Dr Deepak Namjoshi, who treated Bappi Lahiri before his death earlier this week, has said that the iconic Bollywood music director/singer would sing to him and even promised to sing his favourite song once his treatment was over.
Lahiri died at the age of 69 in Mumbai on Tuesday. He was admitted to the hospital for almost a month and was discharged on February 15. He was brought back as his condition worsened on the same day. He died on Tuesday night due to OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea).
Lahiri is perhaps best known for introducing and popularising disco-pop in India. Known as the ‘Disco King’, he ruled music charts in the 1970s and 80s with his foot-tapping songs. “Bappi da used to sing for me and tell me many stories. He had said that he was going to sing my favourite song, Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost, from the film Aap Ki Khatir for me, when he recovered full well,” said Dr Namjoshi.
“Bappi da had health issues for a long time. He was infected with COVID in April 2021, but what happened now cannot be called a post-COVID complication. It was due to his OSA and current chest infection which had set in due to his obesity,” the physician explained.
After Lahiri’s death, tributes for the Disco King poured in from celebs and fans alike. Remembering Bappi, Amitabh Bachchan took to his blog and wrote, “Bappi Lahiri… music director extraordinaire passes away .. shocked and surprised and in the misery of these tragic events of ‘passing’ in the rapid succession of times .. his songs shall remain eternal .. they are played, hummed, sung along in these modern times with alacrity and rejoice.”
Lahiri’s last rites were held on Thursday, February 17. Vidya Balan, Alka Yagnik, Shaan, Ila Arun, Lalit Pandit, Rupali Ganguly and Mika Singh were present at Lahiri’s funeral, among others.
