Overview

• In an interview on Uorfi Javed’s YouTube show Bunkk With Uorfi on August 17, Kanika Kapoor said playback singers are often unpaid for film songs and claimed she can produce contracts showing token payments as low as ₹101.
• She asserted that even an unnamed leading singer lacks publishing rights or royalty structures for many of his biggest songs.
• Kapoor said singers primarily rely on live performances for income and noted there is no pension or long‑term financial safety net.
• On August 18, the All Indian Cine Workers Association publicly supported her statements, condemned unfair and delayed payments across film workers, and called for transparent payment and royalty frameworks.
• Multiple mainstream outlets amplified the claims, and as of the latest reports there is no independent verification provided and no named production houses or music labels have publicly responded.