Canadian rapper-singer Drake has paid a tribute to popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, who was shot dead on Sunday by unidentified assailants in Punjab's Mansa district.
The 27-year-old singer, also a Congress leader, was killed a day after the state government curtailed his security cover
Drake took to his Instagram Stories on Sunday night to remember Moosewala
"RIP MOOSE @sidhu_moosewala," he captioned a picture of the "So High" hitmaker with his mother
In 2020, Drake made headlines when he started following Moosewala on Instagram.
Moosewala, who counted Drake as one of his music influences and followed him on social media, was a regular performer at live shows in Canada
Indian stars such as Ranveer Singh, Vicky Kaushal, Diljit Dosanjh, and composer Salim Merchant also paid homage to Moosewala
Singh and Kaushal took to their Instagram accounts and quoted the refrain from the late singer's song "Dil Da Ni Mada"
Singh, who performed at the Indian Premier League closing ceremony on Sunday in Ahmedabad, also shared Moosewala's picture on his Instagram Stories and captioned it: "IMMORTAL"
Calling Moosewala a talented artiste, Dosanjh said he was heartbroken by the singer's death
"Heartbreaking news.. He was a talented boy. I never met him but his hard work spoke a lot. No doubt. It's very hard for parents... A bad day for the music industry," the actor-singer wrote in Romanised Punjabi
Merchant, whose song with Moosewala is up for a release, said he was "shocked" by the singer's untimely death.
"I'm shocked & saddened by the news.. Sidhu was a gem .. our song was going to release very soon .. this is unbelievable," the musician wrote on Twitter
Earlier, actors Ajay Devgn, Richa Chadha, Kapil Sharma, Swara Bhasker, music composer Vishal Dadlani, and popular TV host Rannvijay Singha among others also tweeted their condolences for Moosewala.
On Sunday, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Mansa) Gobinder Singh told PTI that Moosewala was attacked when he was in his jeep at village Jawahar Ke and several bullets hit him
Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, known as Sidhu Moosewala, was among 424 people whose security was withdrawn by the Punjab Police on Saturday
Moosewala had fought the recent Assembly election on a Congress ticket from Mansa and was defeated by the AAP's Vijay Singla
According to police sources, Canada-based Goldy Brar has claimed responsibility for the murder of Moosewala.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.