Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Clarifies Controversial Video of Alleged Assault on Disciple

Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan found himself in the midst of a controversy as a video allegedly depicting him assaulting his disciple went viral on the internet. In response to the widespread speculation, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has issued a clarification video on his official Instagram handle, shedding light on the incident and offering his perspective.

In the video, the acclaimed singer addresses the controversy as a personal matter between a teacher (‘ustad’) and his disciple (‘shagird’). Khan introduces the man he was seen interacting with in the video as his disciple and a second person standing beside him as the disciple’s father.

“The videos you are seeing are a personal issue between an ustad and shagird,” Khan asserts in the video. He elaborates on the dynamics of the relationship, stating, “He is like my son. This is how the relationship is between a teacher and his disciple. If a disciple does something good, I shower my love on him. If he does something wrong, he is punished.”

The disciple, in turn, explains that the controversial ‘bottle’ in question contained holy water from a religious cleric who had recited verses over it. Admitting to misplacing the bottle, he expresses, “He’s like my father. He loves us a lot. Whoever spread this video is trying to defame my ustad.” Rahat Fateh Ali Khan claims to have apologized to the disciple immediately after the incident.

The video also features the disciple’s father defending the singer, emphasizing the traditional and close-knit relationship between an ‘ustad’ and ‘shagird’ in the realm of Qawwali. The singer’s driver, appearing in the video, testifies that he has never been mistreated by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.

The initial video that sparked the controversy depicted the singer allegedly thrashing his disciple with a shoe, repeatedly hitting and slapping him while inquiring about a misplaced ‘bottle.’ The disciple is seen pleading innocence, with onlookers attempting to intervene and prevent further altercation.

As the controversy unfolds, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s clarification provides his side of the story, emphasizing the unique dynamics of mentorship within the Qawwali tradition.