Comedian and television host Kapil Sharma has come out in support of veteran Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi, revealing that the bhangra icon recently underwent a serious surgery — a fact largely unknown to the public — amid a wave of online criticism over his alleged on-stage behaviour.

What Kapil Sharma Said

Taking to the Stories section of his official Instagram handle, Kapil Sharma wrote: '@thedalermehndiofficial paaji went through some serious surgery which people don't know. All we need is to be little kinder towards other. We don't know what someone is going through.' The post, shared on 20 October, was a direct response to criticism that Daler Mehndi had reportedly performed under the influence of alcohol — an allegation that Mehndi's family has firmly denied.

Kapil also extended gratitude to Mika Singh, Daler Mehndi's younger brother, for publicly defending him. 'Thank you @mikasingh paaji for the clarification. May god bless Daler paaji — we love you Daler paaji,' the Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon actor added.

Mika Singh's Passionate Defence

A day earlier, on Tuesday, Mika Singh issued a video clarification on his official social media handle, challenging anyone to prove that his elder brother consumes alcohol. 'Have you ever seen a glass of alcohol in his hand, or seen alcohol flowing freely at his birthday parties? No, you have not,' Mika said in the clip.

The singer went on to highlight the professional commitments artists often honour despite personal health struggles: 'Jab aapne dekha hi nahi, toh aapne kaise keh diya unse khada nahi hua jaa raha. Hum artists kayin baar kisi ke kehne par haan kar dete hain — yes we will do the show — even if we have 104 degree fever, it doesn't matter. Inhone (Daler) bhi aisa hi kiya hoga.' Mika added that he would personally quit singing if anyone could prove the allegation.

The Controversy in Context

The criticism directed at Daler Mehndi followed footage circulating on social media that allegedly showed him struggling to perform at a recent event. However, neither the singer nor his team had directly addressed the allegations before Mika Singh's clarification. Kapil Sharma's revelation about an undisclosed surgery has added significant context to that footage, suggesting that what observers interpreted as impairment may have been the after-effects of a serious medical procedure.

Notably, Daler Mehndi — a Padma Shri awardee and one of India's most recognisable musical acts — has maintained a gruelling performance schedule across decades, a point Mika Singh underscored in his defence.

Public and Industry Reaction

The posts from both Kapil Sharma and Mika Singh have drawn widespread support from fans and members of the entertainment industry, many echoing the call for greater empathy toward public figures dealing with private health battles. The episode has reignited broader conversations about the pressures performers face and the speed with which social media judgements are made without full information.

As of now, Daler Mehndi himself has not issued a public statement, and no further details about the nature or timing of the surgery have been disclosed.