Badshah (L) defends Daler Mehndi (R) after viral video from event. (Credit: PTI/Instagram/Daler Mehndi)

Badshah backs Daler Mehndi, says artists deserve dignity and respect

Rapper Badshah defended Daler Mehndi after BJP MLA Subodh Uniyal accused him of being intoxicated on stage. Badshah said that publicly humiliating an artist is extremely "disheartening."

by · India Today

In Short

  • Badshah supported Daler Mehndi amid controversy
  • MLA Subodh Uniyal accused Mehndi of drunkenness on stage
  • Mika Singh vowed to quit music if Daler drinks alcohol

Rapper Badshah has come out in support of veteran singer Daler Mehndi after a video showing a BJP MLA confronting the singer over his alleged drunken state went viral on social media. Calling Mehndi a “legend”, Badshah said that while disappointment could be expressed, publicly humiliating an artist who had contributed so much to the music industry was “extremely disheartening”.

Addressing the online backlash over Mehndi’s performance in Narendranagar, where MLA Subodh Uniyal publicly accused the singer of being intoxicated, Badshah shared a post on Instagram in his support.

“Daler Mehndi paaji is a legend. Period. You can express disappointment. But publicly humiliating an artist who has given so much to our music industry is extremely disheartening,” he wrote.

Mika supports brother Daler Mehndi

The singer strongly defended his brother. He declared that he will quit music if anyone can prove his sibling consumes alcohol. Accompanied by a caption within his video statement that read, "If you ever see Daler Mehndi drinking alcohol, I will quit singing – Mika Singh's bold statement (sic)," the singer hit back at critics and online trolls.

Mika said the veteran singer was physically unwell following a major surgery. Pointing to Daler’s three-decade-long career as a superstar, he stressed that his brother had never been associated with drinking and had honoured his professional commitment despite his fragile health.

Refuting the allegations of intoxication, Mika acknowledged that the minister had every right to question the quality of the performance after paying for the event. However, he maintained that accusing his brother of being drunk was entirely false.

The controversy erupted after clips from the Uttarakhand stage show surfaced online, showing Subodh Uniyal walking onto the stage and expressing his displeasure with the performance. The politician accused Daler of failing to sing properly and alleged that he was under the influence of alcohol, sparking widespread reactions on social media, ranging from mockery to backlash from fans.

- Ends