The ‘King of Curry’, a beloved celebrity chef, has passed away at the age of 56. Shabir Hussain, the founder of the successful Indian restaurant chain Akbar’s, lost his battle with cancer.
The Akbar’s Restaurant Group shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook, stating: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Shabir Hussain, founder of Akbars Restaurant Group. All restaurants will now be closed and will reopen on Friday 18th October at 5pm.”
They added: “Please remember Shabir Hussain in your prayers. May Allah grant him the highest rank in Jannah and bring peace and strength to his family during this difficult time.”
Starting with its first establishment in Bradford city centre in 1995, Akbar’s popularity soared, leading to a chain across the north of England, Scotland, and the Midlands. Shabir inaugurated the latest addition to the group in Blackburn this March.
Since revealing his cancer diagnosis last year, fans worldwide have been praying for him, with many expressing their condolences after his death. Naz Shah, Labour MP for Bradford West, expressed her deep sorrow over the loss of the culinary icon, saying he was “someone who we will all miss dearly”, reports the Mirror.
On X, she remarked, “A huge loss to his family and the world of business, not just in Bradford but across the UK as his brand reached many cities. His entrepreneurial triumph was exporting the best of Bradford’s curry scene throughout the country.”
Another fan took to the platform formerly known as Twitter, expressing their sorrow: “Ah no how very sad! I know how proud Shabir was of the incredible empire he had built with Akbars and how unbelievably hard he always worked. Shocked to hear this. Thoughts with his family and may he rest in peace.”
A third shared their condolences: “Shabir was the third scion of Bradford’s Kashmiri restaurant trade to pass away recently. Bradford has lost another great businessman, philanthropist and all round humanitarian who contributed hugely to the city in such a positive way! ” Meanwhile, a fourth reminisced: “Thank you Shabir for all your hard work and dedication. Akbars has been my favourite place to eat since being introduced as a teenager. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting 4 Akbar’s restaurants across the UK and love every single one. Rest in peace.”
A fifth person reflected on their personal connection: “Very sad day, what a man always welcoming was one of his very first customers, and he became a great friend R.I.P Shabir Hussain.”
Earlier this year, in an interview, Shabir claimed to have invented a unique way to serve naan breads. Speaking to the CEO Club podcast, he said: “I’m the guy who invented the naan tree – my biggest regret is I could have patented it. It’s actually now used everywhere by everybody.”
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