Gurdeep Mehndi offers live-singing proof in Rs 35 lakh Daler row

The lip-sync debate around Daler Mehndi’s recent performance has moved from the stage to social media. His son Gurdeep Mehndi has now answered singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya and promised to share footage that, he says, will show Daler Mehndi sang live.

Gurdeep’s public pushback

In a video on Instagram, Gurdeep said he had expected better from Abhijeet. “Woh jo gaa rahe the, live hi gaa rahe the, lip-sync nahi kar rahe the,” he said, adding that he would send the footage from that day. He also asked Abhijeet to be polite, saying good and bad times can come for anyone.

What started the row

The controversy began last month at a cultural evening in Uttarakhand, when Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal interrupted Daler Mehndi on stage. The minister later told ANI that the singer had been paid Rs 35 lakh for the performance.

Abhijeet did not name Daler Mehndi when he spoke against lip-syncing at the Chhattisgarh Rajyotsava 2026. But he referred to a recent incident where a minister spoke the truth on stage and was then made to look like the villain. The description matches the Uttarakhand episode.

A timeline of the disagreement

• Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal interrupts Daler Mehndi’s performance in Uttarakhand and later says the fee was Rs 35 lakh.
• Mika Singh and other celebrities defend Daler Mehndi, saying he was unwell; many criticise the minister for the public reprimand.
• Abhijeet Bhattacharya comments on lip-syncing at Chhattisgarh Rajyotsava 2026 without naming Daler Mehndi.
• Gurdeep Mehndi responds on Instagram and promises to send footage proving the performance was live.

Why this matters

For Hindi film and pop fans, this is more than a celebrity spat. Playback singers are known for studio polish, but live shows still carry a promise of the real voice. If audiences begin to suspect that a paid performance was not live, it chips away at the trust that makes these shows feel special.

Here, Gurdeep is trying to close that doubt with evidence rather than just indignation. His offer to send the footage to Abhijeet puts the conversation back on a factual track.

What comes next

The ball is now with the footage Gurdeep has promised. If it is shared publicly, fans can judge for themselves whether Daler Mehndi was truly singing live. Until then, the exchange is a reminder that live performance disputes can escalate quickly — and that families often become the first line of defence.

Source: The Times of India