Zubeen Garg’s death has left Assam and India in deep shock. Riyan Parag shared his reaction with deep sadness to the death of Zubeen Garg. On his Instagram account @riyanhparag, he shared an emotional note 16 hours after the news broke, writing that he was “Heartbroken” and that it was hard to believe he would never hear Zubeen’s voice again. He described Zubeen’s voice and legacy as something that went beyond music and said the loss felt personal to him.
Tributes poured in from across India, including from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who called him “one of Assam’s favourite sons”. His sudden death leaves a cultural void in Assam and Indian music. The government is working with the Indian High Commission in Singapore to bring his body back to Assam.
Who is Zubeen Garg?
Zubeen Garg was an Indian singer, composer, actor, and filmmaker from Assam. He was Assam’s favorite cultural figure, called “Assam’s heartthrob.” He performed in several languages, such as Assamese, Hindi, Bengali, Bodo, Nepali, Karbi, and Tamil, and became famous for his songs like “Ya Ali” from the 2006 movie Gangster.
Guru Ramani Rai introduced Zubeen to Assamese folk music, which quickly transformed him into a versatile performer. Throughout his life, he sang in over forty languages, such as Assamese, Hindi, Bengali, Nepali, Tamil, Telugu, and Bodo. Zubeen played around 12 instruments, such as guitar, tabla, dhol, harmonium, mandolin, and drums. His rise to national fame came with the Bollywood hit song “Ya Ali” from Gangster (2006), but in Assam, he had long been the voice of the masses since his 1992 debut album Anamika.
Zubeen Garg’s age
Zubeen Garg’s age was 52 at the time of his death in September 2025. In the hours before his death, Garg was seen in a video wearing a life jacket and preparing for a swim during a sea outing in Singapore. The clip, which has now gone viral, shows him adjusting his jacket and jumping into the water with enthusiasm.
Shortly after, he began to feel unwell while scuba diving. Despite being rescued quickly and rushed to Singapore General Hospital, he could not be saved and passed away at 2:30 pm on September 19, 2025. He was in Singapore to perform at the North East India Festival as Cultural Brand Ambassador.
A Look at Zubeen Garg’s family
Zubeen Garg’s family includes his father, Mohini Mohon Borthakur, and his mother, Ily Borthakur. He had two sisters, Jongki (late) and Dr. Palme Borthakur, and was married to fashion designer Garima Saikia Garg.
Zubeen was born in 1972 in Tura, Meghalaya, into an Assamese Brahmin family. His father, Mohini Mohon Borthakur, was a magistrate as well as a lyricist and poet who wrote under the name Kapil Thakur, while his mother, Ily Borthakur, was a singer. Zubeen took the surname Garg from his gotra and was named after the composer Zubin Mehta. He had two sisters, Jongki and Dr. Palme Borthakur. Jongki was an actress and singer, but her life was cut short in February 2002 when she died in a car accident while traveling for a performance in Sonitpur. The same year, Zubeen released the album Xixhu in her memory.
In his personal life, Zubeen married Garima Saikia, a fashion designer from Golaghat, Assam, on 4 February 2002. He often described himself as irreligious, making it clear that he did not follow caste or religion.
Garima Saikia Garg designs costumes, produces films, and creates art for theater productions in Assam. She majored in civil engineering and then she later worked as an intern at the CPWD before transitioning into creative roles. She shifted her career into writing and blogging over the years, but her most significant contribution was in Bollywood, where she worked as a costume designer and also as a co-producer on popular films like Mission China, Kanchanjangha, and Sikaar.
FAQs
Q. What happened to Zubeen Garg?
A. Zubeen Garg passed away in Singapore on a Friday afternoon in 2025. Reports say he developed breathing problems while scuba diving/yachting and was rushed to Singapore General Hospital.
Q. What is a scuba diving mishap?
A. A scuba diving mishap can mean problems like drowning, inhaling water, air embolism (air bubbles blocking blood vessels), or cardiac arrest.
Q. Who is Zubeen Garg’s wife?
A. Zubeen Garg’s wife is Garima Saikia Garg, a fashion designer from Golaghat, Assam. They got married on 4 February 2002.
Q. Why is Zubeen Garg famous?
A. Zubeen Garg became famous in Assam with his first album “Anamika” (1992). His Bollywood song “Ya Ali” from Gangster (2006) made him popular across India.
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