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Renowned singer Sonu Nigam recently shared an emotional Instagram post ahead of his Pune performance, revealing he was battling severe back pain.
Sonu Nigam’s emotional Instagram post reveals his struggle with back pain before a Pune performance.
Renowned playback singer Sonu Nigam, celebrated as one of India’s most iconic voices, recently took to Instagram to share a deeply personal moment that left his fans concerned. Ahead of his performance in Pune, the singer revealed he was battling severe back pain, raising questions about the toll of a demanding profession like showbiz.
In the video, Sonu can be seen visibly distressed, exclaiming, “Bohot dard hai, aaj tak show ke pahle itna dard nahi hua.” Despite the pain, Sonu is heard practicing his riyaz as a reflexology practitioner works on his feet to alleviate the discomfort. Lying on a patterned rug with cushions for support, the singer appeared to be preparing for the stage in the most challenging circumstances.
Accompanying the video, Sonu wrote a heartfelt caption: “Some people predicted this year to be full of accidents and medical issues. I guess they are right. This is how I am going on stage today in Pune. It seems fun to everyone, but showbiz is a very difficult profession. May Goddess Sarasvati hold my hand even stronger today.” The post highlighted the often-overlooked physical demands of the entertainment industry.
While the singer’s health update drew attention, Sonu Nigam also made headlines for speaking out on an entirely different matter—the Padma Awards 2025. On Republic Day, the Padma Awards were conferred to 139 individuals, recognizing their contributions to various fields. However, Sonu took to Instagram to question the omission of several legendary artists, including Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Alka Yagnik, Shreya Ghoshal, and Sunidhi Chauhan.
In a candid video, Sonu expressed his dismay, saying, “Do aise singers hai jinhone poore duniya ke singers ko inspire kiya hai. Ek ko toh humne Padma Shri pe hi simtaa diya hai, woh hai Mohammed Rafi sahab. Aur ek hai jinko Padma Shri bhi naseeb nahi hua hai, Kishore Kumar ji.” He emphasized the need to honor these legends posthumously.
Sonu also highlighted the contributions of current singers, stating, “Alka Yagnik ji, itna lamba aur kamaal ka career raha hai, unhe kuch nahi mila abhi tak. Shreya Ghoshal… Unko bhi milna chahiye. Sunidhi Chauhan… Unhe bhi kuch nahi mila abhi tak.”
The video ended with Sonu encouraging fans to name other deserving artists who are yet to be recognized. Captioned “India and its pending Padma Awardees,” the post resonated deeply with his followers, including singer Shraddha Pandit, who commented, “Gospel truth spoken.”
Sonu Nigam himself was conferred the Padma Shri in 2022 by former President Ram Nath Kovind. However, the singer had expressed disappointment at the delay, stating, “Don’t you think it is too late in the day to give me Padma Shri?” His candidness sheds light on the broader conversation around recognizing artists’ contributions in a timely manner.
With a career spanning decades and over 10,000 songs in languages ranging from Hindi to Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and more, Sonu Nigam remains a towering figure in Indian music. Whether through his heartfelt performances or his vocal advocacy for fellow artists, he continues to inspire generations.