Recent music concerts in India have seen a worrying rise in audience misbehaviour, putting performers in uncomfortable situations. From a fan tossing a T-shirt at Punjabi singer-rapper Karan Aujla, to Bengaluru crowds pulling down singer Akon’s pants, and fans nearly pushing rapper-singer Tyga off stage at the Cherry Blossom Festival 2025, these incidents have raised concerns across the music industry.

Singer-composer Akriti Kakar, whose sisters — singers Sukriti and Prakriti Kakar — performed the opening act for Akon’s Delhi concert, reflects on what these incidents mean for performers and India’s reputation as a concert destination: “The people we have idolised are coming to our country now, and I’m glad the market is opening up. But if this is how we treat them, I wonder if they would ever like to come back.”

The 39-year-old adds, “A few rotten apples are spoiling India’s image as a country that treats its guests with respect, which is a pity. Certain audience etiquette should be mandatory,” she adds.

Recalling her own experiences, Akriti says, “Earlier, I was a naive performer. There used to be odd people teasing me with unnecessary, sleazy remarks, just because I was a woman. It doesn’t happen anymore because I now have a voice that can respond too.”