The world of music has lost a legend. Ustad Zakir Hussain, the iconic tabla maestro, passed away at the age of 73 on December 15, 2024, in San Francisco after a battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung disease. His family confirmed the sad news, stating that his legacy would resonate for generations to come, cherished by countless music lovers worldwide.
Bollywood celebrities took to social media to mourn the loss of the maestro. Amitabh Bachchan expressed his sorrow on X, calling it "a very sad day." Kareena Kapoor Khan shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, posting a picture of Ustad Zakir Hussain with veteran actor Randhir Kapoor, captioned "Maestro forever" with a heart emoji. Actor Riteish Deshmukh referred to his passing as "a devastating blow to India and the global music community," offering condolences to the family. Akshay Kumar called him a "treasure" of India's musical heritage, and Ranveer Singh paid tribute through his social media.
Ustad Zakir Hussain was born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai to the legendary tabla master Ustad Alla Rakha. His career spanned decades, and he gained international recognition, especially after collaborating with Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart on the Planet Drum album, which won him a Grammy Award. Hussain’s contributions to the music world were also recognized by the Indian government, with him being honored with the Padma Shri in 1988 and Padma Bhushan in 2002, alongside four Grammy Awards.
The musician is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, daughters Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi, and his siblings. The music world mourns the loss of a great artist whose work and spirit will continue to inspire future generations.
