Amaal Mallik reveals his mother faced poverty after father Daboo Malik’s career struggles: “She was left with just ₹500”

Music composer Amaal Mallik recently opened up about his family's struggles and how those challenges shaped his journey in music. In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Amaal spoke candidly about his parents’ financial hardships, especially his father Daboo Malik’s struggles in the music industry.

He recalled, “My mother went through some really tough times because nothing worked out for my dad in the industry. She would encourage us to pursue music but never as a profession. She saw the worst — at one point, she was down to her last ₹500.” Amaal reflected on how, as a 10-year-old, it was hard watching his parents’ dreams crumble and their place in the industry slip away. That experience fueled his determination to become a music composer, mostly to support his father. “Otherwise, I actually wanted to be a cricketer,” he admitted.

Amaal also shared how his mother often thought he was “foolish” for the way he spent money on music. He confessed that he frequently went over budget—if given ₹20 lakh, he’d spend ₹25 lakh; for ₹30 lakh, he’d push it to ₹35 lakh, often adding extra money from his own pocket. His mother didn’t understand why he wouldn’t save and was uncomfortable with his spending habits.

Interestingly, Amaal said that while his father is aware of his spending, he often hides his expensive dinner bills from his mother. He also revealed that many big producers delay or withhold nearly 40% of his payments. “I’m owed around ₹25 lakh in total, but it doesn’t bother me because God has been kind, and you can make that amount in one night with a good performance,” he said optimistically.