Daler Mehndi Row: Upasana Singh Questions Minister's Remarks

Mumbai, October 23: Actress Upasana Singh has voiced her disappointment over the controversy involving singer Daler Mehndi and has stood by him. She maintained that she knows him well and that he has never been a drinker.

In her remarks, Upasana Singh suggested that Daler Mehndi performed even while his health was compromised, as he had already committed to the event.

“I know Daler ji well and he does not drink. Maybe because of his health at this stage in life, he could not perform up to the mark. Many times artists fail to meet the expectations of the audience, and every person should understand that. We never know what someone is going through, and Daler Mehndi ji was unwell. When a person falls ill, sometimes they cannot even get up from bed.”

She further explained that Daler Mehndi had assured organisers he would perform, which is why he went ahead despite feeling unwell. She also referred to Mika's statement, in which he had said that Daler Mehndi was sick.

Upasana Singh considers the way Daler Mehndi was treated in Uttarakhand to be demeaning for an artist. She suggested that Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal ought to have first sought to understand the situation. In her view, if the minister did not appreciate the performance, he should not have spoken that way on stage.

The matter gained further attention when Uttarakhand minister Subodh Uniyal claimed that Daler Mehndi's team had received Rs 35 lakh in advance for a performance at the Kunjapuri Mela in New Tehri, along with the money for the full hotel booking. According to the minister, despite accepting such a large amount, the singer was not standing properly on stage and appeared to be lip-syncing.

Concluding her comments, Upasana Singh said, “When any artist performs, they are paid. But that does not mean they have bought any artist.”