Bappi Lahiri's last Bollywood song titled Bhankas was for the 2020 film Baaghi 3. (File)
Music composer and singer Bappi Lahiri, who popularised disco music in India in the 80s and 90s, died at Mumbai's CritiCare Hospital today. He was 69.
"Lahiri had been admitted to the hospital for a month and was discharged on Monday. But his health deteriorated on Tuesday and his family called for a doctor to visit their home. He was brought to the hospital. He had multiple health issues. He died due to OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) shortly before midnight," Dr Deepak Namjoshi, director of the hospital, told PTI.
The last rites will be held on Thursday as the family is waiting for his musician-son Bappa Lahiri to return from Los Angeles, US.
Bappi Lahiri delivered popular songs in several films of the late 1970s-80s like 'Chalte Chalte', 'Disco Dancer', and 'Sharaabi'. His last Bollywood song titled Bhankas was for the 2020 film 'Baaghi 3'.
The singer's last appearance on the screen was with Salman Khan on reality show Bigg Boss 15, where he was promoting his grandson Swastik's new song 'Baccha Party'.
In April last year, the singer had been admitted to Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital after testing positive for Covid. He recovered after a few days.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that Lahiri's music was "all-encompassing, beautifully expressing diverse emotions" and that "people across generations could relate to his works".
"His lively nature will be missed by everyone. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti," he added.
Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman tweeted his condolences and called Lahiri the "Disco King of Hindi cinema".
Lahiri was born in Calcutta, West Bengal in 1952 into a family of musicians. His inclination towards music started at an early age of three when he started learning to play the tabla.
The singer is survived by his wife Chitrani, two children -- daughter Reema, who is also a singer, and music composer Bappa Lahiri.