Abhijeet Sawant, the name that became a household favourite after winning the first season of Indian Idol, recently opened up about a lesser-known chapter of his life. The singer revisited a memory involving none other than the late Balasaheb Thackeray.
Abhijeet spoke about the time he lived with his family in a modest BMC quarters. The building, old and worn, carried a warning for all its residents. A board hung outside that declared, ‘Ye building asurakshit hai. Aap apne bharose par reh rahe ho.’ Even today, he says, that notice still hangs there, he recalled with a soft chuckle.
During those days, a journalist had visited his home for an interview. As they wrapped up their conversation, the man noticed the warning board outside. Curious, he asked Abhijeet about it. The singer explained the situation, casually mentioning that his family was planning to shift soon and that he was already on the lookout for a new home. It was an ordinary chat, but what followed was anything but ordinary.
The next morning, one of Mumbai’s biggest newspapers carried a front-page photo of Abhijeet with a bold headline calling him ‘homeless.’ The singer laughed as he remembered the incident. “Photo liya. Mumbai ka bada newspaper hai voh, aisa vaisa nahi. Front page chappa, ‘Abhijeet Sawant Homeless.’” What was meant to be a harmless conversation became citywide gossip overnight.
The news reached Balasaheb Thackeray. Abhijeet shared how he received a personal call from the Shiv Sena supremo soon after. Balasaheb asked him to visit his residence. The singer admitted he was both nervous and curious about what the meeting was about. Once he arrived, Balasaheb didn’t waste time. He told Abhijeet, “Aisa sab mai padha. Mera ek banda hai. Voh builder hai. Mai usko phone karega. Voh teko chaavi lake de dega. Tujha ghar. Rakh le tu.”
It was a gesture of pure generosity. The singer felt humbled but politely turned down the offer. Abhijeet revealed he had already booked a new home and made the advance payment. He explained to Balasaheb that he was still staying in the old building simply because he liked it there.
Looking back, Abhijeet laughed about how a small remark during an interview spiralled into a headline that led to such an unforgettable encounter. The kindness extended by Balasaheb Thackeray left a lasting impression on him. It wasn’t about the house but about the compassion behind the gesture.
