Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Oct 21: Veteran actor Anupam Kher and actor Rajpal Yadav have extended their support to singer Daler Mehndi following the controversy surrounding his performance at the Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in New Tehri, Uttarakhand.
The controversy erupted after minister Subodh Uniyal reportedly interrupted the singer during his performance and expressed displeasure over it. The incident drew criticism from several celebrities, who questioned the manner in which the singer was addressed in public.
Anupam Kher shared a video on social media expressing sadness over the incident. He said that any concerns about the performance could have been conveyed to Daler Mehndi privately and respectfully rather than confronting him on stage.
Kher also said he had known the singer for many years and was aware that his health had not been good recently. He emphasised that artists spend their lives earning recognition and respect through hard work and should be treated with dignity.
Rajpal Yadav also voiced his support through a video shared on Instagram on Wednesday. “Kalakaar ka apmaan matlab kala ka apmaan, aur kala ka apna ek kad hai, aur kad kabhi paison se nahi tola ja sakta,” he wrote, meaning that insulting an artist is an insult to art itself and that the value of art cannot be measured in money.
Earlier, singer Mika Singh came out in support of his brother Daler Mehndi, sharing a video dismissing allegations that the singer was intoxicated during his performance. Comedian Kapil Sharma later reshared the video on Instagram and expressed his support, revealing that Daler Mehndi had recently undergone major surgery. He urged people to show compassion, noting that they might not know the personal challenges others were facing.
Several other celebrities, including Badshah, Harshdeep Kaur, Palash Sen and Shaan, have also expressed support for Daler Mehndi on social media.
The incident occurred during the singer’s performance at the Uttarakhand event, where Subodh Uniyal, the MLA from Narendra Nagar, reportedly took the stage and reprimanded him over his performance. The episode has since sparked debate over the treatment of artists at public events.