Gunjan Chaudhary
Singer Sonu Nigam is known for his powerful voice and countless hit songs, but years ago, he decided to step away from his celebrity identity and experience life from an entirely different perspective. Disguised as an elderly street performer, the singer spent hours singing on the streets of Mumbai, and the experience left him with a memory he still cherished. The unusual experiment, titled ‘The Roadside Ustaad’ took place in 2016 and was created in collaboration with Being Indian.
Sonu Nigam
Sonu Nigam Disguised as Beggar
Sonu dressed in shabby clothes, used makeup and prosthetics to change his appearance, and sat on the roadside with a harmonium. Most people had no idea that the man singing in front of them was actually one of India’s most celebrated playback singers. The video that eventually went viral showed only a small portion of Sonu’s performance. The singer later revealed that he had actually performed at three different locations in Mumbai, spending around an hour at each spot.
Sonu Nigam
Also Read: Varun Dhawan Shared Glimpse of His Expensive Farmland to Fans, Seen Enjoying Tea and Biscuits
According to Sonu, he sang nearly 25 songs over more than three hours. He performed in the sun and dust without a microphone, while people stopped to listen to his voice. What surprised Sonu most was that people did not recognise him. He said he was actually worried that someone might identify him because that would have made the experiment embarrassing for him.
Sonu Nigam
The most touching moment came when a young man approached the disguised singer. Instead of simply giving him money, the boy reportedly asked him whether he had eaten breakfast. He then quietly placed ₹12 in Sonu’s hand. The gesture deeply moved the singer. Sonu later said that receiving those ₹12 felt like earning lakhs of rupees because of the kindness behind the gesture. He eventually had the money framed and kept it among his prized possessions.
Sonu Nigam
The boy, identified as Shahbaaz, was later traced by the team. Sonu invited him to his home, where the two met again and shared an emotional moment. The idea behind The Roadside Ustaad was not simply to fool people. It was designed to understand how people respond to a street performer when they have no idea about his identity or celebrity status. For Sonu, the experience became a lesson in humility, humanity and the power of music. His voice attracted people even when his celebrity image was completely hidden.