Alka Yagnik ‘Still Suffering’ From Rare Hearing Disorder, Singer Says She Is Unable To Accept New Work
Legendary playback singer Alka Yagnik has confirmed she remains on an indefinite professional hiatus as she continues to battle a rare sensorineural nerve hearing disorder. Despite receiving the prestigious Padma Bhushan, the artist revealed in a recent interview that her condition currently prevents her from accepting any new recording work.
Legendary playback singer Alka Yagnik has shared a poignant health update, confirming that she continues to struggle with a rare hearing disorder that has effectively put her storied career on hold. In a recent interaction, the veteran artist revealed that despite ongoing medical efforts, she remains unable to take on new professional assignments. The diagnosis, which first came to light in 2024, has forced one of India's most celebrated voices into an indefinite hiatus from the recording studio. Bollywood Playback Singer Alka Yagnik Diagnosed With Rare Sensory Neural Nerve Hearing Loss, Shares Heartfelt Post Seeking Fans' Love and Support.
Alka Yagnik Opens Up About Hearing Loss Issues
In a candid interview with NDTV, Yagnik admitted that her recovery from sensorineural nerve hearing loss (SNHL) is still an ongoing challenge. While the singer has largely remained out of the public eye to focus on her health, she broke her silence to address why she has been "missing in action" from the music scene.
"I am still suffering," Yagnik stated simply during the interview, acknowledging the difficulty of the condition. When asked about her professional future, she revealed the heart-wrenching reality of her current state, "Composers approach me now and then. But I am not able to do it."
A Sudden Setback for the 'Queen of Playback'
The health crisis began unexpectedly in mid-2024 following a flight. Yagnik previously described the moment she walked off the aircraft and realised she could not hear anything. Doctors later diagnosed the cause as a rare sensorineural nerve hearing loss triggered by a sudden viral attack.
Since the diagnosis, her appearances in the film industry have been rare. Her last major playback contribution was for the song "Naram Kaalja" in the 2024 film Amar Singh Chamkila, composed by AR Rahman. Since that project, she has focused entirely on her well-being, though the latest update suggests that a return to the microphone is not yet on the horizon. After Arijit Singh, Shreya Ghoshal Expresses Desire To Step Away From Playback Singing, Says ‘I Also Feel Like Taking a Break’.
Despite her absence from the recording booth, Yagnik's contribution to Indian cinema continues to be recognised at the highest levels. Earlier this year, she was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 31, 2026 07:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).