Alka Yagnik, one of India’s most celebrated playback singers, has lent her melodious voice to over 20,000 songs in a career spanning more than four decades. Known for her versatility, she has delivered
chart-topping hits across romantic ballads, soulful ghazals and energetic dance numbers, becoming the voice behind countless Bollywood heroines. While Alka Yagnik’s songs have touched millions, her personal life has its own dramatic twists – including a marriage that has been long-distance for decades.
How Alka Yagnik Met Her Husband Neeraj Kapoor
Back in 1989, Alka married businessman Neeraj Kapoor, a man she had known through family connections. “My husband Neeraj Kapoor is a businessman. He has a house in Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya. We already had family connections. Neeraj’s aunt was my mother’s classmate. I call her mausi. Neeraj is mausi’s nephew. We first met at his house. We both fell in love,” she said in a Doordarshan interview.
The challenge was that Neeraj lived in Shillong while Alka’s career was rooted in Mumbai. Her parents initially opposed the match, convinced that living apart would make the marriage impossible.
Alka Yagnik Marriage, Career and Distance from Husband
Despite the concerns, the couple insisted on marrying. “We insisted on getting married. Seeing the insistence of both of us, the family members gave in and we got married,” she recalled. They initially planned to split time between Shillong and Mumbai, but Alka’s career exploded soon after. “Then my career suddenly progressed so fast that it became impossible for me to go away from Mumbai for even a day.”
The physical distance also left its mark emotionally. “My husband always says that I am lucky for your career but unlucky for mine. It was my mistake. I had promised him,” Alka admitted.
Alka revealed they married just two months after falling in love. “We used to talk on the phone at night. When the huge bill came, my mother caught hold of it. However, it was too late by then. I had decided that I had to marry Neeraj only.”
Today, the couple remains married but has spent most of their lives in different cities. “We have lived in different cities all our lives. Sometimes there is such a gap between us that it takes two-four days to know and understand each other. Many times I feel that I could have spent more time with my husband,” she said, crediting Neeraj’s support as a big factor in her success.
