The senior playback singer Udit Narayan recently found himself at the center of controversy after a video of him interacting with female fans went viral. The clip showed him singing Tip Tip Barsa Paani while a group of women gathered near the stage to take selfies with him. One woman turned and kissed him on the cheek, to which he responded by kissing her on the lips. Another woman attempted to hug and kiss him and he kissed her on the cheek. In another video, he was seen kissing yet another woman on the lips.
These moments sparked a heated debate online. Many criticised his actions, calling them inappropriate, while others defended him, arguing that the women involved willingly approached him and that the interactions appeared to be consensual.
Singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya also came to Udit Narayan’s defense, saying that such incidents often happen with famous singers, especially when security is not strict. He recalled a personal experience from the early days of his career during a concert in South Africa, where a few female fans kissed him so enthusiastically that he was unable to return to the stage. He mentioned that this happened right in front of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar and that he was left with lipstick marks on his cheeks.
Abhijeet also pointed out that Udit’s wife, Deepa Gahatraj, is often present at his performances and that accusations of him taking advantage of female fans were unfair. He emphasised that Udit Narayan did not initiate any of the interactions and that it was the fans who were excited to get close to him. He added that Udit Narayan, being a romantic singer, has always had a strong appeal among audiences and people should not make a big issue out of it.
Udit Narayan himself addressed the controversy, saying that passionate fans often express their excitement in different ways. He maintained that he is a decent person and some fans choose to show their admiration through gestures like handshakes and kisses. He felt that such moments should not be overly scrutinised, as they are simply a reflection of fan enthusiasm in the heat of the moment.
What is your opinion in regard to this controversy? Do you agree with Abhijeet?
