Grammy-nominated sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar has shared a hopeful update, revealing that her treasured sitar sustained damage on an Air India flight. Shankar admitted she was “devastated and truly disturbed” by the instrument’s handling after the incident quickly gained attention online. However, a new video she posted on Thursday suggests that her beloved sitar might still be saved.
Anoushka Shankar demonstrates the restoration of her sitar.
Sharing on Instagram, Anoushka posted a clip that captured her sitar being carefully restored. In addition to the video, Anoushka acknowledged the overwhelming support from her fans and expressed a cautious optimism for the swift restoration of her damaged instrument.
Anoushka Shankar thanks fans for their support
“First of all, THANK YOU everyone for your commiserations and support after my sitar suffered damage on a flight this week,” she wrote. I have an incredible update – which is that it MAY be saved! While the truly amazing Ajay Rikhiram @rikhiramoriginals works on repairing my precious instrument, I fervently hope it will be restored in time for my upcoming India Chapters tour.
Air India apologises to Anoushka Shankar
She also noted in her post that the viral online outrage prompted the airline to reach out to her. “ALSO, thanks to all your comments and shares, @airindia has reached out with apologies, an offer to compensate for the repairs and promises of a policy change after a full investigation into how this happened. I hope this can mark a change in the way musical instruments and all other precious goods are handled – giving them the care they deserve.”
Artists rally behind Anoushka Shankar
The first post she shared, showing the broken sitar, sparked a flood of reactions from fellow artists. Vishal Dadlani wrote, “God, that’s heartbreaking! I’m so sorry,” while Zakir Khan added, “This is extremely heartbreaking!” Papon, reflecting on the situation, commented, “Genuine care feels so rare these days… It’s as if the very act of caring has faded from our lives! This is so heartbreaking.”
Anoushka Shankar reaches career high amid setback
The incident emerges at a moment when Anoushka Shankar’s career is soaring. Her latest joint project with Alam Khan and Sarathy Korwar, titled ‘Chapter III: We Return to Light’, has earned several Grammy nods, including Best Global Music Album, in the lead-up to the 2026 awards scheduled for February 1 in Los Angeles.
