Popular Indian singer Kailash Kher was forced to temporarily stop his performance during a recent concert in Gwalior after fans became unruly and breached security protocols. Videos from the event, which have gone viral online, show the singer appealing to the crowd to stop the 'janwargiri' (mob-like behaviour).
Concert Chaos and On-Stage Plea
The incident occurred last Friday while Kher was performing his hit song 'Bam Lahiri'. Audience members began jumping barricades, stepping on power cables, and attempting to climb onto the stage to get closer to the singer. This prompted Kher to pause the show and address the crowd directly.
In the now-viral clips, Kher is heard saying, "We praised you, and you are behaving like such a mob. Please, don't act like a mob." He warned the audience not to touch the band's equipment, threatening to stop the performance entirely if they continued. The singer expressed concern about a potential stampede, which led to the brief halt.
Kailash Kher Explains the Safety Concerns
Speaking about the incident, Kailash Kher clarified that the pause was a safety measure. "They thought they could go on stage, so some started climbing. We feared a stampede might happen, that's when we said 'don't act like a mob, we will have to stop the show'. We paused our performance for some time but continued once everything was sorted," he explained.
He emphasized the serious risk of harm in such situations. "I want people to understand this can cause serious harm. They can hurt themselves and others like this," Kher stated. He described an unspoken agreement between a performer and the audience, which must include limits and discipline.
A Broader Issue of Audience Behaviour
Kher used the opportunity to address a larger trend of over-enthusiastic and sometimes dangerous fan behaviour at events. He noted that while he receives immense love from cross-generational fans, especially as a non-film, spiritual music performer, this passion needs boundaries.
"They go crazy wanting to see and touch us, but it scares us that they might get hurt," he said. He pointed out that in the age of smartphones, everyone wants photos and selfies, often ignoring repeated requests to stay behind barricades.
The singer also highlighted incidents beyond concerts, like fans following his car on roads or blocking his way at airports for selfies. "People have absolutely no patience nowadays," he observed, urging fans to show basic manners and care for their own and others' safety while expressing their admiration. He concluded by saying he doesn't get angry but wishes for more control, as performers also want to support their fans safely.
