Akriti Kakar – The voice behind the remixed version of ‘Rangeela Re’ in 2004

Akriti Kakar is a popular playback singer of Bollywood, who is best known for the chartbuster songs – Saturday Saturday from Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Iski Uski from 2 States. Her twin sisters Sukriti and Prakriti Kakkar are also playback singers of Bollywood, and their names are often confused with two Bollywood playback singers with same surname – Neha Kakkar and Sonu Kakkar (siblings). Akriti Kakar, who is 9 years older to her twin sisters often play the role of a protective mother. Their mother is a music teacher. Akriti Kakar has appeared as a celebrity judge for a few reality shows on television.

Akriti Kakar was born in New Delhi in 1986 into a family with strong music background. Her paternal grandfather was from Peshawar, Pakistan. She got initial lessons from her mother, who worked at a school in Delhi. She came to Mumbai in 2004 along with her family, who got settled there. As a singer she got first break through the remixed version of ‘Rangeela Re’ in 2004, a revived version by Harris Anand. The hot song filmed on Deepal Shaw was an instant chartbuster. The song was included in the album – Baby Doll Chapter 2. Very soon she cut an album called 18, which got noticed. As a playback singer her voice was first heard in Chamse Woh Aajaye from Dus in 2004. Music was composed by Vishal-Shekhar. She worked as a VJ for a show on ETC, which gave her opportunity to meet with people belonging to music world.

Dil vich lagya ve from Chup Chupke was her first song as a full-fledged playback singer, and the break was given by Himesh Reshammiya. After that she frequently worked with the composer. Her songs are included in movies – Shakalaka Boom Boom, Red: The Dark Side, Apne, Namastey London, Johnny Gaddaar, Kismat Konnection, Golmaal Returns, Billu, We are Family, Mirch, Tere Bin Laden, Jism 2, 2 States, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania etc.

Akriti Kakar – Some unknown and interesting facts

1. She started singing at the age of 5, and since then she was determined to become a playback singer.

2. She was the school topper at CBSE.

3. She was a batch mate of playback singer Harshdeep Kaur while at school.

4. She has also sung songs for Marathi, Bangla and Punjabi films, and can sing in 15 languages.

5. Her first single named #Kolkata Diaries was composed by the renowned Bengali musician, Joy Sarkar.

6. She was a celebrity judge in Zee Bangla’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs’ 2013.

7. In 2010 she released a solo album titled – “Akriti” and its songs were composed by her and Shankar Mahadevan.

8. Her single – “Ring Diamond Di” got into controversy when it was accused of plagiarizing Girls’ Generation’s “The Boys” and “I Got a Boy“.

9. Majority of her songs were recorded with Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Himesh Reshammiya.

10. She tied knot with Ad director Chirag Arora in 2016.

11. She recorded two songs for a Pakistani film in 2016. She was extremely happy as her paternal grandfather was from Peshawar, Pakistan.

Akriti Kakar – Hindi Chartbuster hits

1. Rangeela Re from Baby Doll Chapter 2

2. Saturday Saturday from Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania

3. Iski Uski from 2 States

4. Abhi Abhi from Jism 2

5. Mohabbat Aap se from Aa Dekhen Zara

6. Dil Khol Ke Let’s Rock from We Are Family

7. Khudaya Khair from Billu

8. I Love Amreeka fromTere Bin Laden

9. Tha Kar Ke from Golmaal Returns

10. Move Your Body Now from Kismat Konnection

11. Title song from Johnny Gaddaar

12. Aanan Faanan from Namastey London

13. Dekhoon Tujhe To Pyaar Aaye Apne from Apne