Cinema VinesDuring the launch event of I‑POPSTAR Volume 2, singer Neha Kakkar took to the media to defend the authenticity of singing reality shows after former contestant Sunidhi Chauhan had criticised the format. When asked why the popularity of such shows seemed to have waned, Kakkar answered that the decline was because she had stopped participating, noting that television ratings were highest while she was still on the program.
She went on to single out Chauhan, saying, “Sorry, but I would like to say, ‘angoor naa mile toh angoor khate hain.’ When people say that, it’s true. Those who can’t get what they want convince themselves it wasn’t worth having. This show is not at all scripted.” Kakkar added that people’s lives are never scripted, and that she, coming from a humble background, often feels emotional when hearing others’ stories.
The comments sparked a mixed reaction online. Some netizens accused Kakkar of being “disrespectful,” while others called her “delusional” or “audacious.” One user even compared the Kakkar family’s studio recordings unfavorably to Sunidhi’s live performances, suggesting that the former could not match the latter’s live prowess.
Sunidhi Chauhan had previously expressed discomfort with the direction reality shows were taking. In a conversation with Shekhar Suman, she explained that she had left the format because she felt it had become “fake and scripted,” and that the use of Auto‑Tune had moved from a stylistic choice to a deceptive practice. She said, “You can’t do that in a reality show, where you are supposed to be all real and honest. When that started happening, I felt things were going in a direction I couldn’t accept.”
In 2024, Chauhan reiterated that early seasons of Indian Idol had no drama, but the show had gradually changed, becoming more scripted and artificial. Her criticism has now prompted Neha Kakkar to defend the genre, leading to a heated public debate over the authenticity of televised singing competitions.
