What made Prashant Tamang’s bond with his daughter so special?

Prashant Tamang, who made his Bollywood debut with Salman Khan–starrer Battle of Galwan, was spending most of his time at home in Delhi after completing the film’s shooting. More than rest, his priority was caring for his three-year-old daughter.

Tamang preferred staying in Delhi whenever he could, especially to look after his daughter. With his wife working as an air hostess, the responsibility of caring for their child largely fell on him. According to artist and producer Rajesh Ghatani, Prashant was deeply attached to his daughter and rarely stayed away from her. Despite receiving numerous offers for events and appearances, he chose to turn many of them downsolely for his daughter’s sake.

“He had an extraordinary bond with his daughter,” Ghatani told Niriv. “He used to say that he saw his mother’s reflection in her.” The loss of his mother during the COVID-19 pandemic was one of the deepest regrets of his life. At the time, Prashant was in Delhi while his mother passed away in Darjeeling due to COVID-19. Being the only son, he was unable to see her in her final moments, a pain that stayed with him forever.

Despite his strong attachment to family, Prashant remained equally conscious of his career. “He balanced both family and work with great care,” Ghatani said. “But life, unfortunately, did not give him enough time.” Prashant Tamang passed away due to cardiac arrest at his Delhi residence on January 11, 2026, at the age of 42, while living with his daughter.

Born in Darjeeling, Prashant Tamang rose to fame after winning Season 3 of the popular Indian singing reality show Indian Idol in 2007. Coming from a modest background, he was working with the Kolkata Police before entering the music industry, managing his duty to public service alongside his passion for singing.

His journey on Indian Idol was far from easy. With his simple attire, humble nature, and emotionally rich singing style, he quickly won the hearts of viewers. The warmth and folk essence in his voice touched not only the judges but millions of viewers. His victory sparked celebrations across Nepali-speaking communities, marking not just a personal triumph but an international recognition of Nepali identity and talent.

Following his win, Prashant sang in Hindi, Nepali, and other languages, worked as a playback singer, and remained closely connected with audiences through live performances. In later years, he became more active in films than music, appearing in Nepali movies such as Pardeshi and Gorkha Paltan. He also stepped into Bollywood and OTT platforms.

Most notably, he portrayed the powerful villainous role of sniper Daniel Lecho in Amazon Prime Video’s Paatal Lok Season 2 (2025). His intense performance received widespread praise from both audiences and critics.

Prashant married former air hostess Martha Aley in 2011. After the birth of their daughter Arya in 2022, he was living a happy family life, cherishing every moment as a devoted father.

Tragically, his untimely demise has left the Nepali-speaking music and film fraternity in deep mourning. Prashant Tamang’s contribution to promoting Nepali identity and Gorkha pride on the global stage remains invaluable, and his legacy will live on.

When Prashant stood on the Indian Idol stage, he united Nepali-speaking communities across the world into a single emotional moment. Audiences from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and the global Nepali diaspora rallied behind him. The competition transformed into a celebration of identity, pride, and belonging. As he sang, language barriers faded, national borders fell silent, and only emotion remainedproving that when music speaks, geography becomes secondary.

Prashant Tamang may have left the world too soon, but the love he gave to his family, his culture, and his people will always be remembered.