After battling severe pain for nearly three weeks, singer Sonu Nigam is finally on the road to recovery. Speaking to us exclusively from Delhi, where he sought treatment while attending an award function, the singer opened up about the physical ordeal he endured, the challenge of performing through pain, and the overwhelming love he received from fans after a video of him discussing his condition went viral. ‘I WAS IN A VERY BAD SHAPE FOR THE LAST 20 DAYS’Sonu revealed that a nerve-related issue left him in constant pain, making even the slightest movement difficult. “I was in a very bad shape for the last 20 days. I think it was probably a wrong workout move or probably sleeping at one position for a long time must have triggered the nerve. And because of that, it was so painful that even if I was doing anything, not even moving my head, I was in constant pain.”While doctors initially prescribed painkillers, Sonu says he knew medication alone wasn’t the answer. “Initially, for pain management, I took painkillers as suggested by doctors. But that’s not an option. You have to heal from your pain and cannot just rely on painkillers. It’s not good for your health.”His turning point came in Delhi, thanks to a filmmaker who connected him to a specialist. “I came to Delhi for an award function and when I realized that I couldn’t do anything, Pankaj Parashar, the director of Chalbaaz, put me onto a very good doctor in Delhi who works with cricketers, actors and politicians. He began working on me immediately. He was with me twice a day, for two and a half hours. He literally made me stand up. So, I finally am in a position that I can come back to Bombay now and start working.” ‘NO ONE CAN REPRESENT ME ON STAGE’Despite the pain, cancelling performances never crossed his mind. “Our work is such that I cannot send my secretary to sing on stage if I’m unwell. Agar koi aur business hota mera toh I would tell them to do the meeting without me, or I’d come on Zoom, ya mera assistant meeting kar lega. But this is a job which has to be done by the artist themselves.”For Sonu, performing is a responsibility that cannot be delegated. “If I have a work commitment, I have to do it. No one else can represent me on stage. As artists, this is our job. And that’s why, cancelling a concert is never an option for me. I’ve never done it. I’ve sung even when I’ve had a bad voice or been unwell.” ‘IF YOU’VE PRACTICED ENOUGH, THE SETBACK CAN BE FROM 100 TO 90, NOT FROM 100 TO 50’The singer admits he was concerned that the medication and muscle relaxants prescribed for pain could affect his voice. “As I said, when we are in this profession, we have to perform on our own. And obviously, medication sometimes slows you down. If you are being given muscle relaxant for the pain, then that muscle relaxant will affect your vocal muscles as well.” Yet decades of training and discipline helped him overcome the setback. “But thankfully, if you have practiced enough in your life, then the setback can be from 100 to 90, not 100 to 50.” To his surprise, his voice held up remarkably well on stage. “So yes, I felt that I might be in pain. But in fact, when I went on the stage, I was singing even better than before. In the last one and a half months, I had not done any concert, I only did Riyaz. So my voice was even better. But yes, I was a little frightened that I might not be able to sing properly, but I sang pretty well.”‘SABSE BADI KAMAI HAI YEH’What moved Sonu most during this difficult phase was the outpouring of concern from fans after he shared a video about performing despite being in pain. “It makes me so emotional that just a single video of me telling people that I’m having pain before a concert and now I have to perform brought in so much concern.” The singer says the response reminded him of what truly matters. “I was showered with so much love, so much attention, which is very special. It doesn’t happen to everyone. And this is what makes me very humble. It makes me very thankful to God.” Calling the affection of his audience his greatest reward, Sonu says, “I feel this is the biggest earning. Sabse badi kamai hai yeh. And it comes from luck. It’s not that I’m a very good person and that’s why I’m getting it. Just my good luck. that I was just showered with love.”
