Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain died at a San Francisco hospital on Monday (December 16) from complications arising out of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He was 73. The news of his demise was shared by his family. Soon after the news surfaced, celebrities, politicians, businessmen and others, remembered the legend and offered condolences on social media.
Over the years, Zakir Hussain, not only made his mark in the world of music but also ventured into acting. Known for his exceptional skill in playing the tabla, his musical career has spanned decades, earning him international acclaim.
Zakir Hussain’s journey as an actor
His acting career, though less prominent, showcased his versatility as an artist. He appeared in several films, where he played supporting roles. His performances were well-received, with critics appreciating his natural acting style.
Hussain made his acting debut in 1983 with the historical romantic drama Heat and Dust. The British film also starred Shashi Kapoor, Greta Scacchi, and Ratna Pathak Shah. In the movie, the tabla maestro played the role of landlord Inder Lal.
Later, in the 1998 film Saaz, which is said to be based on legendary singers Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle’s lives, Hussain was Himaan Desai. His character was said to be based on Asha Bhosle’s second husband, RD Burman.
Hussain was last seen in Dev Patel’s Monkey Man which released in April 2024. Now, a clip of Ustad Hussain playing tabla in one of the scenes of the film is doing the rounds on social media.
In the film, he made a special cameo. Take a look at his scene here:
On Sunday evening, unconfirmed reports of Hussain’s death started doing rounds on social media with many celebrities, including Amitabh Bachchan, Ranveer Singh, Nimrat Kaur, Riteish Deshmukh, and Anupam Kher falling prey to speculation.
Hussain is regarded as the greatest tabla player of his generation. He is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola and his daughters, Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi. Born on March 9, 1951, he is the son of legendary tabla master Ustad Alla Rakha.
Hussain has received four Grammy Awards in his career, including three at the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year. He also received the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.
