NEW DELHI: Singer Kailash Kher declined to sing at an awards ceremony in Delhi on Saturday, calling for greater respect for artists and objecting to requests for impromptu performances.
According to videos circulating online, Kher was invited to sing a few lines but turned down the request, expressing that such expectations diminish the dignity of musicians.
He said artists and their craft should not be treated as casual entertainment or asked to perform on demand, arguing that this mindset needed to change.
Drawing comparisons with other professions, he remarked that one would not ask cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to hit a six on command, nor would a soldier be expected to fire a shot simply on request. He added that artists should not be “turned into clowns” and emphasised that they are “seekers” guided by their inner expression rather than performers available on demand.
Kher, who rose to prominence in 2003, has since delivered several popular songs including Teri Deewani, Saiyyan, and Yun Hi Chala Chal.
(With inputs from PTI)