When Zubeen Garg said 'If I die in Assam, it will remain closed for seven days,' also revealed 'Said no to Rohit Shetty for a film'

Popular Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, known for crooning songs like Ya Ali, Jaane Kya Chahe Mann Bawra, Subah Subah, Maahi Ve and Dilruba among others died in a freak accident in Singapore while scuba diving at the age 52 on September 19. He was in Singapore for the North East India Festival, where he supposed to perform on 20 and 21 September.

“It is with deep sadness that we share the news of Zubeen Garg’s passing. While scuba diving, he experienced breathing difficulties and was immediately given CPR before being rushed to Singapore General Hospital. Despite efforts to save him, he was declared deceased in the ICU around 2.30 pm IST,” Anuj Kumar Boruah, the representative of North East India Festival told NDTV.

What Zubeen Garg said in his last interview

“I stayed in Mumbai for 12 years, I got bored of the city life. People ask me why I don’t live in Mumbai? I said, ‘A king should never leave his kingdom. There is no king there. When Lata Mangeshkar died, did they do anything? No. When Rajesh Khanna died, there was just news - Rajesh Khanna died. There is no king. But if I die here in Assam, Assam will remain closed for 7 days.’”

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“I live like that, so they are scared. They don’t call me because they are afraid I will scold them. Rohit Shetty called me to sing a song for his film, but I said, ‘No, I didn’t like it. I won’t come.’ Rohit was like, ‘What kind of man is he?’ Pritam said, ‘He is like this. He is a king. He lives like that.’ If you have work, come here to Assam. I will not go.”

Zubeen Garg’s manager Siddhartha Sharma has reacted to the SIT raids at his residence days after the singer’s death by issuing a statement, which spoke about Garg’s vast catalogue and the earnings from his creative work. In the statement, Sharma shared that the majority of the singer’s 38,000 recorded songs are contractually owned by various production houses and music companies, contrary to the public’s perception.

“Almost all of Zubeen da’s songs, even the biggest blockbusters, were done before I entered his life. He often lamented how he was shortchanged, with producers and labels earning crores while he received only modest payments. This can be verified with those companies directly," said Sharma.