Bolllywood hit singer goes solo

Playback singer Akriti Kakar, the voice behind Bollywood hits like Marjaani Marjaani, Khuda Ya Khair, says she has taken a huge risk with her non-film album Akriti.

"There are hardly any music channels to promote non-film music. I have taken a major-major risk by launching my album. Film music sells because of huge promotion and star factor. Moreover, piracy too is hard hitting," the singer said.

Kakar, 23, began her career at the age of 18 with remix albums and went on to achieve success in Bollywood films like Kismat Konnection, Golmaal Returns, Aa Dekhein Zara and Johnny Gaddaar.

The young singer also turned composer with her new album.

Akriti has composed music for five of the seven tracks in the album while the other two tracks have been composed by Breathless singer Shankar Mahadevan and the lyrics have been penned by Manoj Yadav.

"I never thought I would compose music. I had planned the album to be a mix of compositions by different composers.

It was Shankar who encouraged and supported me and made me do it. I was apprehensive about it since there are no female composers in the industry," Akriti told PTI.

Photograph: Pradeep Bandekar

The singer, who hails from Delhi, has also anchored music based reality shows and feels them to be a great way to encourage new talent.

"I can relate to the participants of the music reality shows. I too had participated and won Sa Re Ga Ma national talent hunt. So, I like to be part of such shows which in a way created a difference in my life," Akriti said.

Photograph: Pradeep Bandekar

She is hopeful about the album and said, "One of the songs aired has got good response. Nobody in the music industry is coming up with original albums. I will make more albums since I believe that any song that has great content will be appreciated by the audience."

The upcoming projects of the singer include Do Duni Char, It's My Life, Papu Can't Dance, Life Isse Gaale Laga Le and some more.

Tere Bin Laden which is a spoof on terrorism will also feature Akriti under the Shankar Ehsaan Loy banner. Also on the cards are stage and reality shows.