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Taran Kaur Dhillon (born 29 July 1979), known by her stage name Hard Kaur, is a British-Indian rapper and hip hop singer[1] as well as playback singer and actress in the Bollywood industry.[2][3][4][5][6]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Hard Kaur was born in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India on 29 July 1979 as Taran Kaur Dhillon into a Punjabi Jatt Sikh family of the Dhillon clan.[citation needed] She was raised in Kanpur, where her mother ran a small beauty parlour in the house.[7] Her father was killed by a mob during 1984 anti-Sikh violence. Her paternal grandparents asked her mother to leave their house and wanted to keep her brother with them. Subsequently she, her brother and her mother moved to Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India to her maternal grandparents house, where they stayed for the next couple of years.[citation needed]

In 1991, her mother remarried a British citizen and her family moved to Birmingham, England, where her mother started working and studying to eventually open a beauty salon, in Smethwick. Meanwhile, Hard Kaur did her schooling as an Indian immigrant in the UK.[7] After developing interest in hip-hop she started her music career as a rapper.[8][9][10][11]

Career

[edit]

She recorded the song "Ek Glassy" and was top for the UK then in 2007 rapped for Sriram Raghavan's movie Johnny Gaddaar's song "Paisa Phek (Move Your Body)." Since then she has sung in movies like Ugly Aur Pagli ("Talli"), Singh Is Kinng, Kismat Konnection, Bachna Ae Haseeno, Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, and Prince.

Hard Kaur with a Birmingham City Councillor, 2013.

Kaur performed at Live Earth India, 2008.

Her first solo album Supawoman was released in 2007.[12][13]

In 2008, Hard Kaur was nominated for two awards at the UK Asian Music Awards: "Best Urban Act" and "Best Female Act".[14] She won "Best Female Act".[15]

In October 2012, Hard Kaur released her second music album titled Party Loud All Year: P.L.A.Y. The album, produced in collaboration with Sony music, featured ten songs, all of which were written and composed by her.[16] The most successful song of the album was Mujhe Peeney do.[17]

In 2013, she collaborated with composer Ram Sampath and Rajasthani folk singer Bhanvari Devi for Coke Studio India.[citation needed] In the song Katey or Kathe – Bhanvari Devi's part is a Rajasthani folk song which is dedicated to Lord Krishna (Saanwariyo) and Rap by Hard Kaur – written by herself in which she express her personal life journey. At the time of elections, she composed a song "Karle Tu Voting" to spread awareness about voting. Hard Kaur composed a song for FIFA World Cup named "Goal Mar Goal Mar". The song aptly describes fan frenzy and is sung in Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali & South language (?) too. She has also written the lyrics for the song.[citation needed] She also collaborated with the American hip hop group D12 in the same year on the track "Desi Dance".[18]

Controversial Comments

[edit]

Hard Kaur is originally from Kanpur, India; where she was born and raised and currently lives in the UK, in Birmingham, England as an Indian national and citizen and has expressed her support for the Sikh-separatist Khalistan movement on multiple occasions in videos, while criticizing the current Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the current Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, their supporters and followers, the Indian government, Hindu nationalists, the BJP party and the RSS.[19][20][21][22][23][24][25]

In June 2019, a First Information Report was lodged against her for comments about Yogi Adityanath and Mohan Bhagwat.[26][27] In August 2019, her Twitter account was suspended after she posted a video abusing Amit Shah and Narendra Modi with Khalistan Supporters.[28][29][30]

Kaur released a song and music video in 2019 after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India by the Government of India which revoked the special status of the Jammu and Kashmir state of India; supporting Kashmiri-Separatism in India, in which she called herself a 'proud Khalistani'.[31]

Kaur released an IG video in 2020 calling Indian people "naked, hungry, dirty, idiots, illiterate, uneducated mother****ers".[32]

In a now deleted video that Kaur uploaded on Instagram and Twitter, she slut-shamed Bollywood actresses, accusing them of 'sleeping their way to the top' and mocking the Indian #MeToo movement victims who spoke out against their perpetrators, who were mostly Film-directors, producers and senior actors by insinuating that they're lying and they asked for it and that they knew very-well about Bollywood's casting couch in advance.[33]

Discography

[edit]

EPs

[edit]
  • Voodoo Hill (1997)

Albums

[edit]
  • Supawoman (2007)
  • Party Loud All Year: P.L.A.Y (2012)

Compilation appearances

[edit]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Film Song Language Notes
2007 Johnny Gaddar Move Your Body Hindi Special Appearance in Song
2008 Kismat Konnection Move Your Body
Bachna Ae Haseeno Lucky Boy
Ugly Aur Pagli Tali
2009 Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani Follow Me
Main Tera Dhadkan
2011 Patiala House Laung Da Lashkara First Feature Film, Role: Komal Chatwal
Rola Pae Gaya
F.A.L.T.U. Char Baj Gaye
Faltu Title Track
2013 ABCD: Any Body Can Dance Sadda Dil Vi Tu (Ga Ga Ga Ganpati)
Gippi We Are Like This Only
Hanni Punjabi
Vanakkam Chennai Chennai City Gangsta Tamil
2014 Babloo Happy Hai Babloo Happy Hai Hindi
The Shaukeens Aashique Mizaz Composer
2015 Dilliwali Zaalim Girlfriend Zaalim Dilli
2016 Sarrainodu Sarrainodu Telugu
2017 OK Jaanu Kaara Fankaara Hindi

Television acts

[edit]
Year TV show Language Notes
2009 Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 3 Hindi Contestant
2010 Comedy Circus Ke Taansen Hindi Special Appearance with Krushna and Sudesh
2012 Bigg Boss 6 Hindi Guest
2016 Box Cricket League Hindi Player in Ahmedabad Express

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Hard Kaur

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Taran Dhillon (born 29 July 1979), known professionally as Hard Kaur, is a British-Indian rapper, hip-hop singer, playback artist, and actress. Born in , , , to a Punjabi Sikh family, she relocated to Birmingham, , at a young age after the death of her mother and began her music career in the British scene during the . Hard Kaur is recognized as one of the first female rappers in Indian hip-hop, releasing early works like the 1997 EP Voodoo Hill and achieving mainstream success with her 2007 debut Supawoman. She contributed playback rap to Bollywood films, including tracks for (2008) and (2007), blending desi hip-hop with commercial cinema. Her achievements include winning the Best Female Act at the 2008 UK Asian Music Awards, highlighting her influence in urban Asian music. However, Hard Kaur has been embroiled in controversies stemming from her political expressions, notably her support for the 2020 campaign and public criticisms of Indian leaders, which resulted in and charges filed against her in 2019 for posts targeting Chief Minister and RSS chief .

Early Life and Background

Family Origins and Childhood

Hard Kaur was born Taran Kaur Dhillon on 29 July 1979 in , , , to a Punjabi Sikh family of the clan. Her mother operated a small beauty parlour from their home, providing the family's primary livelihood. The family resided in Kanpur during her early childhood, where she experienced typical urban life in northern amid a modest household. In 1984, when Hard Kaur was five years old, anti-Sikh riots erupted across following and the assassination of Prime Minister ; her father was killed during these events in , and the family's beauty parlour was burned down. This tragedy left her mother to raise Hard Kaur and her brother alone, amid pressure from grandparents who wished to retain the boy in . Her mother rejected this arrangement and prioritized keeping the children together. By 1991, at age 12, Hard Kaur relocated with her mother and brother to Birmingham, , after her mother remarried a British citizen. In the UK, the family faced economic hardships, with her mother working multiple jobs while studying to reopen a . Hard Kaur encountered at , where peers derogatorily called her a "freshie" due to her recent arrival from , fostering a sense of alienation during her formative adolescent years. These experiences in Birmingham shaped her resilience amid cultural adjustment challenges.

Influences and Formative Years

Hard Kaur's formative years were profoundly shaped by personal hardships and cultural displacement. Born Taran Kaur Dhillon in , , she experienced the early death of her father, leaving her mother to support the family by operating a modest beauty parlor from their home. In 1991, at age 12, her family immigrated to Birmingham, , following her mother's remarriage to a British citizen, where they navigated the challenges of integration into a new society. Upon arrival in the UK, Hard Kaur faced intense bullying and social exclusion as an Indian immigrant, routinely subjected to slurs like "freshie" and stereotypes that marginalized her identity. These experiences, including isolation and gender-based prejudices, instilled a sense of defiance; she initially channeled this through dance, using performances at school to counter derogatory perceptions and assert her presence in a hostile environment. Her mother's determination to study and establish her own beauty salon further exemplified resilience amid economic and cultural barriers, influencing Hard Kaur's own drive for self-reliance. By 1995, Hard Kaur discovered hip-hop, which provided a cathartic outlet for voicing unfiltered emotions and confronting adversity—"the kind of music where you say what you feel," as she described it. Primarily influenced by American hip-hop's emphasis on authenticity and , she immersed herself in the UK's British Asian underground scene, blending it with her Punjabi roots to forge a rap style. This genre not only "saved her life" amid ongoing criticism for an Indian girl pursuing rap but also marked her shift from personal struggle to artistic expression, laying the groundwork for her career as a .

Professional Career

Entry into Hip-Hop and UK Beginnings

Hard Kaur, born Taran Kaur Dhillon, relocated to Birmingham, , in 1991 following family circumstances in . There, as an Indian immigrant facing and cultural adjustment challenges, she discovered hip-hop in 1995 after watching the music video for "Chief Rocka" by on television. The genre's emphasis on authentic self-expression resonated with her, aiding her acquisition and providing an outlet against racial taunts and societal pressures in a male-dominated field. Influenced by American hip-hop pioneers such as , , , and , Kaur immersed herself in the underground scene, initially through dancing to counter schoolyard derogations like being called a "freshie." By the early 2000s, she transitioned to rapping, entering the hip-hop landscape amid limited South Asian representation. She performed alongside established acts including , , and , building credibility in Britain's urban music circuit despite industry skepticism toward female rappers of her background. Her professional breakthrough came with the 2007 release of the single "Ek Glassy," recorded in the UK and achieving top positions on Asian music charts there, marking her as a pioneering desi voice in British hip-hop. This track, blending Punjabi lyrics with rap flows, preceded her debut album Supawoman that same year, which fused hip-hop with South Asian elements and garnered nominations at the 2008 UK Asian Music Awards for Best Urban Act and Best Female Act. These efforts established Kaur as one of Britain's prominent hip-hop artists of Indian origin before her pivot toward the Indian market.

Transition to Indian Music Industry

In 2007, Hard Kaur marked her entry into the Indian film industry by contributing rap verses to the song "Paisa Phek (Move Your Body)" for the thriller film , directed by , which represented her initial foray into Bollywood playback singing and helped introduce hip-hop elements to soundtracks. This collaboration followed her established career in bhangra-rap fusion and preceded further film contributions, positioning her as a pioneer in integrating Western hip-hop styles with Indian music formats. The track's release aligned with her growing interest in tapping into the burgeoning Indian market, where hip-hop was nascent and predominantly male-dominated. That same year, she released her debut solo album Supawoman, which blended Punjabi, , and English lyrics with themes of empowerment and cultural identity, achieving commercial success and nominations at the 2008 UK Asian Music Awards for Best Urban Act and Best Female Act. The album's production emphasized authentic desi hip-hop, distinguishing it from her earlier UK releases like the 1997 EP Voodoo Hill, and targeted an and domestic audience, signaling a strategic pivot toward India-centric output. By performing at high-profile events such as India in 2008, she further solidified her presence in the subcontinent's music scene. In 2008, Hard Kaur relocated from the to to immerse herself fully in the Indian ecosystem, enabling closer collaboration with Bollywood composers and producers. This move facilitated subsequent playback roles in films like (2008) and (2009), where tracks such as "Talli" showcased her rapid-fire delivery and contributed to the gradual mainstreaming of rap in commercial . Her transition challenged gender norms in India's rap landscape, as she later claimed to have carved out opportunities for rappers in the industry, though this occurred amid limited infrastructure for non-film hip-hop at the time.

Key Releases and Collaborations

Hard Kaur's early musical output included the EP Voodoo Hill, released in 1997 on Wiz Kid Records. Her debut solo album, Supawoman, followed in 2007, featuring tracks blending Punjabi, , and English lyrics such as "Sexy Boy" and "Bombay Deewana." In October 2012, she released her second studio album, Party Loud All Year: P.L.A.Y., produced in collaboration with , which included singles like "Glassy" and "Chennai City Gangsta." She gained prominence through playback singing in Bollywood films, contributing rap verses to songs like "Move Your Body" from (2007), "Bas Ek Kinng (Tiger Style Mix)" from (2008), and "Taali" from (2008). Notable later collaborations include "Laung Da Lashkara" with for (2011) and "Chaar Baj Gaye (Party Abhi Baaki Hai)" for F.A.L.T.U. (2011). In 2013, Hard Kaur featured on "Kattey" alongside and Rajasthani folk singer Bhanvari Devi for Coke Studio @ Season 3, fusing hip-hop with traditional folk elements. More recent independent releases encompass singles such as "POISON" (2019) and the mixtape (2017), alongside contributions to film soundtracks like and ABCD: Any Body Can Dance. These works highlight her role in pioneering female rap within Indian hip-hop, often bridging underground styles with commercial cinema.

Entertainment Ventures Beyond Music

Film and Playback Contributions

Hard Kaur debuted as an actress in the 2007 Bollywood thriller Johnny Gaddar, appearing in a supporting role. She followed with a cameo in the 2009 romantic comedy Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, where she featured alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif. In 2011, she portrayed a character in the sports drama Patiala House, starring Akshay Kumar, which drew from real-life cricketing inspirations. Her subsequent acting credits include the Tamil film Vanakkam Chennai (2013), where she played "Chennai City Gangsta," and the comedy Babloo Happy Hai (2014), in which she also contributed as music composer. Additional roles encompass The Shaukeens (2014) and a Punjabi film titled Hard Kaur (2017), featuring her in a lead capacity amid a cast including Nirmal Rishi. As a , Hard Kaur lent her rap vocals to "Lucky Boy" in the 2008 film , starring and . She contributed to (2008) with the track "Tali" and to (2009) via "Follow Me" and "Main Tera Dhadkan Teri." Her playback work extended to (2010), No Problem (2010), (2012), Rush (2012), Challo Driver (2012), ABCD – Any Body Can Dance (2013), (2014), (2015), (2016), and (2017), where she also served as for select tracks.
YearFilmContribution
2007Johnny GaddarActress
2008Bachna Ae HaseenoPlayback Singer ("Lucky Boy")
2008Ugly Aur PagliPlayback Singer ("Tali")
2009Actress; Playback Singer ("Follow Me," "Main Tera Dhadkan Teri")
2010Playback Singer
2010Playback Singer
2011Actress
2012Playback Singer
2012RushPlayback Singer
2012Challo DriverPlayback Singer
2013Actress ("Chennai City Gangsta")
2013ABCD – Any Body Can DancePlayback Singer
2014Playback Singer
2014Actress; Music Composer
2014Actress
2015Playback Singer
2016Playback Singer
2017Playback Singer; Lyricist
2017Hard KaurActress
This table summarizes verified contributions, drawing from industry databases; her rap-infused style often integrated hip-hop elements into mainstream soundtracks.

Television and Other Media Appearances

Hard Kaur competed as a celebrity contestant in the third season of the Indian dance reality television series , which aired on from September to December 2009; partnered with choreographer Jay Kumar, she advanced to the semi-finals before elimination. In 2010, she made a special guest appearance on the comedy-sketch show Comedy Circus Ke Taansen, performing alongside comedians and . She joined the sixth season of the controversial reality series in October 2012 as a wildcard entrant on , but was evicted within weeks amid interpersonal conflicts with housemates. In 2016, Kaur participated in Box Cricket League - , a celebrity competition broadcast on , representing the Punjab Dil Dilaarian team. These appearances primarily served to promote her music career in , blending performance elements with reality formats popular in entertainment. Beyond scripted television, she has featured in promotional interviews on shows like The MJ Show in 2015, where she performed tracks such as "Ek Glassy" and discussed her career trajectory.

Political Activism and Controversies

Advocacy for Sikh Separatism

In July 2019, Hard Kaur publicly endorsed the "Referendum 2020" campaign organized by (SFJ), a U.S.-based group designated as a terrorist organization by the Indian government for promoting Sikh separatism through calls for an independent Khalistan state. In multiple videos posted on platforms, she urged overseas to participate in the proposed on Khalistan's independence, stating that minorities were "fed up" with the Indian government and appealing against being "fooled" by opponents of the referendum. Kaur's involvement came shortly after Indian authorities filed a sedition case against her in June 2019 for separate inflammatory posts, though her SFJ support amplified scrutiny over her alignment with separatist elements. She framed the referendum as a democratic exercise for Sikh , aligning with SFJ's narrative of historical grievances stemming from events like in 1984, while critics in viewed it as an extension of militant Khalistan ideology that fueled violence in during the 1980s and 1990s. Her account was subsequently suspended following these posts, which explicitly backed the Khalistan agenda. Subsequent expressions of support included a 2023 social media post thanking for "standing with" the , reflecting her consistent promotion of separatist causes amid . This stance positioned her within a network of overseas Sikh advocates pushing non-binding referendums in cities like and , though participation remained limited and contested, with Indian officials dismissing such efforts as fringe propaganda lacking broad Sikh consensus. Her advocacy has drawn condemnation from Indian media and critics for potentially glorifying a movement linked to past insurgent violence that claimed thousands of lives, while supporters portray it as legitimate redress for perceived cultural and political marginalization.

Attacks on Indian Political Figures

In June 2019, Hard Kaur faced charges in after posting social media content deemed objectionable against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and () chief , including insults and abusive language targeting their leadership and ideologies. The complaint, filed by a local in , accused her of promoting enmity and undermining national integrity through statements that portrayed the figures as threats to Sikh interests and accused them of historical injustices linked to . On June 20, 2019, the BJP Chitrapat Union lodged a formal complaint asserting that Hard Kaur's videos explicitly abused and , framing them as oppressors of minorities and calling for resistance against their governance. In one such video, she urged viewers to "read the newspapers" and accused the Indian government under BJP leadership of "looting the people," while using to denounce policies she linked to anti-Sikh bias. By August 13, 2019, Hard Kaur escalated her rhetoric in a video shared on , directly targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister with abusive language, accusing them of exploiting citizens for personal gain and challenging them to address grievances over Punjab's autonomy and Khalistan-related demands. The video, which included pro-Khalistan slogans and threats from supporters, led to the immediate suspension of her account on August 14, 2019, following complaints of and derogatory content against national leaders. These statements were contextualized by Hard Kaur as defenses of Sikh rights amid perceived government overreach, though critics, including BJP affiliates, viewed them as seditious propaganda blending personal invective with separatist advocacy. No further public attacks on specific Indian political figures have been widely documented post-2019, with her activity shifting toward broader Khalistan endorsements abroad. In June 2019, an FIR was registered against Hard Kaur in under sections 124A (), 153A (promoting enmity between groups), 500 (), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), along with section 66 of the Information Technology Act, following a complaint by local lawyer Shashank Shekhar over her posts targeting Chief Minister and () chief . The posts accused the of involvement in the 2008 murder of Anti-Terrorism Squad chief during the attacks and labeled Adityanath a "terrorist", prompting allegations of inciting disaffection against the state. No followed immediately, as Hard Kaur resides in the , and the case remained pending without reported resolution as of late 2025. Subsequent actions amplified scrutiny: in July 2019, she publicly endorsed the "Referendum 2020" campaign by the designated terrorist group , posting videos declaring "Khalistan Zindabad" alongside pro-separatist figures, which drew further accusations of secessionist advocacy. In August 2019, videos abusing Prime Minister and Home Minister led to the suspension of her account for violating platform policies on abusive behavior. These incidents did not result in additional formal charges but intensified calls for legal action against her under anti-terrorism frameworks. Public backlash in India was swift and widespread, with media outlets and commentators decrying her statements as seditious and anti-national, particularly amid heightened sensitivities over Khalistan separatism and cross-border terrorism. Supporters of Sikh independence, however, praised her vocal stance, viewing it as resistance against perceived Indian state oppression. Hard Kaur dismissed critics as "haters" in social media retorts, framing her comments as free speech against political agendas, though this elicited further online condemnation for evading accountability. The episodes contributed to her professional isolation in India, with event organizers and collaborators distancing themselves to avoid association with controversy.

Discography and Output

Albums and EPs

Hard Kaur's early recording career began with the EP Voodoo Hill, released in 1997 on Wiz Kid Records as a CD single featuring four tracks: "Voodoo (Edit)", "Countdown (Jungle)", "The Hill", and "Voodoo (Freak Mix)". This release marked her initial foray into hip-hop production, drawing from UK bhangra and jungle influences during her time in Birmingham. Her debut studio album, Supawoman, was issued in 2007 by in as a CD containing 15 tracks. The album, released on October 2, emphasized self-empowerment themes through hip-hop fused with Punjabi and lyrics, including standout tracks like "The Legend" that introduced her persona. Following a five-year gap, Hard Kaur released her second studio album, P.L.A.Y. - Party Loud All Year, on October 15, 2012, comprising 10 tracks focused on high-energy party anthems. All songs were written and composed by her, with collaborations including and Lehmber Hussainpuri, and it was produced in partnership with . No additional full-length studio albums or EPs followed, with subsequent output shifting toward singles, mixtapes, and soundtrack contributions.
TitleTypeRelease DateLabelTracks
Voodoo HillEP1997Wiz Kid Records4
SupawomanAlbumOctober 2, 200715
P.L.A.Y. - Party Loud All YearAlbumOctober 15, 201210

Singles and Compilations

Hard Kaur's early singles output was limited, beginning with the EP/single "Voodoo Hill" released in 1997 on Wiz Kid Records, marking her initial foray into recording as a British-based Punjabi rapper. Her breakthrough came with "Glassy" in 2007, a track that gained prominence through its association with Bollywood and helped propel her visibility in the desi hip-hop scene. In the and , Hard Kaur shifted toward independent digital singles, releasing several via streaming platforms, including "POISON" and "Slow Motion" in 2019, "Jaaga All Night" in 2019, "Aunty Dance Kar" around the same period, "" on May 31, 2017, and "Meri Baggi Mera Ghoda (BKL)" in 2024. These tracks often blended Punjabi folk elements with trap and hip-hop beats, reflecting her evolution toward accessible, party-oriented releases. Regarding compilations, Hard Kaur has appeared on soundtrack albums functioning as multi-artist collections, such as the original motion picture soundtrack in 2009, contributing to its eclectic mix of Bollywood tracks. She also featured on soundtrack in 2018, another compilation-style release tying into film promotion. No standalone compilation albums under her name were identified in primary discography sources, with her output prioritizing albums, EPs, and direct-to-digital singles over curated collections.

Reception and Legacy

Artistic Achievements and Barriers Broken

Hard Kaur, born Taran Kaur Dhillon, pioneered female representation in Indian hip-hop as the first woman to establish a prominent career in the genre within India. Beginning her rapping in 1994–1995, she faced significant barriers in a male-dominated industry where few women pursued hip-hop, attributing much of her early struggles to her gender. Her debut EP, Voodoo Hill, released in 1997, marked an early milestone in introducing desi hip-hop elements fused with Punjabi influences to broader audiences. In 2008, she received nominations for Best Urban Act and Best Female Act at the UK Asian Music Awards, winning the latter and affirming her status as a leading female artist in Asian urban music. Hard Kaur further broke ground by blending hip-hop with Bollywood playback singing, contributing to the genre's mainstream integration in India through high-energy performances and collaborations. By 2017, she released The Rising - Mixtape Vol. 1, described as the largest hip-hop mixtape in Indian history at the time, and won Best India Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards for it, highlighting her enduring impact on elevating Indian rap globally. These achievements underscored her role in challenging gender norms and cultural expectations in hip-hop, paving the way for subsequent female artists in the desi scene.

Criticisms of Style, Politics, and Career Trajectory

Hard Kaur's rap style has been critiqued for lacking , with informal commentary describing it as stagnant amid the rapid changes in global hip-hop. During live performances, she has faced accusations of disrespect toward cultural norms; for instance, at a fashion show, she reportedly pointed at a Sikh audience member and made an objectionable remark about his beard, prompting backlash for offending Sikh sentiments. Newspaper reports from an earlier event similarly detailed her insulting male by mocking their traditional turbans and beards, actions interpreted as dismissive of religious attire and contributing to perceptions of her style as confrontational or culturally insensitive. Her political positions, particularly vocal advocacy for Khalistan separatism and harsh rhetoric against Indian leaders, have elicited strong condemnation for fostering division and extremism. In June 2019, Hard Kaur posted content on social media abusing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, labeling Bhagwat a "racist murderer" accountable for attacks like the 2008 Mumbai assaults and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which resulted in sedition and defamation charges filed against her in Lucknow court. Critics, including Indian authorities and nationalist outlets, have argued these statements promote anti-national sentiment and align with pro-Pakistan elements, with her pattern of targeting Hindu organizations seen as selectively inflammatory. In August 2019, a video surfaced showing her alongside Khalistan supporters using expletives against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, leading to her Twitter account's suspension for violating platform policies on abusive behavior. Regarding her career trajectory, Hard Kaur has encountered professional hurdles linked to creative constraints and political fallout, contributing to periods of reduced output. She withdrew from Bollywood compositions after producers prioritized commercial viability over her artistic vision, stating in that experimentation ceased, limiting her to formulaic tracks. By February 2017, amid frustrations with industry double standards and personal struggles, she announced intentions to retire from music by year's end, though she later released limited material. The 2019 controversies exacerbated this, with legal cases and diminishing her mainstream presence in , where her separatist advocacy alienated collaborators and audiences favoring apolitical ; subsequent activity has been sporadic, confined largely to niche or overseas engagements.

References

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  35. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7173340/fullcredits/
  36. https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/hard-kaur/filmography/playback-singers/
  37. https://www.chiloka.com/celebrity/hard-kaur
  38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJI7dhplCTk
  39. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rapper-hard-kaur-joins-banned-sfj-s-referendum-drive/story-wT6fjt4wV0FdnguwfHeLwJ.html
  40. https://www.opindia.com/2019/07/hard-kaur-pro-khalistan-referendum-2020-sikhs-for-justice/
  41. https://scroll.in/latest/930930/rapper-hard-kaur-supports-khalistani-group-says-minorities-fed-up-of-indian-government
  42. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/punjab/rapper-hard-kaur-supports-khalistan-campaign-run-by-banned-sfj-804060/
  43. https://sikhsforjustice.org/news/month-after-sedition-case-rapper-hard-kaur-joins-pro-khalistan-movement-backs-referendum-2020
  44. http://www.indiablooms.com/phoenix/public/news/rapper-hard-kaurs-twitter-account-suspended-after-she-posts-videos-supporting-khalistan-movement/details
  45. https://hindupost.in/news/know-these-pro-khalistan-punjabi-singers-artists/
  46. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sedition-case-against-rapper-hard-kaur-over-remarks-against-yogi-adityanath-mohan-bhagwat-5790706/
  47. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sedition-case-against-hard-kaur-over-comments-on-yogi-adityanath-rss-2056347
  48. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/uk-based-singer-hard-kaur-booked-for-her-remarks-against-bhagwat-yogi/articleshow/69862224.cms
  49. https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/rapper-hard-kaur-booked-for-sedition-over-online-remarks-against-adityanath-bhagwat-119062000489_1.html
  50. https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/celebrity/story/bjp-chitrapat-union-files-complaint-against-hard-kaur-1552950-2019-06-20
  51. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6VV2GB3LSg
  52. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/news/hard-kaur-to-pm-modi-and-amit-shah-you-use-people-for-your-personal-agenda/articleshow/70655314.cms
  53. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rapper-hard-kaurs-twitter-account-suspended-for-posts-on-pm-amit-shah-2084824
  54. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/hard-kaur-s-twitter-account-suspended-for-derogatory-remarks-against-pm-modi-shah/story-A4qiGBnKIniGp2MeJv0RGN.html
  55. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/punjab/hard-kaur-shares-abusive-video-targeting-modi-shah-817863/
  56. https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/hard-kaur-shares-video-with-khalistan-supporterss-threat-challenges-amit-shah-narendra-modi-7153981.html
  57. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/twitter-suspends-hard-kaurs-account-after-her-abusive-post-on-pm-narendra-modi-and-union-home-minister-amit-shah/articleshow/70659803.cms
  58. https://www.opindia.com/2019/08/hard-kaur-abuses-modi-shah-khalistan-sikhs-for-justice/
  59. https://www.opindia.com/2019/06/hard-kaur-taran-kaur-dhillon-anti-hindu-posts-against-rss-mohan-bhagwat-yogi-adityanath/
  60. https://www.discogs.com/release/3370089-Hard-Kaur-Voodoo-Hill
  61. https://www.indulgexpress.com/culture/music/2018/Oct/05/indian-rapper-hard-kaur-talks-about-women-empowerment-and-the-evolution-of-rap-music-in-india-10522.html
  62. https://www.discogs.com/release/8578946-Hard-Kaur-Supawoman
  63. https://musicbrainz.org/release/35f4cfa7-2ef4-4367-9d85-775dffa58e5c
  64. https://www.last.fm/music/Hard%2BKaur/Supawoman
  65. https://www.last.fm/music/Hard%2BKaur/P.L.A.Y%2B-%2BParty%2BLoud%2BAll%2BYear
  66. https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/p.l.a.y-party-loud-all-year/AFL4YZEseuQ_
  67. https://bollyspice.com/hard-kaur-releases-her-long-awaited-second-album-p-l-a-y-on-bigg-boss/
  68. https://www.discogs.com/artist/816308-Hard-Kaur
  69. https://music.apple.com/us/artist/hard-kaur/250597627
  70. https://www.qobuz.com/au-en/interpreter/hard-kaur/290862
  71. https://musicboard.app/artist/hard-kaur/releases
  72. https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/music/020617/rapping-is-not-for-faint-hearted-girls-hard-kaur.html
  73. https://madamerap.com/en/beyond-the-boys-club-the-journey-of-women-in-indian-rap/
  74. https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/hard-kaur-wins-best-india-act-at-mtv-europe-music-awards-2017-4208831.html
  75. https://sikhsiyasatnews.net/rapper-hard-kaur-hurts-sikh-feelings-turns-abusive-at-chandigarh-fashion-show/
  76. https://academic.oup.com/ccc/article/8/1/20/3979282
  77. https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/derogatory-remarks-against-modi-shah-hard-kaur-s-twitter-account-suspended/story-X6smOjD6HahAqAKo9JjEQN.html
  78. https://www.news18.com/news/movies/heres-why-rapper-hard-kaur-has-been-away-from-bollywood-all-these-years-2049493.html
  79. https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/hindi/2017/Feb/10/ek-glassy-rapper-hard-kaur-to-retire-after-2017-1569159.html
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