Neha Kakkar may enjoy massive success and fame today but before she became a celebrated singer, the 32-year-old had to go through her fair share of struggle. As revealed by the Kakkar’s during the second episode of Story Of Kakkars, Neha’s parents wanted to have her aborted initially.
Her brother Tony Kakkar rapped to lyrics that told the story. "Paise nahi hote the, raato mei wo rote the, garbh tha giraana, par beete hafte 8 the, garmi ka maheena, din tha 6 June ka, shaam dhal rahi thi, janam hua junoon ka.”
Tony further revealed that while the eldest Kakkar sibling Sonu used to sing at jagratas to earn a living for their household, little Neha would observe and learn whatever she could. Soon, the Kakkar sisters teamed up and began singing at these religious dos. Born in Rishikesh, Neha’s early days were spent in a one-room rented home. Only a few months ago, the self-made singer posted a picture of their old house alongside the bungalow she recently purchased for her family.
She penned an emotional caption: "This is the Bungalow we Own now in #Rishikesh and Swipe Right to see the house where I was Born. In the same house We Kakkar’s used to stay in a 1 Room inside which My Mother had put a table which was our kitchen in that small room. And that Room also was not our own, we were paying rent. And Now Whenever I see Our Own Bungalow in the Same City, I always get Emotional #SelfMade #NehaKakkar Biggest Thanks to My Family @sonukakkarofficial @tonykakkar Mom Dad Mata Rani (God) and Ofcourse My NeHearts and All My Well wishers #NehuDiaries #Utrakhand #KakkarFamily."
In the early 90s, Neha had moved to Delhi with her family in order to try her luck in playback singing. At that time, her family was facing a major financial crisis. Hoping to contribute, she began performing at local gatherings and more religious events that took place around town. "I only sang bhajans from four to sixteen years. I would attend four to five jagrans in a day, which became my training ground,” she had shared.
Not just that, with her dedication, Neha has managed to go from strength to strength in her music career. Once a contestant on Indian Idol 2, the powerhouse went on to becoming a judge on the show. For the uninitiated, In 2006, when she was sixteen, Neha auditioned for the second season of the show and was eliminated earlier on. Commenting on the brief stint, she said, "I feel, whatever happens, happens for a reason. I am just glad the way my journey worked out. It has been a tremendous learning experience".
Determined to prove that she was indeed a good singer, Neha continued “polishing” her voice while awaiting a big breakthrough. Today, she’s also one of the highest paid artists in the industry and is in high demand commercially and at events around the country. With an Instagram army that’s over 42 million strong, Neha definitely qualifies as a social media superstar too.
Well, all we can say is that the glow-up has been real, Neha! Here’s taking inspiration from you and passing it on to the world!