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Prashant Tamang, Indian Idol 3 winner and Paatal Lok actor, dies at 43; Udit Narayan says ‘Heartbreaking to lose someone so gifted at such a young age’

Singer-Actor Prashant Tamang Passes Away at 43: Prashant Tamang rose to prominence in 2004 after winning Season 3 of Sony Entertainment Television’s popular singing reality show Indian Idol.

3 min readMumbaiUpdated: Jan 11, 2026 10:37 PM IST

Prashant Tamang Death: The singer-actor was 43.

Prashant Tamang Death News: Singer and actor Prashant Tamang has died at the age of 43 after suffering a heart attack. He breathed his last at his residence in New Delhi.

Reacting to the news, singer Udit Narayan, who was also a judge on Indian Idol, told SCREEN, “I am deeply saddened and shocked by the passing of a talented singer like Prashant who won Indian Idol Season 3. As a judge on the show, I had the opportunity to closely observe his musical journey. He was a very nice person, a true gentleman, with a distinct individuality in his voice. Whenever I met him, I found him to be very warm and humble. He was extremely talented, which is why he went on to become the winner of the season. It is heartbreaking to lose someone so gifted at such a young age. My heartfelt condolences are with his family, friends, and fans. May his soul rest in peace. Om Shanti.”

Prashant Tamang, who hailed from Darjeeling and was of Nepali origin, rose to prominence in 2004 after winning Season 3 of Sony Entertainment Television’s popular singing reality show Indian Idol. He won the Indian Idol 3 finale by a huge margin, garnering over 700 lakh votes, 10 times more than what the first runner-up, Amit Paul, secured in the same round.

After gaining significant popularity through Indian Idol, Tamang embarked on an independent music career, launching his maiden album Dhanyavad, which consisted of songs both in Hindi and Nepali.

Prashant Tamang also sang for Nepali films like Gorkha Paltan (2010), Angalo Yo Maya Ko, and Himmat 2 (2013). He also made his acting debut in Nepal, starring in Gorkha Paltan, Angalo Yo Maya Ko, Kina Maya Ma (2011), Nishani (2014), Pardesi (2015), and Ye Maya Hanaima. Out of these, both Gorkha Paltan and Nishani were based on Gorkha bravery, and emerged as major blockbusters in Nepal.

Tamang made his debut in Hindi entertainment with the role of Daniel Acho in Season 2 of Raj & DK’s hit Amazon Prime Video crime thriller show Pataal Lok. His last Bollywood project is Apoorva Lakhia’s military drama Battle of Galwan, starring Salman Khan and Chitrangada Singh. Backed by Salman Khan Films, it’s based on the India-China conflict in the Galwan River Valley in Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control.

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