New Delhi: Playback singer and actor Prashant Tamang died of suspected cardiac arrest in New Delhi on Sunday. He was 43.
Originally from Darjeeling in West Bengal, Tamang took the country’s music fraternity by storm after winning Indian Idol Season 3. He was then a constable with Kolkata Police.
His death was announced by filmmaker Rajesh Ghatani on social media. Tamang was taken to the Dwarka hospital in New Delhi, where he was pronounced dead, Ghatani said.
Tamang’s family hasn’t issued an official statement yet.
“Oh God, this is heartbreaking — heartfelt condolences, Prashant bhai,” Ghatani posted on Facebook alongside a picture of the artist.
Born on December 4, 1983, in Darjeeling, Tamang honed his music s
kills as a constable in Kolkata Police, where he performed as part of the orchestra. His true claim to fame came when he won the singing reality competition Indian Idol.
After gaining significant popularity through Indian Idol, Tamang embarked on an independent music career, launching his maiden album Dhanyavad, which consisted of songs both in Hindi and Nepali, as reported by The Indian Express.
Tamang also sang for Nepali films like Gorkha Paltan (2010), Angalo Yo Maya Ko, and Himmat 2 (2013). He also made his acting debut in Nepal, starring in Gorkha Paltan, Angalo Yo Maya Ko, Kina Maya Ma (2011), Nishani (2014), Pardesi (2015), and Ye Maya Hanaima. Out of these, both Gorkha Paltan and Nishani were based on Gorkha bravery, and emerged as major blockbusters in Nepal.
He made his debut in Hindi entertainment with the role of Daniel Acho in Season 2 of Raj & DK’s hit Amazon Prime Video crime thriller show Pataal Lok. His last Bollywood project is Apoorva Lakhia’s military drama Battle of Galwan, starring Salman Khan and Chitrangada Singh.
Tamang is survived by his wife, Martha Tamang, and their daughter Ariah Tamang.