Himesh Reshammiya Plans Global English-Language Album, Reveals Rihanna Collaboration Dream
Bollywood singer-composer Himesh Reshammiya is preparing to take a new musical step beyond the Indian film industry. In a conversation with film trade analyst Komal Nahta, Reshammiya revealed that he has written, sung and composed 15 original songs for an English-language album aimed at listeners around the world.
The project, which he says has been in development alongside his other professional commitments, is intended to receive a major international launch rather than a low-key release. Reshammiya also shared that one of the songs could suit global pop star Rihanna, offering a glimpse of the kind of collaboration he would welcome if the opportunity arose.
15 original songs written and composed by Himesh
Reshammiya said the album features 15 songs created entirely by him. He stressed that the material is not an attempt to imitate international pop trends, but music he believes has its own identity and can connect with English-language audiences.
“Nobody knows that I have composed 15 songs in the international language,” he told Nahta, explaining that he has written, sung and composed all the tracks. He added that the songs do not sound “wannabe” and that he is excited to introduce them to listeners outside India.
The scale of the project is central to his plans. Rather than releasing the music casually or treating it as a brief crossover appearance, Reshammiya wants to build a proper international campaign around the album. That could involve a prominent launch for its first single, followed by a wider rollout designed to present him as an artist in his own right—not simply as a Bollywood composer making an occasional English-language track.
A global launch is waiting on the right moment
Reshammiya said he has not yet settled on a release schedule because his existing work, including film commitments, has kept him busy. Once those obligations ease, he hopes to plan the launch on a grand scale.
He described his ambition as launching the album internationally in a way that reflects how he was introduced as a singer in India. The first single, he said, would be unveiled with a major global presentation. His comments suggest that the release will be treated as a carefully planned career move, with attention given to how the music is introduced and to the audience it is meant to reach.
That distinction matters in a crowded international music market. English-language releases by artists from outside the United States and the United Kingdom can face the challenge of being viewed as crossover experiments. Reshammiya appears keen to avoid that label by presenting a complete body of work built for listeners who regularly consume English-language music.
Why Reshammiya believes the timing is right
Reshammiya said he feels this may be the right moment to bring the project forward, pointing to his recent inclusion in a Bloomberg list of leading pop stars. He sees that recognition as an opportunity to introduce his sound to a wider audience and build on the profile he has established through Indian cinema and music.
His career has long moved between film composition, playback singing and independent releases. For many Bollywood listeners, his voice became especially familiar through high-energy romantic songs and distinctive vocal phrasing. A global English-language album would give him a different platform: one where listeners may encounter his music without the context of a film, a character or a Hindi-language hit.
That shift could also test how his signature style translates across languages. Reshammiya acknowledged that audiences were once surprised by how he would sound as a singer before the release of Aashiq Banaya Aapne in 2005. He sees a similar element of surprise in the upcoming album, saying the new material is different while retaining a romantic connection.
Romance remains part of the musical identity
Although the album is intended for an international audience, Reshammiya indicated that it will not abandon the emotional themes associated with much of his popular work. He described the songs as fresh and different, but said romance remains an important thread.
That combination may help the project bridge audiences. Rather than presenting a complete break from the music that established his career, Reshammiya appears to be carrying forward a familiar emotional sensibility while exploring a new language and international sound. The challenge will be to make that approach feel natural to listeners who may not know his Bollywood catalogue.
For fans, the album also raises questions about its production, sound and release strategy. Reshammiya has not yet announced a title, track list, collaborators or confirmed launch date. Until those details emerge, his comments offer an early outline: 15 self-created songs, an ambitious international rollout and a lead single intended to make a strong first impression.
Rihanna is his dream collaboration
When Nahta asked which international singer he would like to work with, Reshammiya named Rihanna. He suggested that one of the songs he has created would be particularly well suited to her, making the pop star his preferred collaboration choice.
No partnership has been announced, and Reshammiya’s remark was framed as a dream collaboration rather than a confirmed plan. Still, the choice points to the scale of his ambitions. Rihanna’s global reach and genre-spanning catalogue would make any collaboration a major event, while a duet could introduce Reshammiya to listeners who may be unfamiliar with his work in Indian film music.
For now, the focus remains on preparing the album and finding the right time to launch it. If the project arrives as planned, it could mark one of the most significant international moves of Reshammiya’s career—an attempt to bring a distinctly personal collection of songs to a universal audience.
Meanwhile, the singer-composer continues to remain active in Bollywood. He is also set to reunite with Akasa Singh for the Gunmaaster G9 song “Dard-E-Dil Dard-E-Jigar,” scheduled to release on October 30. The upcoming track adds to his current slate of work as anticipation builds around the larger English-language album.
