MUMBAI: The 25th edition of the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) took place in Jaipur on March 8–9. Days after the star-studded event, singer Sonu Nigam expressed his disappointment over not being nominated for Mere Dholna 3.0 from Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 in the Best Male Playback Singer category.

On Tuesday, Sonu took to Instagram, sharing a screenshot of the nominees and highlighting the absence of his name. In a pointed caption, he wrote, “Thank you, IIFA. After all, you were answerable to the Rajasthan bureaucracy.”

While Shreya Ghoshal won the Best Female Playback Singer award for the same song, Jubin Nautiyal claimed the Best Male Playback Singer title for Dua from Article 370.

Mere Dholna 3.0 became an instant hit upon release, with fans and industry insiders praising Sonu Nigam’s powerful vocals. Actor Kartik Aaryan, who stars in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, applauded the singer on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “The entire climax that everyone has been raving about was a combination of many forces coming together… out of which a big, big credit goes to Sonu sir and his heart-wrenching voice. I may have performed in front of the camera, but it was his voice that CREATED THE HEART-TOUCHING MAGIC.”

Despite the acclaim, Sonu Nigam’s absence from the nomination list has sparked conversations about award show transparency and recognition.