Renowned Indian tabla maestro Zakir Hussain was “deeply ill”, his sister, Khurshid Aulia, told Press Trust of India (PTI) late Sunday night after several media misreported the musician’s life update.

“I will request [the media] not to spread this rumour by writing or saying that he has passed away,” she said.

“My brother is deeply ill at this time. We are asking for all his fans around India and around the world to pray for him, to pray for his health. But as India’s greatest ever exports, do not finish him off just yet,” Aulia said, according to NDTV and the Hindustan Times, both quoting PTI.

“I just want to request all the media not to follow wrong information about Zakir’s passing. He is very much breathing at the moment. He is very very critical, but he’s still with us. He has not yet gone. I feel so bad watching all this information on Facebook which is very wrong,” she added.

Earlier, some Indian news outlets, including Filmfare and the Times of India, had reported that the four-time Grammy winner had passed away due to heart ailments.

He had been undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit of a local hospital for heart-related issues.

As the son of the legendary tabla maestro Ustad Allah Rakha, Hussain has built a remarkable global legacy, earning recognition as one of India’s most esteemed musicians.

He made headlines by winning three awards at the 66th Grammy Awards, including the prestigious ‘Best Global Music Performance’ for his work on Pashto.

Also, read this

Classical music icon Ustad Rashid passes away in Kolkata

Classical music icon Ustad Rashid passes away in Kolkata

Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s ‘lost album’ released 30 years after recording

He is scheduled to take part in a tour in January 2025, along with inernatoonal artists. This multi-city tour is poised to showcase a unique blend of global musical influences, featuring a collaboration of four Grammy-winning artists who collectively hold an impressive 31 Grammy awards, including two for their recent album, As We Speak.

The tour, organised by Perfect Harmony Productions in partnership with Panache Media, is set to include performances in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi, showcasing a rich and diverse musical repertoire aimed at captivating audiences.