Sonu Kakkar has been in the industry for over two decades. Read to find out more about the singer's journey from the small town to the glitz and glam of Bollywood.
Sonu Kakkar is a playback singer, songwriter and television personality. The singer was born on October 20, 1979, in Rishikesh and hailed from a lower-middle-class family. However, she is not the only singer in the family; she is the sister of Bollywood star singers Neha Kakkar and Tony Kakkar.
Sonu Kakkar has been part of the music industry for over two decades now. The singer was often teased by her schoolmates because she hailed from an economically weaker family. Further, her father would sell samosas outside her school, which made her a target for bullies. While their financial conditions were full of ups and downs, she shared a close bond with her family and with music.
According to Sonu Kakkar, she knew she had a passion for music at a very young age and started singing when she was only 5. Like her siblings, Tony Kakkar and Neha Kakkar, she also performed bhajans in jagratas. As for her schooling, the singer studied in a school till grade eight, thereafter switching to open board to complete her education. However, she never attended college.
Sonu Kakkar moved to Delhi with her family in 1990 at the age of 11. However, her passion for music took her to the city of dreams, Mumbai. There, she participated in Channel V's singing reality show, Indian Pop Star. It was during her stint on the show that she was noticed by the ace director, Sandeep Chowta, who promised her an opportunity to sing in his next film.
The singer made her singing debut in 2003 with the song that every 2000s kid remembers. Her first song was in the film, Dum. The song was titled, Babuji Zaara Dheere Chalo. Her journey from up there was filled with hard work and discipline. She subsequently voiced songs like Seduction Saavariya, Ishq Da Tadka, Kar Mundya and Lawani. However, it was her song, Urban Munda, that earned her immense recognition.
While three Kakkars are ruling the film industry today, Sonu was the first person from her family to make a career in music. In an interview with PTC Punjab, the singer revealed that she had never had any musical training and that she was blessed to have the talent. For someone who has never attained professional training, Sonu stands as a testament to hard work and passion. The singer has not only lent her voice to the Hindi music industry but seven other languages as well, including, Punjabi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Malayalam and Nepali songs.
Sonu Kakkar shared a close bond with her siblings, Neha Kakkar and Tony Kakkar, until April 12, 2025, when she announced that she had severed all ties with them. She is close to her parents and often shares snippets of their time together on her Instagram handle. As for her marital life, Sonu married the love of her life, Neeraj Sharma, in 2006. While not much is known about her husband, Sonu often shares pictures with him on her social media. In 2010, during an interview with DNA, she spoke about how she met her husband and stated:
"When we first met, there was something special. It was a formal chat and both of us had a great time. He SMSed me that he is in love with me. I didn’t know how to react to that statement. When I spoke to him, I was blushing and asked whether he was joking. But he responded that he was dead serious. Somewhere in the corner of my heart, I knew that I liked him a lot. And I nodded. He told his family and when they came to know about it, they were more than elated with the union. We then got married."
Sonu Kakkar was once referred to as the 'Female Rockstar of Bollywood' for her energetic voice and passion for the arts. According to a report by Moneymint, Sonu has a net worth of Rs. 69 crores. Most of her net worth comes from her singing career. Her fee is through reality shows, ad collaborations, and concerts.
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