Mika Singh on Daler Mehndi Row: 30 Years, No Alcohol Proof
Mika Singh defends brother Daler Mehndi over the Uttarakhand alcohol claim, reveals a recent major operation and urges media to check facts.
Mika Singh has stepped in to defend his brother Daler Mehndi after a stage controversy at the Kunjapuri Mela in Uttarakhand turned into an alcohol allegation. Calling the on-stage confrontation disappointing, Mika asked media organisations to verify claims before running them as headlines.
What happened on stage in Tehri
Daler Mehndi was performing at the annual Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in Tehri district on October 18 when Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister and local MLA Subodh Uniyal interrupted the set. Videos circulating online show the minister questioning Mehndi’s ability to sing, alleging he appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, and raising questions about the reported fee.
Mika Singh’s fact-check plea
Responding on Dussehra, October 20, Mika posted a video defending his brother. He agreed the minister could question the quality of the performance, but pushed back sharply on the drinking claim.
“I agree sir, you are right, but don’t say that you are drinking and singing,” he said in the video.
He also drew a pointed comparison with an international act, asking, “Would anyone dare to behave like that with an international band like Coldplay?”
A major operation behind the scenes
Mika revealed that Daler Mehndi is recovering from a recent major operation, which may explain why he was not at full strength on stage. He anchored the defence in his brother’s long public career, asking: “Have you ever seen a glass of alcohol in his hand in your life?”
He also spoke about the reality of live performance, where artists often honour commitments even when unwell. “As much as I get sick, if I come to know that I have a show the day after tomorrow, and I have said yes… I have to be there,” he said.
Why this matters
This is bigger than one fair in Tehri. A public allegation made from a stage against a 30-year veteran is a reputational event, and Mika’s response shifts the focus onto process: the right to answer before publication, and the damage one headline can do.
His core asks, in plain terms:
- Check facts before publishing allegations.
- Give an artist the chance to present their side first.
- Question the performance freely, but not with an unproven label like drinking.
- Remember that health affects stage presence without implying alcohol.
For Indian artists, the Coldplay line is more than rhetoric. It frames a long-running double standard: desi performers are sometimes held to rougher, more public scrutiny than visiting international acts, and an allegation made from a stage microphone can travel faster than any correction.
Mika ended with a direct message to the media: “A headline can damage someone’s reputation, so please check the facts before publishing anything.”
For Daler Mehndi’s fans, the episode is also a reminder that the singer has been unwell, and that his family wants the conversation to stay with facts rather than insinuation.
Source: Bollywood Hungama
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