Veteran singer-music director Bappi Lahiri breathed his last in the Criticare Hospital, Mumbai, late on Tuesday night. He was 69 and was admitted with post-Covid complications.

Eminent Bollywood personalities have expressed shock and condoled the demise of Lahiri. He was fondly known as ‘Bappi Da’ in the industry.

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The singer last appeared on the reality show Bigg Boss 15, where he promoted his grandson Swastik’s new song ‘Baccha Party’. On the show, Bappi Lahiri joked about his name and the name of his son.

After introducing Bappi Lahiri on his show, Salman Khan said, “Pehli baar Bappi da aaye hain Bigg Boss me. Bahut kam log jaante hain ki Bappi da ka actual naam Alokesh hai (This is the first time you have visited Bigg Boss. Not many know that Bappi da’s name is Alokesh).”

After introducing the singer, Salman Khan welcomed Bappi’s grandson Rego aka Swastik Lahiri.

Bappi Lahiri was born in West Bengal on November 27, 1952. He first composed music for a Bengali film ‘Daadu’ and launched his Bollywood career with a film, ‘Nanha Shikari’. He popularised the use of synthesized disco music in Indian cinema and sang some of his own compositions.

He became popular in the late 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s for the soundtracks composed by him for films such as Naya Kadam, Aangan Ki Kali, Wardat, Disco Dancer, Hathkadi, Namak Halaal, Masterji, Dance Dance, Himmatwala, Justice Chaudhury, Tohfa, Maqsad, Commando, Gang Leader, Sailaab and Sharaabi.

Bappi Lahiri composed a duet with Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar named “Nothing Is Impossible”. His compositions Jalta Hai Jiya Mera (Kishore Asha duet) and Lata Mangeshkar solos like Abhi Abhi Thi Dushmani and Aao Tumhe Chand became popular.

He acquired global fame with his chart-busting music for “Disco Dancer” and the song ‘Jimmy, Jimmy, Aaja, Aaja…”, and later the superhit music for “Zakhmee” and”Lahu Ke Do Rang”.

Also read- Bappi Lahiri: Timeline of the Disco pioneer’s golden career

For the first time in late 2016, Bappi Lahiri voiced the character of Tamatoa in the Hindi-dubbed version of Disney’s 3D computer-animated fantasy adventure film Moana.

Lahiri won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 63rd Filmfare Awards.