Meiyang Chang recalls late Prashant Tamang’s excitement about working with Salman Khan in The Battle of Galwan, calling it a major milestone before the Indian Idol winner’s untimely death at 43 shocked the nation.
The untimely demise of actor and singer Prashant Tamang has left the Indian entertainment industry and his fans across the country in deep shock. At just 43, the former Indian Idol Season 3 winner passed away reportedly due to a cardiac arrest, cutting short a career that was witnessing a powerful resurgence in mainstream cinema and digital platforms.
Actor and singer Meiyang Chang, who shared a close friendship with Prashant for over two decades, recently opened up in an emotional conversation with IANS, recalling the late singer’s excitement about his upcoming film The Battle of Galwan, in which he was set to work alongside Bollywood superstar Salman Khan.
According to Meiyang, this phase of Prashant’s life marked a significant professional high. After years of working across television, music, and regional cinema, Prashant had finally found renewed recognition with impactful roles and prestigious projects.
“His recent work in Paatal Lok Season 2 and the upcoming film with Salman Khan were big milestones in his career. Prashant was extremely happy and excited about this phase,” Meiyang revealed while speaking to IANS.
The two friends, who first met as contestants during Indian Idol Season 3, had maintained a deep bond over the years. Meiyang shared that they were planning to meet in Mumbai soon for a long-overdue get-together with mutual friends, a plan that now remains heartbreakingly unfulfilled.
“The news came as a huge shock because we were all busy with our work and had planned to meet in Mumbai this week. Prashant had mentioned that he needed to return as some dubbing work was pending for Galwan. Plans to meet had been discussed for a long time,” Meiyang said.
He further added that their last meeting had been in November, with plans to reconnect in January. However, fate intervened before that could happen. The fact that Prashant was actively shooting with Salman Khan at the time of his passing made the loss even more difficult to accept.
“At just 43, he was far too young to leave us. We shared a long and deep friendship, and we cared for each other deeply,” Meiyang added, his voice heavy with emotion.
Meiyang also spoke about attending Prashant Tamang’s funeral in Darjeeling, where the late singer was deeply rooted and widely loved. He described the atmosphere as one of disbelief and grief among close friends and former batchmates.
“I have just returned from his funeral. We were in Darjeeling, and many of our batchmates were very close friends. We were busy with our work when we got to know this news. We are still shocked,” he said.
Expressing concern for Prashant’s family, Meiyang emphasized that his immediate focus was on offering strength and support to Prashant’s wife and young daughter.
“Right now, my only wish is strength for his family. His wife and daughter mean a lot to us, and we will try our best to support them in every possible way,” he stated.
Meiyang also reflected on how painful it was that Prashant’s life ended just as he was making a strong return to the limelight.
“This was truly not the time for him to go. It is a huge loss. What makes it even more painful is that this phase marked his strong return to the mainstream,” he said, adding that Prashant had worked tirelessly over the years across singing reality shows, television, extensive travel, and Nepali films.
Sharing a deeply personal memory, Meiyang recalled how Prashant would often reach out during the audition process for Paatal Lok, asking simple and sincere questions.
“He would ask me innocent questions about auditions and casting agents. Those small, sweet moments reflected who he truly was. He was kind, gentle, and respectful. Even after gaining recognition, he treated everyone equally,” Meiyang remembered fondly.
Concluding his tribute, Meiyang expressed pride in his late friend’s journey and hoped audiences would celebrate Prashant’s talent when The Battle of Galwan finally releases.
“We were all very proud of him. I truly believed he had a long and bright journey ahead as an actor. Sadly, it ended too soon. I only hope that when Galwan releases, audiences will see his work and appreciate his talent once again,” he said.
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For the uninitiated, Prashant Tamang rose to national fame after winning Indian Idol Season 3. Meiyang Chang was a fellow contestant in the same season, and their friendship remained strong long after the spotlight faded.
