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While defending music reality shows, Neha Kakkar appeared to take a subtle swipe at Sunidhi Chauhan’s comments about the shows lacking authenticity.
‘Angoor Khatte Hain’: Neha Kakkar Takes A Dig At Sunidhi Chauhan While Defending Music Reality Shows?
Neha Kakkar has hit back at criticism that singing reality shows such as Indian Idol are scripted, arguing that the emotions and personal struggles seen on the show cannot simply be manufactured for television. Earlier, Sunidhi Chauhan had claimed that reality shows today are fake, unlike in the past when there was little to no drama and the performances audiences heard were the same as those delivered on stage. When asked about her comment during an event, Neha defended music reality shows, saying they aren’t scripted. She then said, “Angoor khatte hain,” a remark that many netizens interpreted as a veiled dig at Sunidhi.
Neha Kakkar Reacts To Sunidhi Chauhan’s Claim About Music Reality Shows
At a recent event, when asked about the claims that singing reality shows are scripted, Neha Kakkar was quick to disagree. She even jokingly credited herself for the show’s high TRPs during her stint as a judge.
“Ye fame isliye gir gaya kyunki maine karna chhod diya (The fame declined because I stopped doing it),” Neha said with a laugh. “Jab tak main kar rahi thi, TRPs highest thi (The TRPs were at their highest as long as I was doing it).”
When asked about Sunidhi Chauhan and other former reality show judges’ claims that these shows are scripted and fake, Neha said, “Angoor na mile toh khatte hain (when you don’t get the grapes, you call them sour).”
She further added, “Angoor jisko nahi milte, usko khatte hi lagte hain (those who don’t get the grapes will find them sour).”
The comment was widely seen as a veiled dig at Sunidhi Chauhan, who had previously criticised the current format of reality shows and described them as fake compared to the earlier days of television singing competitions.
‘Logon Ki Life Bilkul Scripted Nahi Hoti’
Neha went on to strongly defend the authenticity of the contestants’ stories and emotions on music reality shows. “Ye show bilkul scripted nahi hai. Logon ki life bilkul scripted nahi hoti,” she said, explaining that many contestants come from humble backgrounds and have overcome significant struggles to reach the stage.
Neha also spoke from personal experience, pointing out that she herself came from a humble background. For her, the emotional reactions she has to contestants’ stories are genuine. “Agar mujhe kisi ki story sunke emotions feel hota hai, main emotions feel karti hoon, toh woh feeling naturally hai,” she said.
Neha Says Contestants’ Struggles Are Real
The singer further argued that contestants cannot simply manufacture the life stories they bring to the show.
“Hum sab pata nahi kaun-kaun se chhote-chhote shahron se aate hain aur kitni-kitni hurdles cross karke aate hain,” Neha said, adding that contestants are not going to suddenly invent stories about their struggles just for television.
Netizens React
The video clip went viral on Reddit, and netizens were not pleased with Neha’s comment. One netizen commented, “Bus Itne level ka delusion chahiye,” while another one commented, “This is so disrespectful on her part.” A third comment read, “Taking a dig at SUNIDHI CHAUHAN? Lmao!!”, while another one wrote, “Sunidhi getting free PR thanks to her.”
What Did Sunidhi Chauhan Say About Music Reality Shows?
On Raj Shamani’s podcast earlier, Sunidhi Chauhan spoke about her experience judging singing reality shows. “I enjoyed my first two years when there was no emotional drama, just fun, and the performance you heard was the same as what was broadcast on TV. Now, what you watch is all doctored, its all corrected.”
More recently on Shekhar Tonite, Sunidhi revealed why she stepped away from judging the shows. “I was a part of it for a very long time, but then I decided to stop because I felt it wasn’t the right place for me. I couldn’t continue with it. It’s a very sad thing because earlier, people used Auto-Tune only to create a particular sound or effect in songs. It was done to give the music a certain style and make it sound better,” 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 in reality shows, I felt things were going in a direction I couldn’t accept. That’s when I chose to step away, and I’m much happier,” she said.
Quick Answers
Ask News18Neha Kakkar defended music reality shows by stating that the emotions and personal struggles of contestants cannot be manufactured. She emphasized that many contestants come from humble backgrounds and their stories are genuine, drawing from her own experience of overcoming struggles.
Ask News18September 09, 2026, 09:22 IST