Dilshad Akhtar Biography 
Dilshad Akhtar was a noted Punjabi folk singer who rendered a few Punjabi film songs as well. Born into an illustrious musical family, his father Keere Khan Shaukin and maternal uncle Sabar Hussain Sabar were considered the pillars of Punjabi gayaki. His sister Manpreet Akhtar of ‘Tujhe yaad na meri aayi’ fame and cousin Sandeep Akhtar too were singers who met with an early death like him. Dilshad was killed by Swarn Singh Hundal, Deputy Superintendent of Police, while he was performing live for a marriage function in Gurdaspur in 1995. His sister Manpreet Akhtar stepped into the musical world at the age of 36, following his death, to continue the music tradition of her family, persuaded and encouraged by many musicians and music lovers.
Akhtar was born in the Gilze Wala, Kotkapura, Punjab. He and his sister received formal training in Hindustani music from Pandit Krishan Kant of Barjindra Government College, Faridkot. Yet both didn’t choose music as their careers. While Manpreet took teaching as her profession, he joined the Food Corporation of India. Later he established himself as a leading Punjabi folk singer and has also sung a few film songs. Duniya Char Dina Da Mela is one of his popular songs.
He was shot dead by Swarn Singh Hundal, Deputy Superintendent of Police while he was singing on the stage at a marriage party. DSP who was drunk that time had insisted that Dilshad sing “Nachhe jo sade naal...” of Hans Raj Hans. As the song belonged to another singer Akhtar refused to sing. Provoked over the refusal, Hundal took out an AK-47 from his bodyguard and fired at him. Akhtar was shot dead in this unfortunate incident in the midst of a crowd. He was dismissed from service and sent to jail. However the DSP was not convicted and was set free. Associated with many controversies he was accused of a fake encounter of top militant Gurmit Singh Sohal of Gurdaspur, apart from many other registered cases. In 2002 after retirement committed suicide with his double-barrel gun at his residence in Gopal Nagar.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 28, 2016
