Ishq Hai: The viral song you hear everywhere on reels is now a global collaboration

When Ishq Hai first appeared in Netflix India’s Mismatched Season 3, it quickly became more than a background score. Listeners pulled it into their own routines, replaying it at weddings, on road trips, and across social media.

Now the song is taking a different route. Composer Anurag Saikia’s creation has been reworked with trance producer Armin van Buuren and UK singer Craig David. The new version, Ishq Hai (This Is Love), arrives worldwide on August 29, 2025.

From local hit to regional spread

The original song refused to fade after its 2024 release. It crossed 300 million streams across platforms, including more than 175 million on Spotify in India alone. Its simple tune and emotional writing gave it staying power.

Soon the song was climbing charts outside India, gaining listeners in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Singapore, and the Middle East. Fans helped push that spread, using it heavily on short-form video platforms. By mid-2025, it had become one of the few Indian tracks to break through regionally without a major promotional machine.

Rebuilt for the global stage

The remix marks a dramatic shift in style. Armin van Buuren, a five-time No. 1 DJ in the world, has layered in his high-energy pulse, moving the song into club territory. Instead of the soft pace of the original, this cut is structured for larger spaces and festival playlists.

Craig David adds an English verse that broadens its reach and reshapes the flow. Fresh off a new album, he brings his voice into the mix without overshadowing Saikia’s melody. The result is a piece that straddles Indian composition, European trance, and British R&B, carrying the song far beyond where it started.

Armin van Buuren said, “When I first heard Ishq Hai, its emotion and melody instantly stayed with me. Working with Craig to reimagine it was special; we kept its soul but gave it the energy to connect with dance floors all over the world.”

Craig David added, “The first time I heard ‘Ishq Hai,’ I loved the vibe straight away. Working with Armin on the track was a really special experience. I had a great time adding my verse and being part of a version that opens the song up to even more people worldwide.”

Having worked with Armin van Buuren and Craig David just shows how music travels beyond borders and connects on a whole different emotional level. This is love, indeed

- Anurag Saikia

The track is here

https://open.spotify.com/track/53PHY7P6XrgX6YdPxJAhvO?context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A37i9dQZEVXbomak5ZK16i4&nd=1&dlsi=72d1fd0feaba4d5

Artists and partners on the collaboration

For Anurag Saikia, this marks a milestone. “‘Ishq Hai’ is such a special song for me, and I feel so blessed to have received so much love. And now, having worked with Armin van Buuren and Craig David just shows how music travels beyond borders and connects on a whole different emotional level. This is love, indeed!”

This remix also highlights a crossover moment. Armin van Buuren has toured India since 2008 but has never collaborated with an Indian musician until now. Craig David, too, is entering Indian music for the first time.

The project is backed by Believe, which first supported Ishq Hai as part of its OTT music strategy. Romain Vivien, President Europe & Head of Music, Believe, said, “Ishq Hai holds a very special place for us as Believe’s first OTT music release, and to see its journey still growing in 2025 is incredible. Having Armin van Buuren, doing his first-ever India collaboration after playing in India since 2008, and Craig David, delivering his first-ever India collab as part of our Believe UK roster, alongside Anurag Saikia’s genius, makes this project truly special. With Armada Music pushing the track across the UK, USA, and EU, and our Believe team driving it bigger in India, this release breathes new life into Ishq Hai and breaks borders like never before. We’re grateful to Netflix for their trust and creative freedom, and we’re super excited to bring this global collaboration to new audiences at a more global level.”

The release is a rare case of an Indian streaming-era track being reshaped for global playlists with major international names. What began as a song tied to a coming-of-age series has now grown into a collaboration where Sufi-inspired lyricism, electronic build, and R&B vocals share the same stage.