Tributes pour in from Amitabh Bachchan, AR Rahman and others for Ustad Zakir Hussain

Ustad Zakir Hussain, the world-renowned tabla maestro, died at the age of 73 in a San Francisco hospital from complications related to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. His family confirmed his death on Monday. Across generations, artists and luminaries from various fields have paid tribute to one of India’s most celebrated musicians.

Amitabh Bachchan expressed his sadness on his blog, calling Hussain a “genius, an unparalleled maestro… an immeasurable loss.” Kamal Haasan shared a personal memory by posting an image of himself playing tabla with Hussain. “Zakir Bhai! He is gone too soon. Yet we are grateful for the time he gave us and for what he left behind in the form of his art. Goodbye and thank you,” wrote Haasan .

Akshay Kumar added his voice to the outpouring of grief saying, “Very saddened to hear of the sad demise of Ustad Zakir Hussain Saab. He was truly a treasure to the musical heritage of our country. Om Shanti.”

Kareena Kapoor shared a poignant and personal tribute in the form of a throwback photo of herself, her father Randhir Kapoor and Zakir Hussain. The caption was simple: “Maestro. Forever”, accompanied by red heart emojis. Ranveer Singh also paid tribute, sharing a happy picture of the late musician, along with a series of emotional emojis.

The death of Zakir Hussain has left an irreplaceable void in the Indian cultural landscape. Filmmaker Nandita Das, who worked with him on the background music of “Manto”, recalled their collaboration with deep sadness. “Shocked and deeply saddened. An irreplaceable loss. The news seems unreal. It always will be. Zakirbhai, you will be missed and how. You are gone too soon,” she wrote. Sharing her memories, she noted, “One phone call and he said yes to the film. We worked in LA, on Zoom, in Mumbai. We argued, we laughed, we talked. I had the privilege of watching, observing and learning from him, I had unfinished conversations that I hoped to continue with him one day.

Das added, “My deepest condolences to all those, like me, who mourn his loss and will always celebrate him and his art. Ustad Zakir Hussain will live forever through his unprecedented music and the memory of that infectious laughter that illuminated our world.”

National award-winning actress Nithya Menen also shared her regrets of never having had the chance to see him perform live. “What a special soul, with a seamless connection to the divine. A true artist. He didn’t take himself too seriously. Such playfulness and lightness in his music and yet, an undeniable intensity that made me forget to breathe. “

Musicians from around the world also paid tribute, including singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya, composer Vishal Dadlani and Grammy-winning artist Ricky Kej. “Shocked, deeply saddened and devastated by the passing away of legend Ustad Zakir Hussain. One of the greatest musicians and personalities India has ever produced,” Kej wrote. He praised the maestro’s humility and generosity, calling him a “treasure of skills and knowledge” who inspired generations of musicians.

Vishal Dadlani echoed the sentiment, writing, “There will never be another Ustad Zakir Hussain. My deepest condolences to his family, to all the musicians and to music itself. He urged fans to be aware of the emotional toll on Hussain’s loved ones.

Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman, who had long admired Hussain’s work, expressed regret over their failed collaboration: “Zakir Bhai was an inspiration, a towering personality who elevated the tabla to world fame. His loss is immeasurable for all of us. I regret not being able to collaborate with him as much as I did decades ago, even though we were really going to miss you.

Zakir Hussain, born on March 9, 1951, was the son of legendary tabla maestro Ustad Alla Rakha. During his illustrious career, Hussain elevated Indian classical music to unprecedented global heights. His exceptional talent has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri (1988), the Padma Bhushan (2002) and the Padma Vibhushan (2023).

The maestro is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, and his two daughters, Anisa and Isabella Qureshi. While his loss is deeply felt, his legacy of unprecedented musical contributions will endure for generations to come.