Guru Randhawa recalls 'dark nights of 2012' before his rise to stardom
Synopsis
Before 'High Rated Gabru' and stadium concerts, Guru Randhawa was borrowing cameras to shoot Facebook videos in 2012. His emotional social media post — timed ahead of his 12 December 2026 New Delhi concert — is a rare, raw look at the hustle behind one of Punjabi pop's biggest success stories.
Key Takeaways
Guru Randhawa shared an emotional social media post reflecting on his struggles in 2012 , before he found success in the music industry.
He recalled not having a phone good enough to record a Facebook video, with friend @gschandhok borrowing a camera to shoot content after sunset.
Randhawa credited close friends, including Parmeet , for their unwavering support during his early days when he had little to offer in return.
The singer said he left his village with one promise: to work hard enough to give his family a life they could be proud of.
He dedicated every rehearsal for his upcoming concert to those who believed in him, performing at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi on 12 December 2026 .
Singer Guru Randhawa has opened up about the struggles he faced in 2012, sharing an emotional account of his early days in the music industry — a time when he and his friends lacked even a decent phone to record videos. The 'High Rated Gabru' singer credited his close friends for standing by him through the hardest stretch of his journey, long before fame arrived.
The Emotional Post That Started the Conversation
Randhawa took to social media to share old videos of himself singing, accompanying them with a heartfelt note reflecting on where he began. He described the resourcefulness that defined those early years — borrowing a camera from a friend just to shoot content after sunset, and a companion named Parmeet sitting beside him, pouring his heart into the keyboard.
'People see the success today, but they don't see the dark nights of 2012. Back then, we didn't even own a phone good enough to record a Facebook video. I still get emotional thinking about @gschandhok paji borrowing a camera from a friend just so we could shoot after sunset, and Parmeet sitting beside me, pouring his heart into the keyboard,' he wrote.
A Promise Made When Leaving His Village
The singer also reflected on the moment he left his village — his pind — driven by a single promise to himself: to work hard enough to give his family a life they could be proud of. He acknowledged that every milestone since has been built on that original commitment, and on the support of friends who believed in him when he had little to offer in return.
'When I left my pind, I carried just one promise, to work until I could give my family a life they could be proud of. Every step since has been built on that promise, and on the shoulders of brothers who stood by me when I had nothing to offer in return,' he said.
December Concert Dedicated to Those Who Believed in Him
Randhawa connected the nostalgic post to his upcoming concert at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on 12 December 2026. He said every soundcheck and late-night rehearsal for the show is dedicated to the people who raised him and believed in him when he was still an unknown boy from the village.
'Every soundcheck and late-night practice for the December concert is for the people who raised me and believed in that boy from the pind. Waheguru mehar kare. Everything I am today belongs to you guys,' he added.
The Larger Picture
Randhawa's journey — from recording makeshift videos on borrowed cameras in 2012 to headlining a concert at one of India's largest stadiums — reflects a broader arc shared by many independent artists from smaller towns who built their fan base through social media before the music industry took notice. This kind of candid storytelling from established artists often resonates deeply with fans navigating their own early struggles, and Randhawa's post drew significant attention online shortly after it was published.
Point of View
But rarely told with this kind of specificity and vulnerability by the artists themselves. What stands out is the attribution: naming friends, calling out the borrowed camera, refusing to generalise the grind into an inspirational abstraction. That specificity is what separates an authentic personal narrative from a PR exercise. Whether audiences see it as one or the other may depend on how the December concert itself is received.
NationPress
15 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Guru Randhawa share in his recent social media post?
Guru Randhawa shared an emotional note recalling his struggles in 2012, when he and his friends did not own a phone good enough to record a Facebook video. He posted old videos of himself singing and credited close friends who supported him during those early, resource-scarce days.
Who helped Guru Randhawa during his early days in 2012?
Randhawa specifically credited his friend @gschandhok, who borrowed a camera from a friend so they could shoot videos after sunset, and Parmeet, who accompanied him on keyboard during recording sessions. He described them as brothers who stood by him when he had nothing to offer in return.
Where and when is Guru Randhawa's upcoming concert?
Guru Randhawa is set to perform at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on 12 December 2026. He said every rehearsal and soundcheck for the concert is dedicated to the people who believed in him during his early years.
What was the promise Guru Randhawa made when he left his village?
Randhawa said he carried a single promise when he left his village: to work hard until he could give his family a life they could be proud of. He said every step of his career since has been built on that original commitment.
Why is Guru Randhawa's post resonating with fans?
The post resonates because it offers specific, unfiltered details of early creative struggle — borrowed cameras, no decent phone, friends gathering after sunset — rather than a generic rags-to-riches narrative. It reflects a broader journey shared by many independent artists from smaller towns who built audiences on social media before mainstream recognition.
