India’s rock fans were in for heartbreak earlier this week, after it was confirmed that Mumbai’s iconic Independence Rock music festival will not be taking place in 2025 because it has been cancelled. It comes less than one month before the festival has been usually happening after it was revived in 2022, as a lot of fans were asking about it on offline and online.

A day after the announcement, the music festival’s founder Farhad Wadia took to social media to share an emotional post. The post on Instagram reads, “A Bridge Too Far… But Maybe Not Forever

It breaks my heart to say this — Independence Rock will not be happening in 2025.

This was one of the toughest calls we've ever had to make. The exit of our main sponsors, Mahindra, has left us without the support needed to make it happen this year.

The last three years had reignited my belief that we might just reach I-Rock 50, a milestone that has lived in my dreams for decades. But without a strong sponsor commitment it's impossible to execute and that goal now feels like a bridge too far.

What truly saddens me is that Independence Rock isn’t just the oldest rock festival in the country — it’s the most loved, and the only stage that has always stood for Indian rock and Indian Bands and nothing else. It has been home to countless bands, fans, and memories that have defined generations over 38 odd years.
Still, I’m not giving up. We will endeavor to bring it back in 2026 if we can find alternate sponsors who believe in the power, passion, and legacy of Indian rock.
So, to all the believers, dreamers, and rockers out there — HEY HEY MY MY ROCK & ROLL CAN NEVER DIE !!!”