Singer Mika Singh has come out in support of his elder brother, Daler Mehndi, after a video of the veteran Punjabi singer being confronted on stage during a cultural event in Uttarakhand went viral on social media.
Mika rejected allegations that Daler was under the influence of alcohol during the performance, saying his brother had recently undergone major surgery and was still recovering from health problems. He also challenged anyone to prove that the singer consumes alcohol, declaring that he would quit singing if someone could establish the claim.
The controversy began at the Maa Kunjapuri Mela in Narendra Nagar, Tehri Garhwal, where Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister and local MLA Subodh Uniyal objected to Daler's performance during a cultural programme organised as part of the Navratri festivities.
Videos from the event showed the minister confronting the singer on stage and questioning his ability to perform. The footage quickly circulated online, prompting debate about the singer's health, the quality of the performance and the minister's intervention.
In a video statement shared on social media, Mika questioned why people were concluding that his brother had been drinking alcohol based on the footage.
He pointed to Daler's decades-long career and argued that the singer's physical condition could have affected his performance.
Mika said Daler had recently undergone a serious operation and suggested that he had nevertheless chosen to honour his professional commitment despite being unwell.
Explaining the pressures artists face, Mika said performers sometimes agree to shows even when they are ill because they do not want to disappoint organisers after making a commitment.
He also challenged the media and people in the music industry to provide evidence for the allegation that Daler drinks alcohol.
“If you challenge me and say that one person has seen Daler Mehndi drinking, I will quit singing,” Mika said, defending his brother against the claims circulating online.
Mika's statement was intended to counter the speculation surrounding the viral clip. His explanation about the surgery and his denial of the drinking allegation, however, remain statements made by the singer in defence of his brother.
The incident took place during a cultural programme at the Maa Kunjapuri Mela, an annual religious and cultural event in Uttarakhand.
In the viral video, Uniyal can be heard questioning Daler's ability to continue performing. He said the singer appeared unable to stand properly and accused him of not singing live.
Speaking about the incident, the minister said he was dissatisfied because the performance did not meet expectations. He also alleged that Daler appeared disoriented and was lip-syncing to prerecorded tracks rather than singing live.
Uniyal said the singer had been paid ₹35 lakh for the performance and argued that an artist of Daler's stature should deliver the performance expected by the audience.
The minister's comments fuelled the controversy, with social media users debating whether the singer was unwell, whether the performance was adequate and whether the public confrontation was justified.
The available footage prompted allegations of intoxication, but the video alone does not independently establish that Daler had consumed alcohol.
Mika's defence shifted attention towards his brother's health.
According to Mika, Daler had been unwell for around two years and was still recovering from a major surgery. He suggested that the singer may have accepted the invitation to perform because he had already committed to the event, despite not being fully fit.
The explanation has also received support from comedian Kapil Sharma, who shared Mika's statement on Instagram and urged people not to judge the singer without knowing the complete circumstances.
Kapil said Daler had undergone serious surgery and called for greater kindness, suggesting that the public may not know what someone is experiencing privately. He also wished the singer a speedy recovery.
Neither Mika's statement nor Kapil's message independently establishes the precise medical reason for Daler's behaviour on stage. They do, however, offer an alternative explanation for the performance beyond the allegation made by the minister.
Uttarakhand folk singer and Padma Shri awardee Pritam Bhartwan, who was present at the event, also commented on the controversy.
Bhartwan said he could not confirm whether Daler was under the influence of alcohol. At the same time, he criticised the use of prerecorded tracks in a setting where audiences expect a live performance.
His comments separated two issues that became intertwined after the video went viral: whether Daler was intoxicated and whether his performance met the expectations of the event.
While the minister criticised the singer's apparent condition and singing, Bhartwan said he could not verify the alcohol allegation.
Daler Mehndi has been one of India's best-known Punjabi pop performers for decades, with songs such as Tunak Tunak Tun and Bolo Ta Ra Ra becoming widely recognised beyond Punjabi music audiences.
The controversy has therefore attracted attention not only because of the minister's public confrontation, but also because of the singer's longstanding reputation and the questions raised about his health.
The incident has also highlighted how quickly short video clips can shape public perception. A brief recording of a disrupted performance can invite speculation about a person's behaviour without necessarily providing the full context of what happened before or after the footage was recorded.
In this case, the minister's allegations, Mika's defence and Bhartwan's comments reflect different perspectives on the same performance. The available reporting does not independently establish that Daler was intoxicated.
For now, the controversy remains centred on the viral footage and the competing explanations surrounding the singer's condition.
