My work is my strength: Kanika Kapoor

Kanika Kapoor has fast become a personality to reckon with in the musical domain and has been flying high after the appreciation she received for singing Da Da Dasse in Udta Punjab. Her passion for music, she says, stems from her childhood.

“I would sit with my uncle while he learned music from his guru in Lucknow. Ours is a family of businessmen and everyone had a ear for music. I must have been just 12 or 13 years old when I first sang on stage and then I would religiously do my riyaaz for almost two hours at a stretch.”

Growing up brought along a new set of challenges for the Baby Doll singer. “I tried to make it work in Bollywood, singing with Jatin-Lalit, when I was 18, but that did not work.” Kanika’s marriage at an early age too was a bit of a hurdle for her career. “You can’t blame people who have different outlooks; I tried my best to make it work. However, having tasted rejection in my marriage at an early age, I tried to make it work with music, and here I am. My husband and I are on friendly terms and he visits the children from time to time.”

Being able to participate in musical activities after tying the knot at an early age was a Herculean task, says Kanika. “I am happy I was able to nurture my children all by myself. Bringing up the kids as a single parent has been possible thanks to my family. I shuttle between London (where her children live) and India. The journey is quite tiring but I have to manage; my kids keep asking me when I’ll be back. While promoting Udta Punjab I had to fly back for my son’s birthday. It was exhausting but I have to strike a perfect balance between my family and work.”

As far as her musical journey goes, Kanika couldn’t be happier with how things are going for her. “This is the best phase of my life. I’m singing in both Bollywood and Tollywood. God wanted me to come to India and my soul is here.” ‘All that glitters is not gold’ suits her life best, says Kanika. It may look glamorous from the outside but “I had to work to run my kitchen and pay off bills for my children’s welfare”.

She has made quite a few friends in the industry now. “(Ram) Charan’s wife is my best pal. When I’m in Hyderabad, she takes ample care of me. She’s not insecure about my presence and our friendship goes back to when I wasn’t married. Shreya Ghoshal and Neeti Mohan are my friends too.” Kanika believes in being a solo force, and letting her work talk for itself. “My strength is my work. My number one priority is my kids’ welfare. I’m enjoying my career and motherhood together,” she signs off.