Singer Udit Narayan faces backlash after video shows him kissing female fan at live concert

Bollywood playback singer Udit Narayan performs during the Ramtek Tourism and Cultural Festival, in Nagpur on Thursday, January 24, 2025
| Photo Credit: ANI

Acclaimed singer Udit Narayan has landed in a storm of controversy after a video from a recent live concert showed him kissing a female fan on the lips.

In the viral video, the 69-year-old singer, while performing ‘Tip Tip Barsa Paani,’ can be seen returning kisses to female fans. In one instance, when a female fan leans in to kiss him on the cheek, the singer can be seen tilting his head and kissing her on the lips. The video sparked a debate online, with many criticising the singer’s actions.

Meanwhile, the singer, in a conversation with Hindustan Times, addressed the controversy and said that this is fans’ craze and that it shouldn’t be blown out of proportion. “Fans itne deewane hote hain na. Hum log aise nahi hain, hum decent log hain (Fans are so crazy, aren’t they? We are not like that; we are decent people.) Some people encourage this and show their love through this. Udaake kya karna hai ab iss cheez ko? (Why make a big deal out of this?) There are so many people in the crowd, and we have bodyguards present too. But fans think they are getting a chance to meet, so someone extends their hands for a handshake, some kiss the hands… yeh sab deewangi hoti hai. Uspe itna dhyaan nahi dena chahiye (This is all madness. We shouldn’t pay so much attention to it.)”

The singer further added that this is an attempt to tarnish his family’s image. “My family’s image is such that everyone wants (a controversy to happen) Aditya (Narayan, son and singer) chup chaap rehta hai, controversy mein aata nahi hai (he stays silent and doesn’t get into controversies). Many must feel that. There is madness when I am singing on stage, fans love me, I think let them be happy. Otherwise iss type ke log hum hain hi nahi. Humein bhi unko khush karna hota hai (we are not like that. We have to make them happy),” Hindustan Times quoted Narayan.

“I have been in Bollywood for 46 years now, my image hasn’t been such (that I forcefully kiss fans). In fact, I fold my hands when I see the love my fans shower on me, while on stage, I bow down, thinking phir aaj ka yeh waqt laut ke aaye na aaye (whether this moment will ever come back),” he added.