Neha Kakkar is taking on a new role in the music reality-show space. After serving as a judge on Indian Idol for five consecutive seasons, the singer is now stepping into the mentor’s chair for I-POPSTAR Vol. 2, where she will guide young singer-songwriters.
While her absence from the latest Indian Idol season sparked speculation, Neha says there was no fallout with the show’s makers. According to the singer, the decision to leave was entirely her own, driven mainly by a desire to move away from a routine that had begun to feel repetitive.
Neha Kakkar Says She Chose to Leave Indian Idol
Neha explained that the makers of Indian Idol wanted her to return, making the decision particularly difficult.
“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 said.
After five consecutive years on the show, however, Neha felt she needed 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 explained.
Her comments suggest that the change was less about leaving reality television altogether and more about finding a format that offered a different creative experience.
Why Neha Chose I-POPSTAR Vol. 2
Neha believes her own experience as a pop singer makes her a natural fit for I-POPSTAR Vol. 2. Unlike conventional singing competitions, the format focuses on artists who create their own music.
“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,” she said.
The singer also believes audiences have become more receptive to different forms of music, particularly pop.
“There is much more acceptance for different kinds of music now, and audiences have become more evolved when it comes to pop music,” Neha said.
For her, the genre itself is less important than the quality of the song.
“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 added.
Neha Kakkar Says I-POPSTAR Is Not Scripted
Reality television has frequently faced questions about how much of what viewers see is scripted or produced. Neha strongly rejected that description when discussing I-POPSTAR.
“I-POPSTAR is absolutely not scripted. People’s lives are not scripted either,” she said.
Neha also connected with the contestants’ personal journeys because of her own background. She recalled growing up in a modest household and said genuine emotional reactions to contestants’ stories cannot simply be manufactured.
“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 explained.
Neha Recalls Fight With Brother Tony Kakkar
During the conversation, Neha also opened up about a difficult personal moment involving her brother and frequent collaborator Tony Kakkar.
She recalled having a major argument with Tony that left her feeling so overwhelmed that she briefly considered walking away from everything.
“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 recalled.
However, Neha said her connection with music ultimately made it impossible for her to walk away permanently.
“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,” she said.
Neha Says I-POPSTAR Should Not Be Compared With Other Shows
As she begins her new mentoring assignment, Neha believes I-POPSTAR has a distinct identity because its participants are involved in multiple stages of creating their music.
“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 said.
She also pushed back against comparisons between I-POPSTAR and other music reality programmes.
“I don’t think we should compare the two shows. They are completely different. This is about hip-hop and rap, and about singers who will be creating and performing songs in a different way,” Neha explained.
With her transition from judge to mentor, Neha is entering a new phase of her reality-TV career. For the singer, I-POPSTAR Vol. 2 offers an opportunity to work with emerging artists while drawing on her own experience as a pop performer.
As Neha put it, “I-POPSTAR is a completely different show altogether, and we are going to rock it!”
