‘Daler Mehndi Is A Very Sufi Man’, Says Jimmy Shergill Amid Uttarakhand Row: ‘Doesn’t Drink; Had An Operation’ | Bollywood News

Last Updated:October 24, 2026, 08:37 IST

Drawing from his own experience of dealing with a medical situation, the actor emphasised the need to be sensitive towards people going through health-related challenges.

Daler Mehndi’s Navratri performance went viral.

Actor and producer Jimmy Shergill has spoken out in support of singer Daler Mehndi amid the recent controversy. He stated that making fun of someone who is dealing with a medical condition is not right. In an exclusive conversation with IANS, Jimmy said he had known Daler for many years and described him as a “very Sufi man”.

He also said that, to his knowledge, the singer did not consume alcohol. “I have known Daler Mehndi for many years. He is a very Sufi man. He doesn’t drink at all. As far as I know, I think he has had an operation. I myself have gone through such a period when a person is fighting a medical situation. So, making fun of such a thing is not a good thing,” Jimmy told IANS.

Drawing from his own experience of dealing with a medical situation, the actor emphasised the need to be sensitive towards people going through health-related challenges.

Daler Mehndi’s performance at the annual Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in Uttarakhand sparked controversy after state minister Subodh Uniyal reportedly interrupted the singer’s show midway. The minister allegedly accused Daler of being under the influence of alcohol and criticised his performance, questioning whether it justified the substantial fee he had charged.

Amid the controversy, several members of the entertainment industry, including Mika Singh, Palash Sen, Kapil Sharma, and Sudesh Lehri, have come out in support of Daler Mehndi. Defending his brother, Mika shared a video in which he questioned the allegations against the singer and pointed to his decades-long career.

“I saw the news. You people have spread this ‘Daler Mehndi was drunk while singing; he is unable to sing’. First of all, I would like to ask you all — he has been a superstar for the last 30 years. Have you ever seen a glass of alcohol in his hand or seen alcohol flowing freely at his birthday parties?” Mika said.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – IANS)

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What caused the controversy during Daler Mehndi’s performance in Uttarakhand?

Daler Mehndi’s performance at the annual Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair sparked a controversy when state minister Subodh Uniyal interrupted him midway, publicly accusing the singer of being under the influence of alcohol and questioning the substantial fee he charged.

How did Jimmy Shergill and other artists defend Daler Mehndi against the allegations?

Jimmy Shergill defended Daler Mehndi by stating that he does not consume alcohol and has been dealing with a medical condition following an operation, noting that mocking someone’s health struggles is wrong. Other artists like Mika Singh and Rajpal Yadav similarly dismissed the accusations of intoxication and emphasized his clean personal habits and decades-long legendary career.

What did Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami say about the incident?

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that the controversy should be brought to an end, adding that he planned to speak with Daler Mehndi and Mika Singh while noting that the minister was initially unaware of the singer’s health condition.

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Kashvi Raj Singh

Kashvi Raj Singh is a Sub Editor at News18. She extensively covers Bollywood, Hollywood and television. She not only keeps an eye out for interesting news angles but also often writes social commentar…Read More