Zakir Hussain Passes Away: Kareena Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Kamal Haasan, Amitabh Bachchan, and Others Mourn the ‘Ustad’s’ Demise

Ziya Khan December 17, 2024Last Updated: December 17, 2024

Zakir Hussain, born on March 9, 1951, was celebrated as one of the greatest tabla players and India’s most renowned percussion artist. His exceptional talent extended beyond performance; he also composed music for films and appeared in a few. Sadly, the music maestro passed away at the age of 73 in a hospital in San Francisco, prompting an outpouring of tributes from Bollywood celebrities.

Tributes from Bollywood Celebrities

The news of Zakir Hussain’s passing deeply affected many in the film industry. Amitabh Bachchan shared his sorrow on X, stating, “T 5224 – . a very sad day …” He further honored Hussain on his blog, calling him “a genius .. an unmatched maestro … an immeasurable loss .. Zakir Hussain .. has left us ..”Kareena Kapoor Khan expressed her grief on Instagram, sharing a picture of herself with Randhir Kapoor and Zakir Hussain, captioning it, “Maestro Forever.” Akshay Kumar also paid tribute by sharing a story about Hussain on Instagram.

Actor Riteish Deshmukh penned a heartfelt note, stating, “The irreparable loss of Zakir Hussain Sahab is a devastating blow to India and the global music community. Sir, your music was a gift, a treasure that will continue to inspire and uplift generations to come. Your legacy will live on. May your soul rest in eternal glory, surrounded by the rhythms and melodies. Condolences to the family and loved ones of the legendary Zakir Hussain Sahab.” Other stars, including Sonali Bendre, Bhumi Pednekar, and Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, also shared their tributes.

Legacy of Zakir Hussain

Zakir Hussain is hailed as a pioneer in Indian music, known for introducing jazz fusion and world music elements to the Hindustani Gharana, effectively transforming Indian rhythm scores. His impressive accolades include the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.Beyond his work with the ensemble Shakti, Hussain collaborated on numerous groundbreaking projects, including Masters of Percussion, Planet Drum, Global Drum Project with Mickey Hart, Tabla Beat Science, Sangam with Charles Lloyd and Eric Harland, CrossCurrents with Dave Holland and Chris Potter, and most recently, with Herbie Hancock. His contributions to music will forever resonate in the hearts of fans and musicians alike.