Amaal Mallik says 'big boys' got him out of 60 projects, apologises to fans
Singer-composer Amaal Mallik claimed powerful people in the film and music industry pushed him out of more than 60 projects over the last eight years. In a long note on X, he revealed why audiences hear less of his music in films now.
If you have been hearing less of Amaal Mallik in films, the singer-composer says there is a reason. In a long note shared on X on Tuesday night, Mallik accused unnamed powerful figures in the film and music industry of pushing him out of more than 60 projects and said such politics has kept his music away from films for almost eight years.
Mallik also said he had walked away from 20 films because he found those working setups beneath him. Apologising to fans, he said the loss was not just his but theirs too and added that he was ready to continue with independent music even if film songs did not come to him.
What he wrote
“The big boys in powerful positions have got me out of more than 60 odd projects,” Mallik wrote. He said he had still tried to do his bit and would continue to make music and shoot videos for fans “with or without the movies.” He continued, “No regrets at all, it’s their loss,” but added that it also became a loss for his listeners, for which he was sorry.
The 35-year-old composer said he had been trying his best for the past eight years, with sincerity and "respectful terms and conditions of working", but claimed that this approach did not work in the industry. He also alleged that his refusal to hide "the truth about this place and its workings" had led to "pointless threats" to him and his family. According to him, the problem is "not just labels" and has now gone ‘beyond that’ into ‘a mixed syndicate of egoistic humans’.
Mallik did not name anyone, but said he would do so someday. He further accused people in the industry of "award-worthy politics." The singer wrote, “I will not name them today, but their time will come someday, and the lord above will show them their place. All of them are playing award-worthy politics for almost 8 years now, and that's why you hear less of my music in films."
Amaal is the son of composer Daboo Malik and the nephew of Anu Malik.
Ending his note with a message to fans, he wrote, "So mujhe maaf karo...Mera Indie music suno (Forgive me and listen to my Indie music). If a film song comes, great. If not, then don't fret.”
Recent comments on the industry
His post comes after he recently spoke about the hurdles he faced while working on Mere Dholna 3.0 for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. In an interview with Pinkvilla, Mallik said composers are often not given full freedom to choose singers.
He said he wanted Sonu Nigam for the track, while people from marketing teams and management suggested names such as Arijit Singh and Vishal Mishra. He also said composers can be replaced if their choices do not suit production teams or music labels.
Mallik said Sonu Nigam eventually recorded the song in about 45 minutes after arriving from a show in the US. He recalled his frustration at seeing “someone as legendary as Sonu Nigam” being made to prove himself. He had also spoken about earnings, saying Sooraj Dooba Hai brought substantial revenue to the label while his own share was limited to publishing rights.
Mallik made his Bollywood debut as a composer with Salman Khan’s Jai Ho in 2014 and found wider fame with Sooraj Dooba Hai from Roy the following year. He has since composed for Hero, Airlift, Kapoor & Sons, MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, Kabir Singh and Vedaa. He has also sung in several of his own soundtracks. He also emerged as one of the finalists of Bigg Boss 19.