Sudesh Lehri defends Daler Mehndi over on-stage rebuke: 'There can be some other way'
Synopsis
Comedian Sudesh Lehri has stepped into one of Indian entertainment's most-talked-about controversies, backing Daler Mehndi after an Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister publicly reprimanded the singer on stage during a Navratri fair. Drawing on 30 years of friendship, Lehri called the confrontation wrong and questioned the alcohol allegation, joining Mika Singh, Anupam Kher, Kapil Sharma and others in demanding dignity for artists.
Key Takeaways
Sudesh Lehri posted an Instagram video on 22 October defending Daler Mehndi and calling the on-stage treatment of the singer 'very wrong.' Lehri cited a 30-year personal association with Mehndi and said he had never seen the singer consume alcohol.
Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal reportedly walked on stage at the Kunjapuri Fair on 18 October and directed Mehndi to stop performing, alleging he was intoxicated.
The incident occurred during Navratri festivities at an event in Tehri district, Uttarakhand .
Industry figures including Mika Singh , Anupam Kher , Kapil Sharma , and Badshah have also expressed support for Mehndi.
Comedian and actor Sudesh Lehri has publicly voiced support for singer Daler Mehndi following an incident at the Kunjapuri Fair in Uttarakhand's Tehri district on 18 October 2025, in which a state minister reportedly interrupted Mehndi's performance and reprimanded him before the crowd. Lehri, in a video posted on Instagram, urged people to treat artists with dignity and called the manner in which Mehndi was addressed on stage 'very wrong.'
What Sudesh Lehri Said
In his video message, Lehri made clear he was speaking not for personal reasons but out of solidarity with a fellow artist. 'I am not making this video for myself. I am making this video for our beloved artist, Mr. Daler Mehndi. Friends, I am an artist and I can feel what an artist is. How soft and emotional an artist is. The videos that you are watching for Daler Mehndi through news or whatever people are uploading. The way they are being presented is very wrong,' he said.
Lehri also invoked his 30-year personal and professional association with Mehndi, describing the learnings he had drawn from the singer. 'I know him personally for 30 years. We have learned so much from him about the stage. How to respect the stage, how to go on stage, how to live, how to show, how to be professional,' he added.
On the Alcohol Allegation
A central controversy in the incident is an allegation by Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal — who also serves as the local MLA — that Mehndi had appeared on stage after consuming alcohol at an event dedicated to Goddess Durga. Lehri pushed back firmly on this claim. 'I have never seen him drinking until today. Nor has anyone said that he is intoxicated, he drinks. I have never seen,' he said. Lehri also stressed that any grievances with a performing artist could be addressed discreetly rather than in front of an audience. 'Even if you want to talk to an artist, you can easily talk behind the stage. There can be some other way. But talking to an artist on stage in this way is very wrong,' he said.
What Happened at the Kunjapuri Fair
Daler Mehndi was performing at the Kunjapuri Fair in Tehri district during the Navratri festivities on 18 October when Minister Subodh Uniyal reportedly walked onto the stage and directed him to stop performing, citing the alcohol allegation in front of the assembled crowd. The cultural gathering holds significance as it coincides with the Navratri religious calendar in the region, making the public confrontation particularly sensitive.
Industry Rallies Behind Mehndi
Lehri is not alone in his support. Several prominent figures from the entertainment industry have expressed solidarity with Mehndi, including Mika Singh, Palesh Sen, Sudesh Berry, Anupam Kher, Badshah, and Kapil Sharma. The groundswell of support reflects wider concern within the industry about the treatment of performing artists at public events. Lehri concluded his message with a personal note of warmth: 'Daler Mehndi ji, get well soon. May you be in good health. We are all with you. Love you.'
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the boundaries of authority at cultural events and the dignity owed to artists — a debate that is unlikely to fade quickly given the number of voices now involved.
Point of View
Whether justified or not, was a visible exercise of political power over artistic space, and the speed with which the entertainment industry closed ranks around Mehndi signals how raw that nerve is. The alcohol allegation remains unverified and disputed by multiple people who know Mehndi closely; its public deployment as justification for cutting off a performance compounds the reputational stakes. If no independent account surfaces to corroborate Uniyal's claim, this episode risks becoming a cautionary tale about accountability cuts both ways — for artists and for the officials who book them.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Sudesh Lehri speak out in support of Daler Mehndi?
Sudesh Lehri posted an Instagram video defending Daler Mehndi after a video circulated showing Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal interrupting Mehndi's performance at the Kunjapuri Fair and reprimanding him on stage. Lehri, who has known Mehndi for 30 years, called the public confrontation wrong and urged that such conversations be handled off stage.
What happened to Daler Mehndi at the Kunjapuri Fair?
On 18 October, Daler Mehndi was performing at the Kunjapuri Fair in Tehri district, Uttarakhand, during Navratri festivities when Minister Subodh Uniyal reportedly came on stage and directed him to stop, alleging he had appeared in an intoxicated state at an event dedicated to Goddess Durga. The confrontation was captured on video and widely shared.
Who else from the entertainment industry has supported Daler Mehndi?
Several prominent industry figures have expressed support, including Mika Singh, Palesh Sen, Sudesh Berry, Anupam Kher, Badshah, and Kapil Sharma. The chorus of support reflects widespread concern about the treatment of artists at public events.
What did Sudesh Lehri say about the alcohol allegation against Daler Mehndi?
Lehri said he had never witnessed Mehndi consuming alcohol in their three decades of friendship and added that no one in his circle had ever made such a claim either. He stopped short of directly accusing the minister of lying but strongly implied the allegation was unfounded.
What is the Kunjapuri Fair and why does the incident matter there?
The Kunjapuri Fair is a culturally significant gathering in Tehri district, Uttarakhand, held during the Navratri festival period. Because the event is associated with worship of Goddess Durga, the minister's allegation carried particular religious and social weight, making the public confrontation more contentious than it might have been at a secular venue.
