Entertainment
Is Indian Idol Really Scripted? Neha Kakkar Hits Back at Sunidhi Chauhan’s ‘Doctored’ Claim: ‘People’s Lives Cannot Be…’
Neha Kakkar has strongly defended Indian Idol after Sunidhi Chauhan’s explosive claims about singing reality shows, insisting that contestants’ emotions and life stories cannot simply be scripted.
The debate over how “real” reality television actually is has returned to the spotlight, and this time two of India’s most popular singers are on opposite sides of the conversation.
Neha Kakkar has responded to Sunidhi Chauhan’s earlier criticism of singing reality shows, including claims that performances can be corrected and contestants may be encouraged through carefully constructed narratives.
Speaking at a recent event, Neha defended Indian Idol and rejected the suggestion that everything audiences see on such shows is scripted.
‘People’s lives cannot be scripted,’ says Neha Kakkar
Addressing criticism surrounding Indian Idol, Neha argued that the emotions viewers witness on the show come from the real struggles and backgrounds of contestants.
“The show is not scripted at all; people’s lives cannot be scripted,” Neha said.
She explained that many Indians, including herself, come from humble backgrounds, and hearing emotional stories from contestants can naturally lead to strong reactions.
Neha also made a pointed remark while discussing criticism of the show, invoking the familiar “grapes are sour” expression.
She further claimed that Indian Idol enjoyed particularly strong TRPs during her time on the judging panel.
Her remarks have now brought Sunidhi Chauhan’s previous statements about reality television back into focus.
What did Sunidhi Chauhan say about Indian Idol?
Sunidhi Chauhan, who has previously judged singing reality shows, has been openly critical of how the format evolved over the years.
During an appearance on Raj Shamani’s podcast in 2024, Sunidhi recalled enjoying her initial experience with reality television because she felt the shows were more authentic at the time.
However, she claimed things later began to change.
According to Sunidhi, what audiences hear on television can sometimes be “doctored” or corrected, which she felt compromised the authenticity of a singing competition.
She also questioned situations where contestants could receive considerable praise in one episode but unexpectedly find themselves eliminated soon afterwards.
Sunidhi made an even bigger allegation about contestants
Sunidhi’s criticism was not limited to audio processing.
Speaking about her experience on Dil Hai Hindustani, she alleged that stories surrounding some contestants were manufactured to make their journeys more appealing to viewers.
She also claimed there were occasions when she was allegedly encouraged to praise particular contestants because they were expected to progress further in the competition.
Sunidhi said she refused to do so.
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For the singer, such experiences eventually became a deal-breaker, contributing to her decision to distance herself from judging reality television shows.
In an earlier 2021 interview, Sunidhi had similarly claimed that while judging Indian Idol 5 and 6, judges were encouraged to praise contestants.
At the same time, Sunidhi acknowledged that reality shows can provide aspiring singers with an enormous platform and potentially make them recognisable almost overnight.
Neha Kakkar and Sunidhi Chauhan present two very different pictures
The contrasting statements have reopened a long-running discussion about the balance between entertainment and authenticity on reality television.
Sunidhi’s comments largely reflect her own experiences as a former judge and her concerns about production practices. Neha, on the other hand, has defended the emotional stories and experiences presented on Indian Idol as genuine.
That distinction is important. Reality television programmes are professionally produced entertainment shows, but that alone does not establish whether any particular contestant’s story, reaction or result has been scripted.
Neither singer’s comments independently prove how every aspect of the programme is produced behind the scenes.
Neha Kakkar’s long association with Indian Idol
Neha Kakkar has had a particularly visible relationship with Indian Idol. She served as a judge from Season 10 through Season 13 and later appeared as a judge on Superstar Singer 3 in 2024.
The latest season of Indian Idol featured Shreya Ghoshal, Badshah and Vishal Dadlani on the judging panel.
Indian Idol 16 reportedly ran for around nine to ten months, receiving multiple extensions during its television run.
The latest exchange between Neha Kakkar and Sunidhi Chauhan is therefore about more than one television programme. It touches on a question audiences have debated for years: when reality television promises real emotions and real talent, how much of what reaches the screen is reality and how much is entertainment?
