Singer Shaan says Gen Z knows him more for a viral meme than his music, after a clip from his Instagram Live, where he unknowingly mouthed a cuss word—went viral. He reflects on how the moment overshadowed his decades-long musical legacy
Shaan
Singer Shaan is known across generations for his pitch-perfect vocals and his songs in many Bollywood movies. However, he feels that Gen Z doesn’t recognize him for his music, but rather for a viral clip from several years ago. In the clip, taken from one of his Instagram Live sessions, Shaan was seen reprimanding users for using abusive language. The singer said the video eventually became a meme, and now that’s how many in the Gen Z population identify him, unaware of his vast contributions to Indian music.
Shaan on how Gen Z identifies him
Recalling the viral Instagram Live session, Shaan told Mashable India, “I was reading the comments, and I did not have my spectacles on. I didn’t know that people cuss in the comments. When I was reading them out, one of them said, ‘abey aye l**da’. Someone screen-recorded me reading it, and it became a meme.”
The clip left many surprised, as Shaan mouthed a cuss word during the live session—unexpected from someone known for being soft-spoken and sweet-voiced. The video quickly made its way to the internet and soon went viral.
“That meme has now become my identity. Gen Z and young millennials don’t know me as someone who sings; they only know me from the cuss word. Even my children’s friends are surprised when they see me and say, ‘Oh hey, he’s your dad?’ When my kids say, ‘Yeah, he’s singer Shaan,’ they say no—and then show them the meme,” Shaan shared.
What Shaan said in the viral video
In the viral video from a few years ago, Shaan was seen going through comments made by viewers. Upon noticing repetitive abusive messages, he said:
“Yeh l**da bolna band karo yaar, kya hai yeh? Tameez se baat karenge, gaali-vaali mat do. That shows your true colours.”
Someone then asked who he was, and Shaan didn’t hold back:
“Ask your parents who I am, ask your teachers about me. I might have sung less, might be less popular, but I don’t need to tell you who I am,” he said.
Who is Shaan?
Shaan, born Shantanu Mukherjee, is one of India’s most beloved playback singers, known for his soulful voice and versatile range. He began his career singing jingles and rose to fame in the late 1990s with iconic tracks like Tanha Dil and Musu Musu. With a repertoire spanning romantic ballads, peppy numbers, and devotional songs, Shaan has lent his voice to numerous Bollywood stars.
Some of his most popular songs include Chand Sifarish, Jab Se Tere Naina, Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh, Hey Shona, Kuch To Hua Hai, My Dil Goes Mmm, Gumsum Hai Dil Mera, and many more.
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