When KK entered the sets of The Kapil Sharma Show singing 'Zara Sa Dil Mein', bearing an endearing smile on his face

Singer KK's untimely passing has cast a dark shadow of grief on all the fans. For those who grew up in the '90s, KK's unique voice and charm have dished out many endearing memories that are sure to become all the more special now. And surprisingly, the singer retained his spunk and energy throughout his career and remained a most affable personality. One such instance of grace is his recent appearance on The Kapil Sharma Show wherein he entered the sets in his quintessential style - with a microphone clutched close and him wholeheartedly singing one of his iconic songs, with a beaming face.

This particular episode of The Kapil Sharma Show was a hark back to the indie music days of the '90s and KK was joined by singers Shaan and Palash Sen on the couch. It was an evening of genuine bonhomie and singing, along with the promised dose of humor from the makers of the show, and it was apparent throughout that KK was having a ball of a time amidst friends and well-wishers. The three singers, also close friends, shared many interesting anecdotes during the course of the show, and the highlight of it all came when they performed KK's arguably most popular song, Yaaron, together on stage. 

Born Krishnakumar Kunnath to Malayali parents, KK grew up in Delhi where his career in music began with jingles and is said to have sung close to 3,500 of them before playback singing in Bollywood began. To enunciate his popularity in the jingle space, Palash Sen quips on The Kapil Sharma Show that it was only after KK left Delhi that he found work as a singer and even asserts that he credits the latter for his career in music. 

Having moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in the film industry, KK found his first break with Gulzar's Maachis and sang the opening verse of the Chod Aaye Hum Woh Galiyan song (composed by Vishal Bhardwaj). He was then spotted by A.R. Rahman and the two worked on films like Kaadhal Desam (Kalluri Saaley, Hello Doctor) and Minsara Kanavu (Strawberry Kannae) before he was spotted by Sony Music and released his debut solo album Pal (composed by Leslie Lewis and lyrics written by Mehmood). The title track of the album, along with Yaaron and other tracks, went on to become huge hits and have remained so ever since, especially in college fests and other teen events. He has sung songs in as many as nine different languages. 

Known for his bustling optimism and work ethic, KK was adored by colleagues and fans alike. From composer A.R. Rahman to prime minister Narendra Modi, the internet was flooded with heartfelt messages in remembrance of the singer. KK collapsed in his hotel room after having performed in Kolkata at Nazrul Mancha auditorium (college fest) and suffered a cardiac arrest. He was then rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.