The death of Indian Idol 3 star and Indian actor Prashant Tamang has left the music and the film world grieving beyond measure. And his passing on January 11, 2026, started to fuel rumors and speculation regarding the cause of his death online. Speaking up, his wife, Martha Aley (also known as Geeta Thapa), has gotten out in the open about what happened, and has given thanks to an outpouring of support from his fans.
"He Was in His Sleep When He Left Us"
Martha Aley, speaking to the news agency ANI, spoke directly to the rumors about the 43-year-old artist’s death. In fact, she has said, there were no suspicious circumstances involved. It was a "natural death."
"It was a natural death. He was in his sleep when he left us. At that moment I was right by him,” Martha revealed emotionally.
Tamang is alleged to have just made a return to New Delhi following a live performance in Arunachal Pradesh. He seemed fine on his recent journey but suddenly had a cardiac arrest at his house in Janakpuri. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Mata Chanan Devi Hospital.
A Heartfelt Thank You to the Fans
Martha thanked everyone around the world for the global love. “I’ve been receiving calls from all over the world… People are outside my house … they’re outside of the hospital; they’ve come to the hospital to see him for the last time,” she said. She asked fans to remember him not only for his talent but for what he was: “He was a great soul, he was a great human. I hope you remember him like that.”
Legacy of a Gorkha Icon
Prashant Tamang’s path is one of the most inspiring in all of Indian reality TV’s chronicles. Once a constable serving in the Kolkata Police, and the first Indian Idol winner from the Northeast, he became the epitome of hope for the Gorkha community.
His career spanned across:
- Music: Major hits such as Bir Gorkhali and the album Dhanyavad.
- Cinema: Nepali cinema: Gorkha Paltan, blockbusters.
- New Web Series: A recent acclaimed performance as the sniper Daniel Lecho in Paatal Lok Season 2.
- Upcoming Work: He will be seen posthumously in the Salman Khan-starrer Battle of Galwan, scheduled for release on April 17, 2026.
The West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, and a group of local activists have expressed their condolences, saying his origins in Darjeeling and his subsequent ascendancy to stardom made him “particularly dear” to the people of Bengal and beyond.
