
December 26, 2025 — Celebrated Sufi singer Kailash Kher was forced to stop his performance and walk off stage during a high-profile concert in Gwalior on Thursday night. What was meant to be a soulful evening turned into a scene of utter disorder as a section of the crowd breached security barricades, prompting a visibly frustrated Kher to label their behavior as “Janwargiri” (animal-like behavior).
The event, held at Gwalior’s Mela Maidan, was organized to commemorate the birth anniversary of the late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Thousands of fans had gathered for the “Bollywood Night,” which also coincided with the city’s Gwalior Gaurav Diwas celebrations.
The atmosphere was initially electric as Kher performed hits like “Teri Deewani” and “Saiyyan.” However, as the performance reached its peak, the excitement of the audience spiraled out of control. Fans began jumping over the safety barricades and surging toward the stage, with some even attempting to climb onto the platform to get closer to the singer and his equipment.
As the security situation deteriorated, Kher paused the music to address the unruly crowd. In a video that has since gone viral on social media, he is seen sternly warning the audience:
“Humne aapki prashansa ki aur aap itna janwargiri kar rahe hain. Janwargiri mat kariye please. (We praised you so much, but you are behaving like animals. Please, don’t act like animals.)”
He further cautioned that if anyone touched the musical instruments or came any closer to the stage, he would terminate the show immediately. Despite his direct appeals and requests for senior police officials to intervene, the crowd remained uncontrollable, and the security presence was reportedly inadequate for the massive turnout.
The incident has raised serious questions regarding the event’s security protocols. Interestingly, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had addressed a gathering at the same venue earlier that day with stringent security measures in place. However, during the evening cultural program, the management appeared to crumble under the pressure of the large crowd.
Finding the environment unsafe for himself and his team, Kher ultimately chose to leave the venue midway, leaving thousands of fans disappointed.
This is not the first time Kailash Kher has faced safety concerns during a live performance. In 2023, a similar incident occurred in Karnataka where a fan threw a water bottle at him, demanding he sing in the local language. These recurring incidents have sparked a broader conversation in the entertainment industry regarding the safety of artists during large public gatherings and the need for better crowd management.
As of Friday morning, local authorities in Gwalior have yet to release an official statement regarding the security breach, though social media is flooded with mixed reactions—some supporting Kher’s stand on discipline and others criticizing the organizers for the chaos.