She started singing at the tender age of 4. In Rishikesh, music was not just passion but her family profession too. Neha had found her calling very early. She aspired of being a professional playback singer. Her elder sister Sonu Kakkar had already established herself as a playback singer when Neha decided to follow in her footsteps & pick up the microphone. She was 16 when she appeared onscreen for the first time on Indian Idol. Her entire family stood by her. She says, “My parents are the pillars of my strength. When I decided to participate in Indian Idol, they were extremely supportive and encouraged me to give it my best shot.” Yes, now that’s a lesson for all the parents to learn. Maybe every daughter could be a Neha Kakkar if she gets the right kind of support from her family.

Queen- the film, was an eye opener for women across India. It became the talk of the town immediately post release. Kangana started to get addressed as the ‘Queen’ of Bollywood, & Neha emerged to grace the throne in Indian Playback Singing. Remember the foot-tapping beats from ‘London Thumakda’, the song which ruled the charts for months together? The terrific duo of Neha & Sonu Kakkar were the voices behind the nation’s favorite Wedding Song. Since that day on, there was no looking back for Neha. ‘Sunny Sunny’ from Yaariyaan alongside Yo Yo Honey Singh was another super hit. And then came ‘Manali Trance’, with Lisa Hayden setting the screen on fire, and Neha’s voice becoming the identity of the film altogether. Success knocking away with every new release, and her sky-rocketing popularity on Social Media, we got the new face of female playback singing in Bollywood. Speaking of the obvious, her amazing stage presence & charm won the hearts of a lot of guys… Duh! She told us with an innocent giggle “Yeah, a lot of guys did ask me out in different ways. But that never annoyed me. I enjoyed the attention.” We’re sure she handles it all like a pro. The Dark Side of Success… Stars certainly have fans, but a lot of stars end up being stalked also. Did this crooning diva fit the bill too? Yes, she did. She says, “Once a fan wrote my name on his hand with a sharp object and he posted that on my fan page. I am strictly against this because I believe that life is really precious and it should be valued. I appreciate the love but I wouldn't want anyone to hurt themselves for me.” We agree too.

Yes, she is beautiful, she is talented, she is successful & the Nation loves her. But within all of it, Neha is just like each one of us, a girl with her own personal likings, her own group of friends, and her own set of insecurities. Still attached to her roots, she whole-heartedly believes in ‘Matarani’, and says her biggest fear in life is to lose her loved ones. Even today, whenever she feels low, she banks upon her best friend Anshul, who has her in splits with his sense of humor. Her closest friends absolutely adore her giving & nurturing nature, but complain most about her inability to keep in touch. It annoys her too, but then with a life & career like hers, it’s pretty understandable. To her parents & close friends, she still is the same bubbly little girl with dreams in her eyes & an attitude to make them come true. She believes that no matter how much she achieves, there’s always scope to learn & grow. To all the ladies out there, this one’s for you to follow your heart. Shoot for the stars and chase your dreams. LimeRoad is glad to bring forth its Style Icon Neha Kakkar, a small town girl who found her way into your hearts with her faith & courage. Neha, you go girl!