Gurugram: Haryanvi singer and rapper Rahul Yadav, popularly known as Rahul Fazilpuria, and singer of the popular song ‘Ladki beautiful’ narrowly escaped a ‘life-threatening attack’ on Monday night. Unidentified assailants allegedly opened fire on his vehicle on the Southern Peripheral Road (SPR) near Badshahpur in Gurugram’s Sector 71.
The 35-year-old artist, celebrated for his chart-topping tracks and a brief foray into politics, emerged unharmed but shaken, as police launched a probe to uncover the motive behind the brazen assault.
Sandeep Kumar, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Gurugram Police, confirmed to ThePrint Wednesday that an FIR has been registered at Badshahpur police station in connection with the incident.
“We have identified the accused and recovered the car used in the crime, a Tata Punch,” Kumar said. “The motive of the crime is not known so far, but we are investigating all angles.” CCTV footage from the scene captured the assailants’ vehicle trailing Fazilpuria’s white Mahindra Thar moments before the alleged attack, which occurred around 7:30 pm. The police have formed two teams, including members of the Crime Branch, to apprehend the suspects.
Rahul Fazilpuria did not answer the calls and a message sent by ThePrint to his mobile phone. This report will be updated once he responds.
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A grassroots star from Fazilpur village
Born on 10 April 1990, in Fazilpur village near Gurugram, Rahul Yadav adopted the stage name Fazilpuria as a tribute to his roots.
From a well-to-do family with a legacy in business, Fazilpuria’s journey to stardom was marked by personal and professional challenges.
The untimely death of his father during Rahul’s youth left the family in disarray. Undeterred, Rahul took on the responsibility of managing the family business while nurturing his passion for music.
The loss of his mother in 2016 further tested his resilience, but he continued to pursue his singing career, blending Haryanvi folk with urban rap to create a distinctive sound that resonated with audiences across India.
Rise to fame with blockbuster hits
Fazilpuria’s breakthrough came in 2014 with the infectious rap song ‘Ladki Beautiful Kar Gayi Chull’, a collaboration with rapper Badshah that became a cultural phenomenon.
The track was later featured in the 2016 Bollywood blockbuster ‘Kapoor & Sons’, starring Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra, and Fawad Khan, cementing his place in the music industry. The song’s catchy beats and Haryanvi flair earned it millions of streams and a lasting legacy in Bollywood.
His musical recordings include other hits like ‘Pallo Latke’ in the film ‘Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana’, featuring Kriti Kharbanda and Rajkummar Rao, which has garnered over 357 million views on YouTube.
Fazilpuria also contributed ‘Kharch Karod’ to Randeep Hooda’s ‘Laal Rang’, along with tracks like ‘2 Many Girls’, ’32 Bore’, ‘Jimmy Choo’, ‘Lalla Lohri’, and ‘Chori Maar Dalegi’, which showcased his ability to blend desi and urban elements.
His work earned him the Best Rapper Award at the Haryana Entertainment & Music Awards in 2019, solidifying his influence in the Haryanvi and Bollywood music scenes.
Political ambitions and electoral setback
In 2024, Fazilpuria ventured into politics, contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Gurugram as a candidate for the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), led by former Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala. Running against formidable opponents—BJP’s Rao Inderjit Singh and Congress’s Raj Babbar—he secured 13,278 votes, finishing third.
Not without controversy
Fazilpuria’s career has not been without controversy. His close association with YouTuber and Bigg Boss OTT 2 winner Elvish Yadav has drawn scrutiny, particularly in 2023, when both were implicated in a case involving the alleged use of snakes of a rare species and a .32 bore pistol in a music video titled ’32 Bore’.
The complaint, filed by People for Animals (PFA), led to an FIR by the Gurgaon Police. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) subsequently questioned Fazilpuria and Yadav in a money laundering probe linked to snake venom and rave parties, seizing assets worth over Rs 58 lakh, including three acres of land in Bijnor registered in Fazilpuria’s name.
Earlier, Fazilpuria faced legal issues in 2017 when he was fined and his Mercedes was impounded for drunk driving in Gurgaon. Fazilpuria had then claimed that he was not drunk and the breath analyser had detected the Vodka-flavoured paan he ate a few minutes before the police stopped him. Despite these setbacks, Fazilpuria has maintained his focus on his career and public image.
Personal Struggles and Resilience
Fazilpuria’s personal life has seen its share of challenges. In 2016, he married Himani, a Gurugram native, in a love-cum-arranged marriage, but the union ended in divorce within three years, reportedly due to time constraints and professional commitments. Despite these personal losses, Fazilpuria has continued to channel his energy into his music and business ventures, earning admiration for his resilience.
In 2018, Fazilpuria sought police protection after reporting suspicious activities near his home in Fazilpur village, citing an earlier attack on his car and concerns about being followed by unknown bikers.
The 14 July attack bore a striking resemblance to the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, with assailants in two vehicles—a Tata Punch and a Harrier—pursuing Fazilpuria’s Thar.
Fazilpuria’s quick thinking allowed him to speed away, leveraging heavy traffic to evade the assailants. The incident occurred just a kilometer from his village, near CSD Apartments.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)