Tamang is survived by his wife Geeta Thapa and four-year-old daughter Ariah Tamang.
New Delhi: Prashant Tamang, who rose to fame as the winner of Indian Idol 3and was praised for his turn as a cold-blooded assassin in Paatal Lok 2, died on Sunday following a cardiac arrest. He was 43.
Tamang’s close friend, singer Mahesh Sewa, told PTI that the singer-actor died at his residence in Janak Puri.
“He (Tamang) passed away this morning around 9am due to cardiac arrest at his residence in Delhi. He was taken to the hospital by his family but the doctors declared him dead on arrival. I’m shocked by his untimely demise. I spoke to him a few days ago and he was hale and hearty,” he said.
“His body is still at the hospital. The family is yet to decide whether to perform the funeral in Delhi or Darjeeling,” he added.
The news of Tamang’s death was first shared by another friend Rajesh Ghatani on social media.
“My heart is heavy while writing this very sad news!! May you live in Baikuntha !! Heartfelt tribute Prashant brother,” Ghatani wrote on Facebook.
Tamang was born on January 4, 1983, in Darjeeling into a Nepali-speaking Gorkha family. His father served with the West Bengal Police and died while in service, after which Tamang left school to take up his father’s post.
Encouraged by friends, he auditioned for the reality singing show “Indian Idol” in 2007, where he went on to win the competition. Tamang’s victory triggered unprecedented celebrations across the Darjeeling hills, Sikkim and parts of Nepal.