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Neha Kakkar Refused to Perform for Just 700 People in Melbourne Causing Delay
Updated on: 30 April, 2025 11:58 AM IST |Amruta Karulkar
Neha Kakkar
The controversy surrounding Neha Kakkar`s Melbourne concert has reignited. Back in March, a video showing the popular singer apologising tearfully to her fans after allegedly arriving three hours late went viral. Neha blamed the organisers for unprofessionalism and failing to provide basic necessities. Now, Australian event organisers Pace D and Bikram Singh Randhawa have stepped forward, presenting a starkly different version of events.
Randhawa added details about the timing and crowd reaction. “The crowd was ready and cheering, expecting her to come on stage. But she showed up at 10 PM — that’s two and a half hours late since the scheduled time was 7:30 PM. So the crowd got upset and angry," he stated, noting that some fans had paid up to AUD 300 (around ₹15,000 - ₹16,000) for tickets.
Most strikingly, Pace D alleged that Neha initially hesitated due to the crowd size. He claimed the organisers were told, “Only 700 people? Until more people come in and this place fills up, I’m not going to perform.”
Also Read: Neha Kakkar Special: Dilbar, Kala Chashmah, And More Songs Of The Singer That Will Make You Groove!
However, Pace D refuted these points directly. “This was such a big show; the entire tech rider was in place. There were opening acts, and everyone performed. Her mic and complete setup were fully ready," he asserted. The organisers insisted that Neha`s version was untrue, mentioning she travelled in a luxury G Waggon and emphasising that artists are typically paid before travelling for shows.
This contrasts sharply with Neha`s earlier explanation on Instagram. She had written, "They said she came 3 hours late; did they even ask once what happened to her... Do you all know that I performed absolutely free for my Melbourne audience? The organisers ran away with my money... My band was not even given food, a hotel or even water." She detailed issues with the sound check and communication breakdowns, ultimately stating she performed despite the setbacks for her fans.
As the organisers present their side, the Melbourne concert incident remains a contentious issue, leaving fans with two conflicting narratives.
Also Read: Singer Udit Narayan Defends His Actions of Kissing a Fan at Concert as “Pure”
Organisers Speak Out: A Different Story
In a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan, rapper and event host Pace D, along with Bikram Singh Randhawa, challenged Neha`s account. Pace D explained, “Beat Production from Melbourne was the one who invited Neha Kakkar. Now that both parties have come forward and spoken openly, then why can’t we? We were there and saw everything. I spoke to Preet Pabla Bhai, who was the event organiser... That’s when I found out that she didn’t arrive on time and there were multiple delays. He told me that she kept saying things like, ‘I won’t go now; I won’t do this.’”Randhawa added details about the timing and crowd reaction. “The crowd was ready and cheering, expecting her to come on stage. But she showed up at 10 PM — that’s two and a half hours late since the scheduled time was 7:30 PM. So the crowd got upset and angry," he stated, noting that some fans had paid up to AUD 300 (around ₹15,000 - ₹16,000) for tickets.
Most strikingly, Pace D alleged that Neha initially hesitated due to the crowd size. He claimed the organisers were told, “Only 700 people? Until more people come in and this place fills up, I’m not going to perform.”
Also Read: Neha Kakkar Special: Dilbar, Kala Chashmah, And More Songs Of The Singer That Will Make You Groove!
Countering Neha`s Claims
Neha had previously stated that the organisers failed her and her team, not arranging food, water, or hotel accommodations, and even fleeing without settling dues. She also mentioned sound check delays due to unpaid vendors.However, Pace D refuted these points directly. “This was such a big show; the entire tech rider was in place. There were opening acts, and everyone performed. Her mic and complete setup were fully ready," he asserted. The organisers insisted that Neha`s version was untrue, mentioning she travelled in a luxury G Waggon and emphasising that artists are typically paid before travelling for shows.
This contrasts sharply with Neha`s earlier explanation on Instagram. She had written, "They said she came 3 hours late; did they even ask once what happened to her... Do you all know that I performed absolutely free for my Melbourne audience? The organisers ran away with my money... My band was not even given food, a hotel or even water." She detailed issues with the sound check and communication breakdowns, ultimately stating she performed despite the setbacks for her fans.
As the organisers present their side, the Melbourne concert incident remains a contentious issue, leaving fans with two conflicting narratives.
Also Read: Singer Udit Narayan Defends His Actions of Kissing a Fan at Concert as “Pure”
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