Neha Kakkar is all set to be seen as a mentor on I-POPSTAR Vol. 2, a music reality show that brings together young artists who write, create and perform their own songs. As she begins this new journey, Neha also opened up about her decision to step away from Indian Idol, a show with which she shares a long association.
Addressing the confusion around her exit from Indian Idol, Neha says the decision was actually hers. “I was the one who told the makers that I would not be able to continue with the show anymore. I received so much love on Indian Idol, so when they came and said, ‘We want you for this season as well. We cannot imagine the season without you,’ it was very difficult for me to say no,” she says.
Neha reveals that after being part of the show for five continuous years, she felt the need to take a break. “I had done the show continuously for five years, and for me, it had become a little monotonous. It was the same routine, and I have always been someone who likes change. So I decided to take a break,” she shares.
For the singer, taking a break from one show did not mean stepping away from music or reality television altogether. She feels I-POPSTAR Vol. 2 is a format she can connect with because of her own journey as a pop artist.
“I think I will be able to relate to I-POPSTAR a lot because I am a pop star myself. Here, I will also get the opportunity to witness many other pop stars, listen to their performances and mentor them. I think it is a great platform,” Neha says.
She also feels that the music industry and the audience have changed over the years. According to her, there is now greater acceptance for different kinds of music, especially pop. “There is much more acceptance for different kinds of music now, and audiences have become more evolved when it comes to pop music,” she says.
Neha believes that there is room for every kind of good music today. “We can release any kind of music, and if it is good, it will definitely work and receive love from the audience. The audience today is very welcoming. Good music is good music, whether it is a slow love song or a dance number,” she adds.
The singer also addressed the question of whether music reality shows are scripted. Neha strongly disagrees with the idea, saying that real contestants come with real stories. “I-POPSTAR is absolutely not scripted. People’s lives are not scripted either,” she says.
Coming from a humble background herself, Neha says she understands the emotions behind the contestants’ journeys. “Most of us Indians come from humble backgrounds, and I have also come from a humble background. If I hear someone’s story and genuinely feel emotional, then of course those emotions are real,” she explains.
Neha also opened up about a personal phase when she decided that she wanted to leave everything after a fight with her brother and music collaborator Tony Kakkar. “Honestly, I had a very solid fight with Tony Bhai. Because we had such a big fight, I reached a point where I thought, ‘I am leaving everything. I don’t want to do anything. This whole world is terrible,’” she recalls.
However, she makes it clear that music was never something she could permanently walk away from. “We are all artists, and artists are very emotional people. Sometimes those emotions come out strongly. But I am never leaving music. How can I do that to my fans who give me so much love? I had to come back,” Neha says.
Talking about I-POPSTAR Vol. 2, Neha is particularly excited about its unique format. “I feel the show is truly one of a kind. There is no other show where the artists are doing everything themselves. They are writing their own music, creating their own songs and then performing them,” she says.
While she appreciates other music reality shows, Neha feels there is no need to compare them. “I don’t think we should compare the two shows. They are completely different. Hustle is about hip-hop and rap, while I-POPSTAR is about singers who will be creating and performing songs in a different way,” she says.
With a fresh set of artists, original music and her own excitement about mentoring the contestants, Neha is looking forward to making her mark on I-POPSTAR Vol. 2. As she puts it simply, “I-POPSTAR is a completely different show altogether, and we are going to rock it!”
