Singer Akriti Kakar, known for songs such as “Saturday Saturday” from “Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania” and “Iski Uski” from “2 States”, says even established artistes continue to face uncertainty in the music industry, reports Hindustan Times.
The singer, who recently released “Oh Jaanu” with Euphoria frontman Palash Sen, said playback singing depends on several factors beyond an artiste’s control.
“Sometimes I just have to wait for a music director to call me for a song in a film. Even when I get the opportunity, there’s no guarantee that the song will make it to the final film. And even if it does, you never know whether the film or the song will work,” she said.
Kakar believes independent music allows singers to create opportunities for themselves instead of waiting for a career-defining playback song.
“The only thing in the hand of a singer is to do their best, that’s it! So why not use that energy for your own song, alongside being called by other people? Otherwise, I will just keep waiting for that one life-changing song,” she said.
However, she acknowledged that luck and audience response play a significant role in the success of independent releases. With numerous songs arriving every day, she said it is easy for a track to disappear amid the competition.
“There are so many songs being released every day and there’s every chance of your song getting lost in the crowd. It can be discouraging, and at times, the thought of giving up and not doing it again comes to the mind. But as singers, our karma is to keep trying,” Kakar said.
The singer also revealed that she sets aside part of her earnings from live shows to finance her independent music. She said most of her songs are funded by her and her husband, ad filmmaker Chirag Arora, who handles the visual production.
Kakar said she wants her music to combine nostalgia with contemporary elements while offering something different from existing trends.
She also highlighted the role of social media in helping independent music reach listeners.
Recalling her 2024 Ganpati song “Ganesha Ganesha”, she said the track was initially released as a lyric video featuring a few moments from a Ganpati puja at her home.
According to Kakar, the song was later used in more than 45,000 reels, giving her YouTube channel a significant boost.
The singer also spoke about her collaboration with Palash Sen. She recalled meeting him when she was 15 and performed as an opening act at one of his shows.
She later worked with him on a song that required her to deliver spoken lines rather than sing. Kakar subsequently performed at Euphoria’s 25th anniversary concert before collaborating with Sen on “Oh Jaanu”.
Describing Sen as energetic and cooperative, she said the music video was filmed in a single day with six different looks.
“Oh Jaanu” combines retro pop, funk and disco influences from 1970s and 1980s Bollywood, creating a lively and nostalgic sound.
