Ed Sheeran’s recent collaboration with Arijit Singh for the song Sapphire has struck a chord with Indian audiences, thanks to the duo’s soulful vocals and effortless on-screen connection. The song quickly gained popularity and Ed Sheeran’s heartfelt message following its release only deepened the affection fans felt for the project.

In a touching note shared on Instagram, Ed Sheeran revealed that he became a fan of Arijit Singh after hearing Tum Hi Ho while watching the Bollywood film Aashiqui 2. He described being completely captivated by the singer’s voice, the emotion in the song and the scene in which it played. This encounter led him to explore more of Arijit’s work and eventually reach out to him. As Ed Sheeran put it, “I first became aware of @arijitsingh music when I watched Aashiqui 2 and heard Tum Hi Ho. I was proper spellbound by his voice, the song, the scene in the movie. I checked him out, and got in touch, and said whenever you wanna sing together, I’m down.”

Despite the sincerity of his words, some Indian fans were skeptical about whether Ed Sheeran had truly seen the film. One user commented, “Bro, in no world did you watch Aashiqui 2.” Ed Sheeran responded to the doubt directly, expressing his genuine interest in Indian cinema. He wrote, “Why not? I watch loads of Bollywood and Tollywood movies, no one makes movies like that, I love it.”

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Their musical partnership took root when Ed Sheeran made a guest appearance at Arijit Singh’s concert in London. During that visit, Ed Sheeran played an early version of Sapphire for Arijit, who immediately contributed ideas for vocals and instrumentation. The two stayed in touch through email, exchanging ideas until Ed Sheeran traveled to India for a tour. That’s when they decided to finish the song in person. Arijit invited Ed Sheeran to his hometown to give him a deeper look into his roots and culture.

Recounting this unique experience, Ed Sheeran shared that he was traveling with his father, which made the trip even more special. He wrote, “I was with my dad on tour, which is a rarity to get so much one-on-one time with him. Me and him got a flight to Kolkata, then a 5 and a half hour drive to his home town.” Reflecting on the collaboration, Ed concluded, “He’s one of the most talented humans I’ve ever met, and I’m so grateful he shared his talent with me for this song.”

Here is the video:

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With Sapphire, Ed Sheeran not only delivered a cross-cultural musical gem but also affirmed his genuine appreciation for Indian music, cinema and collaboration.

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