Sonu Nigam, Madhur Bhandarkar, Poonam Dhillon & others attend Bhupinder Singh’s prayer meet

Renowned ghazal singer Bhupinder Singh, who is known for crooning classics like ‘Naam Gum Jayega’ and ‘Dil Dhoondta Hai’, passed away due to suspected colon cancer and COVID-19-related complications at a hospital in Mumbai on July 18, 2022. He was 82. A prayer meet was organised by his wife Mitali Mukherjee and son to pay homage to the artist on July 21, 2022. Celebrities like Sonu Nigam, Madhur Bhandarkar, Poonam Dhillon, Roop Kumar Rathod and many others were spotted at the prayer meet. Johnny Lever’s wife Sujatha and their son were also seen at the venue. During Bhupinder Singh’s decades-long journey in the film industry, the singer came to be best known for songs like ‘Do Diwane Shehar Mein’, ‘Ek Akela is Shehar Mein’, ‘Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Aasman’, ‘Duniya Chhute Yaar Na Chhute’ and ‘Karoge Yaad Toh’, among others. According to Mitali Singh, the veteran artist was admitted to the hospital following a urine infection, wherein he was diagnosed with COVID-19. "He was admitted to the hospital eight to ten days ago as he had some infection in the urine. After tests were performed, he tested positive for COVID-19. He passed away at around 7.45 pm due to suspected colon cancer and had COVID-19," said Mitali Singh. The Amritsar-born singer is survived by his Indian-Bangladeshi wife and a son. "Bhupendra Singhji left for his heavenly abode at 7.45 this evening. He was unwell since last 6 months. The cremation will take place at 12.30 am (Monday night) at Oshiwara crematorium," said the family's spokesperson in a statement. In his five-decade-long career, Bhupinder Singh had worked with the biggest names of the music industry, including Mohammed Rafi, RD Burman, Madan Mohan, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Gulzar, Bappi Lahiri, among others. Bhupinder Singh began his career working in the All India Radio, Delhi, as a singer and musician. Upon being spotted by composer Madan Mohan during one of the All India Radio parties, he was called to Mumbai. His Bollywood singing debut was with the 1964 Chetan Anand directorial ‘Haqeeqat’, where he sang the Mohan-composed track ‘Hoke Majboor Mujhe Usne Bulaya Hoga’ along with Mohammed Rafi, Talat Mahmood and Manna Dey. Bhupinder Singh got his first solo track two years later with ‘Rut Jawan Jawan Raat Mehrbaan’ in the Khayyam composed feature film ‘Aakhri Khat’.