Now Reading: Sonu Nigam recalls begging on Mumbai streets, boy gave him Rs 12
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Sonu Nigam recalls begging on Mumbai streets, boy gave him Rs 12
Nearly a decade ago, playback singer Sonu Nigam disguised himself as an old beggar and performed on Juhu's streets for three hours, an experiment documented in a video titled 'The Roadside Ustaad'. Nigam wore makeup so authentic that passers-by did not recognise him, and he sang without a microphone amid traffic noise.
During the act, a young boy named Shahbaaz approached Nigam, held his hand, asked if he had eaten breakfast, and slipped Rs 12 into his palm. Nigam later said the gesture felt like earning lakhs and he had the money framed and kept among his awards. Nigam tracked down Shahbaaz and invited him home, where the boy was surprised to meet the singer he had unknowingly encountered.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The experiment echoes a tradition of celebrities testing anonymity, from Robin Williams performing in New York subways to Cristiano Ronaldo's Madrid disguise. Nigam's story stands out for its aftermath: he framed a stranger's Rs 12, treating it as an award. The gesture highlights how street performers in India often survive on small sums, and the boy's compassion became a rare counterpoint to urban indifference. The video remains on Culture Machine's Being Indian channel, a reminder of pre-pandemic viral content that relied on human connection rather than algorithms.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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