Neha Kakkar | |
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 Kakkar in 2020 | |
| Born | 6 June 1988 (1988-06-06) (age 37) |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Spouse | |
| Relatives |
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| Musical career | |
| Genres |
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| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels | |
| YouTube information | |
| Channel | |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Genres |
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| Subscribers | 405 |
| Views | 2.41 billion (overall channels) |
| Last updated: 7 December 2024[needs update] | |
Musical artist | |
Neha Kakkar Singh (pronounced[ˈneːɦɑːˈkəkːəɾ]; néeKakkar; born 6 June 1988) is an Indian singer.[1][2] She is the younger sister of playback singersTony Kakkar andSonu Kakkar. She began performing at an early age at religious events. In 2005, she participated in the second season of the singing reality show,Indian Idol. She made herBollywood debut as a chorus singer in the filmMeerabai Not Out. She rose to prominence with the release of the dance track "Second Hand Jawaani" fromCocktail (2012), which was followed by several popular party songs, including "Sunny Sunny" fromYaariyan and "London Thumakda" from the 2014 soundtrack albumQueen. Apart from playback singing, Kakkar has appeared in several music videos and as a judge on several television reality shows, including "Indian Idol".
In 2019, Kakkar was listed among the most-viewed female artists on YouTube with 13.9 billion views.[3] In January 2021, she became the first Indian singer to win a YouTube Diamond Award.[4] She is the most followed female Indian artist and 22nd most followed artist globally onSpotify.[5]
She appeared in theIndia Forbes Celebrity 100 in 2017 and 2019.[6][7] In December 2020, she appeared on the list of Asia's 100 Digital Stars byForbes.[8]
Kakkar was born on 6 June 1988, inRishikesh in the state ofUttar Pradesh (nowUttarakhand).[9][10] In the early 1990s, Kakkar along with her family, moved toDelhi to try her luck at singing.[11] Kakkar, at the age of four, started performing at local gatherings and religious event.[12][13] In 2004, she moved toMumbai along with her brother,Tony Kakkar.[14]
In 2005, she participated in the second season of the singing reality showIndian Idol, in which she was eliminated early.[15]
In 2008, she launched her debut album,Neha The Rockstar with music byMeet Bros. Anjjan.[16] During this time, she recorded for a music album,Romeo Juliet composed by her brother, Tony Kakkar. She sang "Hai Rama" fromMeerabai Not Out (2008) along withSukhwinder Singh. The following year, she was featured inA.R. Rahman's composition, the theme song ofBlue (2009), where she provided the chorus vocals for the song.[17][18] She then lent her voice for the title track of the Hindi-language soap operaNa Aana Is Des Laado (2009).[17]
In 2010, Kakkar made her screen debut withVidhi Kasliwal's filmIsi Life Mein...! (2010) in which she played the role of a college student.[19] The same year, she debuted in both theKannada andTelugu music industry by performing a total of four tracks forSandeep Chowta.[20][21] She lent her voice for the title track of the Kannada filmThamassu and the song "Nodu Baare" alongsideMaster Saleem. The former resulted in her onlyFilmfare Awards South nomination as theBest Female Playback Singer.[22][20]
She appeared in the second season ofComedy Circus Ke Taansen alongsideKapil Sharma andAli Asgar.[17] The following year, her collaboration withPritam for the dance track "Second Hand Jawaani" fromCocktail proved to be a major breakthrough for Kakkar. The song went to become popular among the music listeners, though it received mixed to negative reviews from critics.[23] In 2012, she released "SRK Anthem" on YouTube, a tribute to actorShah Rukh Khan.[17]
Kakkar's first release of 2013, "Botal Khol" fromPrague, met with controversy, where Central Board of Film Certification raised objections on the song citing that its lyrics contain double meaning.[24] This was followed by aSachin–Jigar's item number composed forRamaiya Vastavaiya.[25] Titled "Jadoo Ki Jhappi". She next collaborated with Pritam for another item song, "Dhating Nach", performed alongsideNakash Aziz andShefali Alvares.[26]
2014 saw the rise of Kakkar with the release of three popular songs.[27][28] The first release of the year was a collaboration withYo Yo Honey Singh for the filmYaariyan. The duo collaborated once again for Bollywood's first trance number, "Manali Trance" fromThe Shaukeens. Her first work withAmit Trivedi, a wedding song titled "London Thumakda" was released in the same year and received positive reviews from critics. On the occasion of Mother's Day, Kakkar shot and released a song for her mother which gained a positive response among the audience.[29]
Kakkar's first release of 2015 came with "Ek Do Teen Chaar" fromEk Paheli Leela which was composed, penned and co-sung by Tony Kakkar.[30] She then collaborated with the music composer duo, Amjad-Nadeem where she performed the tracks "Naughty No 1" and "Daaru Peeke Dance" forBarkhaa andKuch Kuch Locha Hai respectively[31] Kakkar sang theMeet Bros-composed "Tu Isaq Mera" fromHate Story 3.[32] Her last release of the year was "Tukur Tukur" fromDilwale, along withArijit Singh,Kanika Kapoor,Siddharth Mahadevan andNakash Aziz.[33] The same year, she featured alongsideShilpa Shetty in the video single "Wedding Da Season", composed byAmaal Malik.[34]
In 2016, she performed the popular song "Mile Ho Tum" from the filmFever, composed, written, and co-sung by Tony Kakkar.[35] Credited as themost-viewed Bollywood song on YouTube, the song received a positive response from critics and audiences. Also, she contributed to the soundtrack album ofBaar Baar Dekho by performing the wedding-song "Kala Chashma" which became the "party anthem of the year".[36] She worked with Epic Bhangra for the filmSanam Re, where they released the song "Humne Pee Rakhi Hai", a mix of club and EDM. She also provided her vocals for an additional song in the album, "Akkad Bakkad", arap song performed along withBadshah.[37] Apart from lending her vocals to the party song, "Kar Gayi Chull" fromKapoor & Sons, which was a remake of the Haryanvi track "Chull" and her first recording forDharma Productions, Kakkar performed several other recreated songs during the year including, "Maahi Ve"–a remake of the song "Maahi Ve" fromKaante (2002)– and "O Janiya"–a remake of the song "Kaante Nahi Kat Te" fromMr. India (1987)–forWajah Tum Ho andForce 2 respectively.[38]
2017 marked Kakkar's first of many collaborations withTanishk Bagchi which resulted in the rehashing of several Bollywood songs in the coming years. Their first release, "Badri Ki Dulhania" fromBadrinath Ki Dulhania performed withDev Negi,Ikka Singh andMonali Thakur have few segments lifted from theShankar-Jaikishen classic, "Chalat Musafir" fromTeesri Kasam (1966).[39] The version became an instant chart-buster among the audience and was included in thelist of most-viewed Indian videos on YouTube with over 500 million views.[40] This was followed by another chart-buster by the duo, "Cheez Badi" fromMachine, a re-creation of the 1994-releasedMohra song "Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast", which got mixed reviews from critics.[41]
Her next release was the dance song "Main Tera Boyfriend" fromRaabta which was a recreation of a non-film track "Na Na Na Na".[42] The trend was carried forward withJudwaa 2 where she rendered two remake songs, co-composed by Sandeep Shirodkar andAnu Malik and one original song composed by Meet Bros.[43] During the year, she appeared as a judge alongsideHimesh Reshammiya andJaved Ali in thesixth season of the Indian television music competition,Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs.[44][45] The year ended with another recreated song, "Mehbooba" fromFukrey Returns, originally performed byMohammed Rafi forDharam Veer (1977).
Kakkar's first release of 2018 wasYo Yo Honey Singh's "Chhote Chhote Peg" fromSonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, a remake of theAnand Raj Anand-composition "Tote Tote Ho Gaya" fromBichhoo (2000). This was followed by Bagchi's recreation of "Aashiq Banaya Aapne" included in the soundtrack album ofHate Story 4, originally performed byHimesh Reshammiya andShreya Ghoshal.[citation needed] The duo collaborated on five other projects, from which "Dilbar" fromSatyameva Jayate and "Aankh Maarey" fromSimmba became popular with music listeners, both songs reaching thelist of most-viewed Indian videos on YouTube and the former being the first Indian song to reach number three on theBillboard YouTube Music Chart.[46][47] Apart from rendering the folk pop song "Dholida" fromLoveyatri alongsideUdit Narayan andPalak Muchhal, Kakkar performed a traditional-themed-contemporary Punjabi track, "Bhangra Da Sajda" fromVeere Di Wedding, composed and co-sung byShashwat Sachdev.[48][49] The trend continued with the item song "Gali Gali" included in the Hindi-dubbed version of the Kannada filmK.G.F: Chapter 1.[50] During the year, she appeared as a judge alongsideAnu Malik andVishal Dadlani in the tenth season of the Indian television music competition,Indian Idol.[51]
2019 began with the release of three remade songs in collaboration with Bagchi, "Chamma Chamma", recreated for the filmFraud Saiyyan–original composition in the filmChina Gate (1998), while "Coca Cola Tu" fromLuka Chuppi and "Hauli Hauli" fromDe De Pyaar De.[52][53] The year marked her first collaboration withVishal Mishra andVishal–Shekhar, where she performed the female version of "Ki Honda Pyaar" fromJabariya Jodi for the former and "The Hook Up Song" for the latter, which was well received by critics.[54][55] The trio of Kakkar, Bagchi and dancerNora Fatehi re-united for two other chart-busters, "O Saki Saki" fromBatla House and "Ek Toh Kum Zindagani" fromMarjaavaan. The former being a remake ofMusafir film's "Saaki", originally performed bySukhwinder Singh andSunidhi Chauhan.[56][57] During the year, Kakkar lent her voice for "Dheeme Dheeme", composed by Bagchi and the romantic love song "Tu Hi Yaar Mera" composed byRochak Kohli.[58]
From 2017 on, Kakkar, primarily, in collaboration withTanishk Bagchi, became more associated with the trend of remaking old to very recent songs, which resulted in several backlashes targeted for the singer.[citation needed]
On 12 December 2021, Kakkar performed at the Jubilee Stage atExpo 2020 inDubai,UAE.
In 2022, she sang fewer number of songs compared to previous years . She sang "Mud Mud Ke" withTony Kakkar, "Baarish Mein Tum" with "Rohanpreet Singh" and a few other non - film songs . From the movie "Govinda Naam Mera", Kakkar sang the song "Bijli" withMika Singh.
Neha Kakkar and her brotherTony Kakkar have been accused of plagiarising lyrics, visuals, and harmony from several Indian classics on multiple occasions. Several Indian classics and pop songs likeKavita Krishnamurti's "Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast" and "Tip Tip Barsa Paani",Himesh Reshammiya's "Aashiq Banaya Aapne",Falguni Pathak's "Yaad Piya Ki Aane Lagi",Lata Mangeshkar's "Kaanta Laga",Alka Yagnik's "Chamma Chamma",Poornima's part of "Chalti Hai Kya 9 Se 12",Payal Dev's "Sawan Me Lag Gayi Aag", and several others.[59]
Most recently she plagiarised a full theme and harmony of Indian classic singerFalguni Pathak's "Maine Payal Hai Chhankai"(1999) and remade a version named "O Sajna".[60] Kakkar has addressed these allegations online, claiming "People were unhappy seeing her happy and successful".[61][62]
Her voice has been described several times in the media as "distinct", "chirpy", "seductive" and "partially nasal".[63][64]
Kakkar admits that she has always looked up to her elder sister Sonu, as her singing inspiration and she "guides me on how to sing particular songs".[12] She named her brother Tony as a constant pillar of strength.[65]
Kakkar is very active on social media platforms including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube page. In October 2019, she received the Instagram trophy, celebrating the first Indian musician and the fifth Indian to reach the milestone.[66]
In 2017, Kakkar was included in the list of 35 boldest entrepreneurs of India who are changing the game in various industries.[67] The same year she appeared in theForbes Celebrity 100, a list based on income and popularity of India's celebrities. She was listed at the sixty-fourth spot in 2017 and twenty-ninth spot in 2019.[68][69] In 2019, Kakkar was listed on position second among the most-viewed female artists onYouTube with 4.2 billion views worldwide.[3]
In December 2020, she appeared in the list of Asia's 100 Digital Stars byForbes.[8] That same month, she launched an exclusive Masterclass for the aspiring singers with FrontRow.[70]
Kakkar and actorHimansh Kohli were in a romantic relationship since 2014.[71] In September 2018, they officially announced their relationship on national television and revealed that they will tie the knot soon.[72] However, three months later, an Instagram post by Kakkar revealed that the couple broke-up.[72][73]
Kakkar metPunjabimusical artist Rohanpreet Singh inChandigarh for the first time and they soon fell in love. On 24 October 2020, they got married in aGurdwara inNew Delhi.[74][75]
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominated Song | Film | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | ||||||
| 2016 | 3rdPTC Punjabi Music Awards | Best Duo / Group | "Pyaar Te Jaguar"(Shared with Harshit Tomar) | Nominated | [76] | |
| 2017 | 4thPTC Punjabi Music Awards | Best Duet Vocalist | "Patt Lainge"(Shared withGippy Grewal) | Won | [77] | |
| 2017 | 10th Mirchi Music Awards | Female Vocalist of The Year | "Badri Ki Dulhania" | Badrinath Ki Dulhania | Nominated | [78] |
| 2018 | Brit Asia TV Music Awards | Bollywood Track of the Year | "Dilbar" | Satyameva Jayate | Won | [79] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Isi Life Mein...! | Sam | [19] | |
| 2016 | Tum Bin II | Herself | Special appearance in songNachna Aaonda Nahin | [80] |
| 2020 | Jai Mummy Di | Herself | Special appearance in songLamborghini | |
| Ginny Weds Sunny | Herself | Special appearance in songSawan Mein Lag Gayi Aag | ||
| 2021 | Tuesdays and Fridays | Herself | Special appearance in the songPhone Mein |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Indian Idol – Season 2 | Contestant |
| 2008 | Jo Jeeta Wohi Super Star – Season 1 | Challenger[17] |
| 2011 | Comedy Circus Ke Taansen | Various characters[17] |
| 2017 | Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs 2017 | Judge |
| 2018 | Indian Idol – Season 10 | |
| 2019 | Indian Idol – Season 11 | |
| 2019 | Khatra Khatra Khatra | Contestsnt |
| 2020 | Indian Idol — Season 12 | Judge |
| 2021 | Kaun Banega Crorepati | Contestant |
| 2022 | Indian Idol – Season 13 | Judge |
| 2024 | Superstar Singer — Season 3 |
| International | |
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| Artists | |
