Veteran singer Udit Narayan is facing intense backlash after a video of him kissing female fans during a live concert went viral. The clip, which shows him performing Tip Tip Barsa Paani before taking photos and kissing fans on the lips, has sparked widespread outrage on social media.
As criticism mounted, older videos of Udit kissing female celebrities—including singers Alka Yagnik and Shreya Ghoshal, as well as actress Karisma Kapoor—began resurfacing online.
One widely shared clip from an Indian Idol event shows Udit kissing Alka Yagnik on the cheek, leaving her visibly shocked as she quickly steps away. In another instance, at a different event, Alka appears uncomfortable when Udit kisses her again.
A similar moment occurred when Shreya Ghoshal won the award for Best Female Singer. As she accepted the honour, Udit kissed her on the cheek. Meanwhile, another resurfaced clip shows him kissing actress Karisma Kapoor, who also appeared taken aback by the gesture.
Udit Narayan responds
Addressing the controversy in an interview with Hindustan Times, Udit defended himself, attributing the incident to fan enthusiasm.
“Fans are crazy. We are not like this, we are decent people,” he said, brushing off the backlash. “Some people encourage this and show their love this way. What’s the point of making a big deal out of it? There are so many people in the crowd, and bodyguards are present too. But fans feel they’re getting a chance to meet us—some extend their hands for a handshake, some kiss hands… it’s all part of their excitement. It shouldn’t be given so much attention.”
Abhijeet defends Udit Narayan, blames women
Singer Abhijeet, a contemporary of Udit Narayan, came to his defence in an interview with News18, arguing that women were the ones “chasing” Udit and that such incidents are common for famous singers.
“Udit is a superstar singer, and things like this happen to us all the time. If we aren’t properly guarded or surrounded by bouncers, people tear our clothes apart,” Abhijeet claimed.
He further dismissed the backlash, adding:
“He’s Udit Narayan! Women were after him, he didn’t pull anyone close. Every time he performs, his wife is with him as a co-singer. Let him enjoy his success! He’s a romantic singer. He’s also a big khiladi and I’m an anari. Don’t try to play with him.”
When asked whether Udit took advantage of his female fan during the concert, Abhijeet outright rejected the notion, insisting, “Women were after him, not the other way around.”
While some defended Udit, arguing that he was merely reciprocating fan affection, many others criticised his behaviour, calling it inappropriate and unacceptable. A section of the internet also questioned whether the resurfaced videos suggest a pattern of boundary-crossing behaviour.
As the debate rages on, it remains to be seen whether Udit Narayan will issue a more direct apology—or whether his supporters will continue to dismiss the controversy as an overreaction.