Mika Singh defends Daler Mehndi after lip-syncing row: ‘He underwent a serious operation recently’

A performance meant to entertain a festive crowd has turned into a public controversy over live singing, an artist’s health and the way allegations are made on stage. Now, singer Mika Singh has stepped in to defend his elder brother, Daler Mehndi, revealing that the veteran performer recently underwent a serious operation and has been unwell for the past two years.

The controversy erupted at the Maa Kunjapuri Mela in Uttarakhand’s Tehri Garhwal district, where Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal interrupted Mehndi’s performance on Sunday, October 18. A video of the confrontation went viral, prompting questions about whether the singer was lip-syncing and allegations that he had consumed alcohol.

Why did Mika Singh defend Daler Mehndi?

In a statement shared on social media, Mika criticised the way the allegations were made public and urged journalists to verify claims before reporting them. “A special request to our media friends: Please verify the facts before publishing any news! If someone makes allegations without proof, please don’t believe them blindly or spread the news without checking the truth. The way Daler Mehndi was treated on stage was disappointing. A respected minister came on stage and made allegations about him drinking alcohol. But before publishing such claims, shouldn’t we verify the facts and give the artist a chance to present his side? Would anyone dare to behave like that with an international band like Coldplay?” Mika said in a strong-worded statement.

Mika also challenged anyone to prove that Daler consumed alcohol, saying he would quit singing if even one person could establish having seen his brother drink.

What did Mika reveal about Daler Mehndi’s health?

Mika said his brother’s performance should be viewed in the context of his health, while making clear that the claims about alcohol consumption were disputed. "I know my brother Daler Mehndi, and he does not drink alcohol. He has been unwell for the past two years and is still recovering, yet he continues to perform with his band. These days, many performers use backing tracks, but nobody questions them in the same way," he added.

In his video message, Mika also said Daler had recently undergone a serious operation. He suggested that the singer may have agreed to perform despite not feeling well, drawing on his own experience of honouring professional commitments while ill.

What happened at the Uttarakhand Navratri event?

According to ANI, Uniyal said the singer appeared disoriented and was not doing justice to his art. He also alleged that Mehndi was lip-syncing despite being paid Rs 35 lakh for the performance.

“He is a big artist. If a big artist doesn’t do justice to their art…He seemed disoriented on stage and didn’t seem to be able to even keep standing. Besides this, he was only lip-syncing to his songs. I told him that he is a big artist and he should do justice to his art; he had been offered Rs 35 lakh to come and perform, but he was not even singing. So, I expressed my resentment,” Uniyal told ANI.

The minister’s allegations about alcohol consumption have not been independently established. Uttarakhand folk singer and Padma Shri awardee Pritam Bhartwan also commented on the episode, saying he could not confirm whether Mehndi was under the influence of alcohol.

How have celebrities reacted to the controversy?

Mika’s post drew support from singers Shaan, Harshdeep Kaur and Ali Chinai, as well as actors including Neil Nitin Mukesh, Kapil Sharma and Suniel Shetty.

The episode has also revived a wider debate about what audiences should expect from paid live performances, and whether public criticism should be separated from unverified allegations about an artist’s health or conduct.

(With inputs from ANI)