Wajid Khan, of composer duo Sajid-Wajid has died at the age of 42 in the wee hours this morning. The news was confirmed by singer Sonu Nigam, who wrote in an Instagram post, “My brother Wajid left us.

Music composer Salim Merchant told PTI, "He had multiple issues. He had a kidney issue and had a transplant a while ago. But recently he got to know about kidney infection... He was on the ventilator for the last four days, after his situation started getting worse. Kidney infection was the beginning and then he got critical.”

"He died of a cardiac arrest," Wajid's brother Sajid told PTI, while confirming that the musician had tested positive for COVID-19. Music composer Salim Merchant, who first confirmed the news of Wajid's death, said the composer was hospitalised recently at Surana Hospital, Chembur where his condition deteriorated.

Singer-composer Wajid Khan of music director duo Sajid-Wajid, popular for their work on superstar Salman Khan's films such as ‘Wanted’, ‘Dabangg’ and ‘Ek Tha Tiger’, started their career in 1998 with Salman Khan-starrer ‘Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya’. Sajid-Wajid scored music for many films of the superstar including ‘Chori Chori’, ‘Hello Brother’, ‘Wanted’ and ‘Mujhse Shaadi Karogi’. They had recently co - composed Salman Khan new single, Pyaar Karona, Bhai Bhai and as well.

Wajid also did playback for Salman in chartbusters like Mera He Jalwa, Fevicol Se and for Akshay Kumar in Chinta Ta Chita Chita from the film ‘Rowdy Rathore’, among others. Wajid along with his brother Sajid served as a mentor on singing reality shows "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2012" and "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Singing Superstar".

The composer duo also scored IPL 4 theme song, "Dhoom Dhoom Dhoom Dhadaka", which was sung by Wajid.

Soon after the news of the composer's demise broke, many from the film fraternity took to Twitter to pay tributes.

- By Verus Ferreira