Pritam REACTS to Mashooqa plagiarism accusation; says trolls have become his unpaid PR team

The release of Mashooqa from Cocktail 2 has sparked major conversation online, not just for the chemistry between Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon, but also for a fresh plagiarism debate surrounding composer Pritam. The song, which captures a scenic road trip and the blossoming romance between the lead characters, quickly became a trending topic on social media soon after its launch.

Featuring Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon in glamorous avatars, Mashooqa showcases the duo slowly lowering their emotional barriers while travelling together through picturesque landscapes. The track is positioned as a fun and vibrant romantic number from Cocktail 2, which also stars Rashmika Mandanna in a key role. However, discussions around the song soon shifted from its visuals and vibe to accusations of musical similarities.

A section of social media users claimed that the primary beat and tune of Mashooqa resembled the 1993 Italian comedic song Se So Arrubate A Nonna by the duo Bibi & Coco. The comparison quickly gained traction online, especially because Pritam has previously faced allegations of taking inspiration from international music tracks earlier in his career. Memes, comparison videos, and criticism flooded platforms within hours of the song s release.

MASHOOQA BY PRITAM COPIED FROM SE SO ARRUBATA (1993) by u/Main-hoon-don in BollyBlindsNGossip

Responding to the controversy, Pritam addressed the accusations through his Instagram Stories and took a sarcastic dig at the online critics. Sharing his reaction, the composer wrote, Every single of my song release comes with set of self-appointed music detectives, who have created a new genre called 'imaginary similarities'.

He further added, Same people, same 'inspired by' thesis. Boss, at this point you are my unpaid PR team. I just want to say guys NOT NICE.

Despite the controversy, Mashooqa continues to generate strong engagement online, largely driven by Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon s chemistry and the song s visually rich presentation. The track has also added to the growing buzz around Cocktail 2, which is one of the most anticipated Bollywood releases of the year.

Directed by Homi Adajania, Cocktail 2 is slated to release in theatres on June 19, 2026. The film serves as a spiritual sequel to the 2012 hit Cocktail. The makers are also gearing up to launch the film s trailer on May 29, 2026.