Playback singer Chinmayi Sripaada has strongly condemned the actions of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, following the circulation of a video where the latter was caught physically assaulting one of his personal employees. In an impassioned video posted on her X account, Chinmayi did not hold back in denouncing the behavior of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan as nothing short of ‘horrendous.’
Expressing her disbelief at the stark contrast between public personas and private actions, Chinmayi remarked, “Some of these people behave like such gentle, soft-spoken souls in public, one would never think they’d be capable of such inhumane behavior. If only cameras existed earlier – more of those we celebrate as so-called greats would have been exposed for what they actually were to other people. Horrendous.”
Following the widespread circulation of the video, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan attempted to address the controversy by releasing a video message where he justified his actions. He claimed that the incident was a personal matter between a teacher (ustad) and his disciple (shagird). Chinmayi shared the singer’s clarification on her X account and sharply criticized his justification for the assault.
In response to Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s assertion that harsh punishment is part of the dynamic between a teacher and a student, Chinmayi pointed out a broader issue. She stated, “Gurus get protected by the ‘divinity’ of their position, regardless of the faith/religion they practice – all their transgressions, from violence, emotional abuse to sexual abuse, is condoned for the sake of their ‘artistry’, ‘talent,’ etc. This needs to stop.”