Music director Wajid of Sajid-Wajid dies at 42 after coronavirus complicates kidney disease

Music composer, director and singer Wajid Khan died at the age of 42 in the wee hours of Monday morning. He was tested positive for the novel coronavirus a few days ago, and was suffering from Covid-19. Wajid Khan, of the famous Sajid-Wajid music composer duo, was also suffering from kidney ailments and had undergone a kidney transplant a few months ago. He was hospitalised a few days ago because of health complications. The music director was on the ventilator for the last few days. Wajid Khan was at a hospital in Chembur, Maharashtra, where he breathed his last.

Wajid Khan composed most of the songs of actor Salman Khan's moves and even had a hand in composing the recent Bhai-Bhai song released by the actor last week.

Music composer Salim Merchant, who confirmed the news of Wajid’s death, told PTI that the composer was hospitalised a few days ago at Surana Hospital, Chembur where his condition deteriorated.

“He had multiple issues. He had a kidney issue and had a transplant a while ago. But recently he got to know about kidney infection... He was on the ventilator for the last four days, after his situation started getting worse. Kidney infection was the beginning and then he got critical,” Salim told PTI.

The music composer duo Sajid-Wajid broke on to Bollywood with their film debut, with Salman Khan’s 1998 movie Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya. They went on to work on several films together, including Garv, Tere Naam, Tumko Na Bhool Payenge, Partner and the popular Dabangg franchise.

Wajid also did playback for Salman. In chartbusters like Mera Hi Jalwa, Fevicol Se, it was Wajid who lent his voice to Salman. Wajid also voiced Chinta Ta Chita Chita from the film Rowdy Rathore for Akshay Kumar, among others. Wajid recently co-composed Salman’s songs Pyaar Karona and Bhai Bhai, which were shot in Khan's Panvel farmhouse during the lockdown, and were released on his YouTube channel.

Apart from films, Wajid, along with brother Sajid, also served as mentor on the singing reality shows Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2012 and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Singing Superstar.

Together, Sajid-Wajid also scored the IPL 4 theme song, Dhoom Dhoom Dhoom Dhadaka, which was sung by Wajid.

Playback singer and composer Vishal Dadlani extended his condolences on the sudden demise of Wajid Khan and tweeted, "Heartbroken. Both @SajidMusicKhan and @wajidkhan7 have been close & true friends. The kind who might see the light on and show up at our studio in the middle of the night just to meet and talk and share a laugh. Can't believe Wajid and I will never speak again."

Heartbroken. Both @SajidMusicKhan and @wajidkhan7 have been close & true friends. The kind who might see the light on and show up at our studio in the middle of the night just to meet and talk and share a laugh. Can't believe Wajid and I will never speak again. — VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) May 31, 2020

Hard to believe we won't meet again, talk again, laugh again, @wajidkhan7 (in front, in the picture).

sajidk21 my brother, you will never be alone and our brother will never be forgotten. https://t.co/0v8lsgxVtM — VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) May 31, 2020

Actor Parineeti Chopra also took to Twitter to condole his death, "Every music session with him was memorable."

Wajid Bhai you were the nicest, nicest nicest man! Always smiling. Always singing. All heart. Every music session with him was memorable. You will truly be missed wajid bhai. #WajidKhan — Parineeti Chopra (@ParineetiChopra) May 31, 2020

"The one thing I will always remember is Wajid bhai's laugh," Priyanka Chopra said in a tweet.

Terrible news. The one thing I will always remember is Wajid bhai's laugh. Always smiling. Gone too soon. My condolences to his family and everyone grieving. Rest in peace my friend. You are in my thoughts and prayers.@wajidkhan7 — PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) May 31, 2020

Singer Harshdeep Kaur tweeted, "My deep condolences to #WajidKhan Ji’s family. Still can’t believe that he is no more. Have always seen him smiling and spreading joy around him. Huge loss to the music industry."

My deep condolences to #WajidKhan Ji’s family. Still can’t believe that he is no more. Have always seen him smiling and spreading joy around him. Huge loss to the music industry #RestInPeace @wajidkhan7 pic.twitter.com/zX1Jtc2kyI — Harshdeep Kaur (@HarshdeepKaur) May 31, 2020