Daler Mehndi row explained: Why 'drunk' allegations and what happened in Uttarakhand?

A performance that was meant to entertain has turned into a debate about respect, accountability and the price of a public commitment. Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi found himself at the centre of a controversy after Uttarakhand minister Subodh Uniyal confronted him on stage at the Kunjapuri Mela in Tehri Garhwal, questioning his ability to sing and alleging that he was not in a fit condition to perform. The minister also claimed that Mehndi had been paid Rs 35 lakh for the show.Videos of the exchange went viral, sparking reactions from the entertainment industry. Anupam Kher and Mika Singh supported the singer, with Mika revealing that his brother had recently undergone surgery. However, Sona Mohapatra raised a different question, asking whether respect for a veteran artist should come at the cost of accountability to the audience.At the heart of the controversy are two questions: does an artist’s legacy warrant greater empathy when a performance falls short, and how should organisers raise concerns when they believe they have not received what they paid for? Here is what happened and why the incident has sparked a wider debate.What happened at the Uttarakhand event?Videos from the Kunjapuri Mela went viral on social media after Uniyal walked on stage during Mehndi’s performance. In one clip, the minister can be heard questioning the singer’s ability to sing. "Itna paise de kar humne aapko bulaya hai. Aap bewakoof bana rahe hai hume (We’ve paid you so much money to be here, and you’re making fools of us)," Uniyal said, adding, "Bola toh jaa nahi raha, gaana kya gaoge (You can't even speak. How will you sing)?A video from the Kunjapuri Mela in Narendranagar, Tehri Garhwal, is drawing attention, showing Cabinet Minister and local MLA Subodh Uniyal objecting on stage during a performance by Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi. In the video, Uniyal can be heard telling him, “Bol toh jaa nahi raha, gaana kya gaoge?”— Kumaon Jagran (@KumaonJagran) October 19, 2026The BJP MLA, who represents Narendra Nagar in Uttarakhand, objected to what he believed was Mehndi’s condition on stage. He said that the programme was part of Navratri celebrations dedicated to Goddess Durga and that performing under the influence of alcohol was inappropriate for such an occasion. However, the allegation that Mehndi was intoxicated has not been independently established by the information available. The incident has since raised questions about how the situation was handled in front of an audience.In a subsequent video, Mehndi can be seen trying to continue his performance as members of the crowd interrupt him. The audio is unclear, making it difficult to establish exactly what led to the disruption.Why did BJP MLA object to Daler Mehndi’s performance?Uniyal later explained that his objection was not only about the singer’s apparent condition but also about the quality of the performance.Speaking to ANI, the minister said Mehndi appeared disoriented and struggled to stand. He also alleged that the singer was lip-syncing rather than singing live."He is a big artist. If a big artist doesn't do justice to their art," Uniyal said, explaining why he had expressed his displeasure.The minister added that Mehndi had been offered Rs 35 lakh for the performance. He said he expected the singer to do justice to his reputation and the fee paid for the show.Uniyal’s comments brought another aspect of the controversy into focus: whether organisers and audiences are entitled to question a performer when they believe a show has not met expectations.At the same time, the manner in which the minister confronted Mehndi publicly has drawn criticism from several people in the entertainment industry.Anupam Kher backs Daler MehndiActor Anupam Kher came out in support of Mehndi, saying he was disturbed by the way the singer had been addressed on stage.Kher clarified that he had not witnessed the incident himself and could not comment on exactly what had happened. However, he said he had known Mehndi for around two to three decades and defended his character.“I have known Daler Mehndi for the last 20–30 years, and I can say that he does not drink, as far as I am concerned,” Kher said in a video message.The actor also said Mehndi had not been keeping well over the past two to three years, according to information he had received through their mutual friend, Dr Joe. He suggested that the singer might have honoured his professional commitment despite health concerns.Kher acknowledged that Mehndi might have lip-synced during the performance. However, he argued that this did not justify humiliating him in front of an audience.In a message addressed to Uniyal, Kher said the minister could have raised his concerns privately and respectfully rather than confronting the singer on stage.He also urged members of the entertainment industry to speak up in support of Mehndi, saying that defending him should not be left to his brother, singer Mika Singh, alone.What did Mika Singh, Kapil Sharma and Badshah say?Mika Singh also defended his elder brother, revealing that Mehndi had recently undergone surgery and was recovering.Mika challenged those questioning his brother’s character over the allegation of alcohol consumption. He said he would quit singing if anyone could prove that Mehndi drank alcohol.Comedian-actor Kapil Sharma and rapper Badshah have also shown support for the veteran singer. Their reactions have added to the discussion about how senior performers should be treated, particularly when questions are raised about their health or ability to perform.For those defending Mehndi, the central concern is that even if a performance falls short of expectations, an artist should not be publicly humiliated.Why has Sona Mohapatra questioned the support for Daler Mehndi?Singer Sona Mohapatra has offered a different perspective on the controversy. While she said publicly humiliating an artist was not the answer, she also questioned whether the debate was overlooking the audience’s right to receive the performance they had paid for.In an Instagram post, Sona recalled watching Mehndi perform at the Sufi Heritage Festival in Delhi earlier this year. She had stayed back after her own performance on February 28 to watch his set the following evening, on March 1.Sona said she and her team were disappointed by what they witnessed. She also expressed sympathy for the organisers, who had invested their time, money and reputation in the event.However, she clarified that she did not know Mehndi’s personal circumstances or health condition and would not presume to judge what she had seen. Sona also admitted that she and her team had remained silent at the time because of their respect for the veteran singer. Looking back, she questioned whether that silence had been the right response.She added that if an artist was unwell, the situation needed to be handled with compassion and responsibility. But she argued that an artist’s age, reputation and contribution to music should not exempt them from professional accountability.Her position was not that Mehndi deserved to be humiliated. Instead, she called for a balance between treating artists with respect and recognising the expectations of the people who organise and attend their shows.What is the larger debate around the controversy?The incident has brought two questions into focus: how should a performer be treated when a show does not go as expected, and what responsibility does an artist have towards an audience?Those supporting Mehndi have questioned the decision to confront him publicly, arguing that the minister could have raised his concerns without embarrassing him in front of a crowd.Sona, meanwhile, has argued that respect for a veteran artist should not prevent people from speaking about a disappointing performance. She believes audiences deserve honesty, particularly when an artist has been hired for a paid event.There is also the question of health. Kher and Mika have spoken about Mehndi’s health and recent surgery, but the information available does not establish whether his health affected his performance at the Uttarakhand event.The allegation that he was intoxicated also remains an allegation in the material available, rather than an independently verified fact.For now, the controversy is about more than a viral video. It has become a debate about professional commitments, public accountability and the need to treat artists with dignity, even when their performances are questioned.- Ends