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Anupam Kher has defended Daler Mehndi after a Uttarakhand minister confronted him during a performance, saying the singer deserved to be treated with respect.
Anupam Kher Says Daler Mehndi Does Not Drink, Calls Him A Good Human Being Amid Uttarakhand Row.
Actor Anupam Kher has come out in support of singer Daler Mehndi after Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal confronted him on stage during a performance in Tehri. The veteran actor questioned the minister’s decision to reprimand the singer in front of an audience and urged members of the entertainment industry to stand by Mehndi.
The controversy began after a video from the Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair went viral. Uniyal accused Mehndi of being under the influence of alcohol and questioned his ability to perform. The allegation has not been independently verified.
Anupam Kher Says Daler Mehndi Does Not Drink
In a video shared on social media, Anupam Kher said he had known Mehndi for many years and was aware that the singer had not been keeping well. He said he had not witnessed the incident himself and could not comment on exactly what had happened on stage. However, he defended the singer based on his personal experience of knowing the singer.
“He does not drink, as far as I know. He is one of the finest human beings that I have met,” Kher said.
Anupam Kher said Daler Mehndi had been unwell for the past two to three years but may have performed to honour his commitment. He added that even if the singer had lip-synced, he did not deserve to be spoken to that way in public. “Yeh bhi ho sakta hai ki unhone lip-sync kiya ho, but I just felt bad. Nobody should speak to anybody like that, that too in an open forum. Yeh fair nahi hai, aur iss tarah se publicly lanchan lagana galat hai.”
Anupam Kher Questions Subodh Uniyal’s Decision
The actor said the minister could have spoken to Mehndi privately instead of confronting him on stage. He added that the singer had contributed to music for decades and deserved respect. He also urged others in the entertainment industry to support Mehndi, saying it should not be left to just one person to stand by him.
Addressing the singer, he said, “Daler ji, I trust your judgments, your goodness, greatness and your professionalism. May God bless you, and may you get well soon. I know you are not well. I am sorry that you have to go through this. You are the best,”
What Happened During Daler Mehndi’s Performance?
The incident took place during the cultural evening at the annual Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in Tehri on Sunday, October 18. Videos going viral online showed Uniyal interrupting Daler Mehndi and questioning his ability to sing.
The minister alleged that the singer was intoxicated and unable to perform properly. The exchange drew criticism from people in the entertainment industry, with fellow artistes questioning the decision to confront Daler Mehndi publicly.
Quick Answers
Ask News18The controversy erupted when Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal interrupted Daler Mehndi’s live performance on stage, accusing the singer of being under the influence of alcohol and questioning his ability to sing. The minister publicly reprimanded him and stopped the program, citing the religious decorum of the Navratri event.
Ask News18About the Author
Shreyanka Mazumdar is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. With an unbridled passion for all things Bollywood, she loves deep-diving into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment wo…Read More
October 21, 2026, 10:13 IST