Alka Yagnik, who recently received the Padma Bhushan from the government, has spoken of her health problems in recent years and said that the past two years have been difficult. Diagnosed with a rare hearing disorder in 2024, Yagnik said she has been away from the spotlight while working on recovery and is now “slowly finding her way back.”
On June 23, 2026, Yagnik received the prestigious award from President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Her appearance at the ceremony was one of her few public appearances in recent years. Videos of her being assisted to the podium raised the concern of the fans who noted her visibly frail condition.
Yagnik mentioned that in June 2024 she suffered from rare sensorineural hearing loss that had been caused by a viral attack after a flight journey. She said she was unable to hear and had to quit singing and public work. She described the time as “difficult,” and said it was all silence and uncertainty, but was slowly gaining back her strength.
After the award ceremony, Yagnik wrote to her fans in a public letter. She said: “For the last two years I have stayed away from the spotlight, from public appearances and much of my journey.” She was thankful for the love, prayers, and support she got, which she said has helped her through the toughest times.
A Padma Bhushan for Yagnik was not only recognition of the music she had done but for her resilience. The honor was wonderful and humbling as it belonged to her audience as well as to her, she said.
She may not yet be ready to take on new singing projects, but Yagnik’s presence at the Padma Awards and her candid reflections have reassured admirers that she is on the path to recovery. Her story is a powerful reminder of both the fragility and strength of artists who devote their lives to music.
