Rahat Fateh Ali Khan clarifies on viral video: Iconic Pakistani playback and Qawwali singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has crooned several hit songs in Bollywood films and enjoys a massive fandom in India.

The respected vocalist recently got embroiled in a controversy after a video clip of him mercilessly torturing and assaulting a man inside his house went viral on social media.

Soon after the clip gained backlash, the renowned singer recorded a video message to clarify the act and downplay it by claiming that the man was his student and called it a personal matter.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan captured assaulting a man

In the visuals, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is seen slapping and beating an individual inside the premises of his house, which went viral on Saturday. The widely circulated clip, shared by Pakistani outlet Samaa TV, showed the popular Qawwali singer hitting the man with his slipper while enquiring about a bottle.

"I have no idea about it", the man is heard pleading with the singer. Meanwhile, in another scene, a few people are seen trying to pull the singer away from the man in order to save him.

The outlet identified the employee as Khan's househelp and also expressed concerns about raising violent behaviour among singers. "Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was caught abusing his servant. Later, he gave an explanation," the X user wrote in the caption.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan clarifies on the viral video

The nephew of legendary Qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the Teri Ore singer, released a clarification video stating that it was a personal matter between an ustad (teacher) and his shagird (disciple).

He also explained that the bottle he requested didn't contain liquor but had holy water from a religious cleric who recited verses over it. The clip featured the man who got assaulted and his father explaining what happened.

Further, in the video, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan can be heard saying, "Ye Jo hua videos aap dekh rahe hai, ye ek Ustad aur Shagird ke beech ki baat hai."

"He is like my kid. This is the nature of the relationship between a mentor and his follower. I show love to a disciple whenever he does something well. He faces consequences if he commits a transgression," the Pakistani singer said.

The student's father added that Rahat Fateh Ali Khan had apologised after the incident. We also see the man who got assaulted clarifying that he had misplaced a bottle containing holy water.

The student stated, "There was no ill intention behind his actions. He is like my father. He loves us a lot. The man who is spreading this video is trying to defame my ustad." Even his father explained their relationship as a ustad and shagird in the field of Qawwali.

However, netizens seemed not convinced and expressed disappointment over the incident. One said, "They don't respect the Art either. Look at him, after this shameful act he's trying to cover up."

"I feel sad. This incident took away from me so many beautiful songs. It gets difficult to appreciate the art after knowing how ugly the artist is," another user commented. One wrote, "90% of the privileged in the sub-continent behave like that. Irrespective of region, religion, caste, language and profession."

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has sung some melodious songs like O Re Piya, Tere Mast Mast Do Nain, Mann Ki Lagan, and Jiya Dhadak Dhadak, among others.