Hussain had been battling health complications for some time and was hospitalised in San Francisco two weeks before his passing.
Reports about his deteriorating condition surfaced over the weekend. Despite medical intervention, his condition worsened, and he was moved to the ICU. Rumours of his death spread on social media late last night, however, his family and representatives refuted the claims saying, “We are asking all his fans around India and around the world to pray for him, to pray for his health. But as India’s greatest ever exports, do not finish him off just yet,” his sister Khursheed told PTI.
Following news of his demise, Bollywood celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Farhan Akhtar, Riteish Deshmukh, Nimrat Kaur and many others took to social media to mourn his demise and honour his legacy.
Born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai, Zakir was the son of legendary tabla maestro Ustad Alla Rakha. He began his musical journey at the age of seven, quickly establishing himself as a prodigious talent. By the time he reached his twenties, Hussain had already become a prominent figure in Indian classical music, performing alongside stalwarts such as Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, and Pandit Shivkumar Sharma.
Zakir Hussain’s illustrious career spanned over six decades, during which he earned numerous accolades. He won four Grammy Awards, including three earlier this year. He was honoured with India’s highest civilian awards: the Padma Shri (1988), Padma Bhushan (2002), and Padma Vibhushan (2023).