“Chillgum”: Why Malaika Arora’s Comeback Track With Honey Singh Feels More Awkward Than Bold

When the teaser for Honey Singh’s new single “Chillgum” featuring Malaika Arora dropped, it was supposed to be nostalgic—two 2000s icons reuniting for another glam-pop banger. Instead, it sparked mixed emotions: admiration for Malaika’s confidence, and a collective facepalm at the choreography’s sheer mismatch.

The Real Problem Isn’t Malaika’s Age—It’s the Direction

Before we even start, let’s throw out the lazy, sexist comments like “What will her kids think?” or “Why is she doing this at her age?”Because here’s the truth: male stars twice her age flaunt abs, lip-sync to autotuned hooks, and romance women half their age while audiences cheer. Yet when a woman owns her sensuality, suddenly the moral police wake up.

Malaika looks stunning. The issue isn’t her confidence—it’s how the choreography treats her body like a prop in someone else’s fantasy.

Dance Form Mismatch: From Munni Badnaam to Dancehall Disaster

Malaika comes from the golden era of item numbers—songs like “Chaiyya Chaiyya” and “Munni Badnaam Hui”, where sensuality was rooted in rhythm, facial play, and filmi swagger. Her body language is sharp, precise, and commanding.But “Chillgum” forces her into the hyper-Westernized zone of dancehall and twerking, a style that lives in hip isolations and bounce energy. That’s where someone like Nora Fatehi shines naturally—her movement flows through the hips, not the shoulders. Malaika, trained in classic Bollywood sensuality, simply moves differently. It’s like asking Madhuri Dixit to do a Cardi B move—it’s not about skill; it’s about authenticity. Different schools of movement have different souls.

Honey Singh’s Aesthetic Stuck in Time

Honey Singh built an empire on early-2010s party pop, but that swagger now feels dated. The flashy cars, neon lights, and predictable camera zooms lack evolution. He’s trying to remix nostalgia with Gen-Z energy, but without evolving sound or movement vocabulary, it feels like déjà vu.

What Could Have Worked

Imagine if the video leaned into old-school Bollywood glam—silhouettes, stage lights, cabaret grace, and slow-tempo sensuality. Let Malaika be who she is: timeless, not trend-chasing.

When authenticity meets confidence, that’s when the magic happens—something Chillgum completely misses.

Aapke Sawal, Hamare Jawab! (FAQs)

1. Why is Malaika Arora being criticized for “Chillgum”?

Not for her looks or age—but for the awkward choreography and mismatch between her natural dance style and the modern twerking-based form.

2. Is it wrong for older women to perform sensual roles?

Absolutely not. The criticism should be artistic, not moral. Age has nothing to do with confidence or sensuality.

3. What is dancehall style and why does it look different?

Dancehall is a Caribbean form with strong hip movements, isolations, and groove—unlike Bollywood’s rhythmic, upper-body-driven sensuality.

4. Could this have been better choreographed?

Yes—by blending Bollywood grace with controlled hip movement, the video could have highlighted Malaika’s strengths instead of forcing her into imitation.

5. What’s the larger trend this reflects in Indian pop videos?

A crisis of cultural copy-pasting, where Western pop aesthetics are imitated without considering performer comfort or native movement language.