and invited listeners to take in its raw emotions.

Looking back on the making of the song, Jain says the collaboration came together with a simple goal. “It was just about making a song that would suit both of us and create something beautiful,” he says. “I knew we had that when I started the composition on ‘Afsos.’ He heard and loved it. That was enough for both of us to want to do this song together and I’m thrilled with the outcome.”

Originally, Jain expected Dhillon to “come in strong since he is such a big star”, assuming that the aura and lifestyle associated with the Punjabi star would play a big part. “It was hilarious how wrong I was,” Jain admits. He adds, “AP is honestly such a sweet humble guy. Sharing the stage with him was an incredible feeling.”

Dhillon says he’s been a fan of Jain’s music for a while, so when the idea of doing a Punjabi song came his way with “Afsos,” the “Excuses” hitmaker was all in. They had been exchanging calls and texts for months before finally meeting in September 2024. “I was on my tour in India and we decided to meet up in Delhi to write the record together with [singer-songwriter] Shinda Kahlon,” he says, explaining the tune’s creative journey. “After about two hours it was done—definitely one of the most organic and quickest processes of creating a song that I can remember.”

With this new release, the Punjabi artist further shakes off his hip-hop tag. He adds, “I would say there are lots of similarities between Anuv and I when it comes to our passion for music and the type of music we like to create. As artists you never want to force anything. The goal is always to find a way to express yourself in a way that will connect with others and, based on the response this record has received, I would say we accomplished that.”

In the process of working together, Jain and Dhillon found a lot of common ground. Jain says, “Our initial conversations revolved around music. He mentioned how he loves listening to my music and I brought up how my entire family are fans of his. We pretty much immediately agreed on so many factors in the song.”

They soon realized that Dhillon’s pind (village) was about three hours away from Jain’s village.
“It was also during these conversations that I realized that AP is so passionate about the music he puts out,” the singer-songwriter adds. “He believes in leaving a legacy and not focusing on the numbers. He loves experimenting with his sound and his quiet internal confidence in the music he makes is something I really admire.”

Through making “Afsos,” Jain feels more ready than ever to take on new collaborations. “All I need is a great collaborator and a song we want to make together,” he says. After his recent wedding, Jain vows to get back on stage with more shows and new music.

Dhillon, for his part, promises “more music, more ideas, more of everything” as he’s constantly working on new music. Asked if he would team up with Jain again, Dhillon says, “I mean, why not? I enjoy working with him and I am sure we will work together again in the future.”