Being a girl, I faced more struggles, says Hard Kaur

Singer-rapper Hard Kaur says that throughout her childhood, she faced a lot of negativity and a large part of her struggle was because she was a girl.

Kaur, who spent her growing-up years in the UK, says, “A large part of my struggle was because I was a girl, an Indian girl, to be more precise. People couldn’t believe that I could be a rapper and I was asked to prove myself time and again just because it was a maledominated industry.”

“Ever since I was a child I faced a lot of negativity. From being bullied and having no friends to growing up in a world full of stereotypes, I’ve faced it all. But I’m honest and I’ve always felt its either my way or no way at all and I’d rather do it the Hard Kaur way,” she says in her trademark style.

The musician says that she has always been working on breaking away from all the stereotypes. “I worked hard, honed my skills, and used them to prove people wrong. I want to give power to other people to turn negatives into positives,” she adds.

Her song Ek Glassy topped the UK charts in 2007. Since then, she has sung in movies such as Ugly Aur Pagli (2008), Singh Is Kinng (2008), and Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (2009). She says that staying strong, fighting back and believing in herself helped her make a mark in the music industry.

She also credits her mother for her achievements. “My mother has always been my strongest support. She is the real Hard Kaur; I am just her franchisee. My mother and my talent helped me fight all my battles fiercely and come out strong and successful,” she says.

Kaur adds that hip hop music is her passion. “Even though I’ve had big success in Bollywood, that’s not where my heart is. Hip hop is my love and that’s what I’ll keep pushing, keep learning and doing new things in,” she says.

But how did she handle the incidents wherein she was questioned for speaking up?

“I faced a lot of inequality growing up, and this was a great drive to be successful. I’m thankful for all the tragedy I went through. It made me wiser and experienced. All bad things that you think that happen to you, are for your good,” she says.

“I want to be that woman who is known as someone who wasn’t afraid to live and speak her mind,” she signs off.

A large part of my struggle was because I was a girl, an Indian girl, to be more precise. People couldn’t believe that I could be a rapper. HARD KAUR SINGERRAPPER

PHOTO: SHIVAM SAXENA/HT Singerrapper Hard Kaur says that she had to prove herself time and again just because she chose to be in a maledominated industry