Nishant Mukta, a hip-hop artist based in Patna, Bihar, is reaching a wider audience with "UP Wali Laiki," a Bhojpuri pop track from I-Popstar Season 2. The song's performance video, uploaded by Saregama Music on Saturday (October 3), crossed 2.5 million YouTube views within three days of its release.
The track has also found a second life on Instagram, where users have built reels, dance videos, and lifestyle edits around its chorus, "UP Wali Laiki Se Pyar Ho Gayil." The line, which translates to "I have fallen in love with the girl from UP," is short and repetitive enough to work in short-form video, which has helped carry the song beyond Bhojpuri music's usual audience.
From Patna's Hip-Hop Scene
Mukta's interest in music began in 11th grade, when he learned guitar with help from his brother, Bibek,. He later moved toward rap and hip-hop, becoming part of Patna's underground music scene and building a following with tracks such as "Pandi Ji," "Bihari Babu Se," and "Bihar Wale."
Those songs leaned heavily on his Bihar roots, a thread that carries into "UP Wali Laiki." Over time, Mukta began experimenting with regional sounds and more accessible pop formats, the shift that led to his appearance on I-Popstar.
The Song Behind the Views
"UP Wali Laiki" was released on Tuesday (September 29) as part of I-Popstar: Vol. 2 | Episode 2 under Saregama. Mukta is credited as the song's singer, composer, and lyricist, with Shamir Tandon as music director, according to the credits on Saregama's YouTube upload.
The song pairs a Bhojpuri-language hook with modern pop and hip-hop production. Lyrically, it follows a narrator from Patna who falls for a girl from Uttar Pradesh, playing on the cultural closeness between the two neighboring states.
Mukta has reportedly said that he created the genre and calls it "Bhojipop." The label reflects how the song keeps its regional identity while aiming at a younger, digital-first audience rather than listeners of traditional Bhojpuri music.
A Wider Stage for Regional Pop
I-Popstar is a reality series focused on emerging pop artists, with Saregama releasing each episode's performances as music.
Mukta's rise reflects how regional music is increasingly finding listeners through reels, shorts, and creator-driven trends rather than traditional promotion. For an artist who started in Patna's underground circuit, a single chorus has now carried his sound to a national audience.
"UP Wali Laiki" is out now on all streaming platforms.
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i-popstar
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Bhojpuri Music
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Nishant Mukta
