Amaal Mallik Opens Up About Depression, Family Struggles, and Finding Peace

Singer-composer Amaal Mallik has spoken candidly about his battle with clinical depression, the pressures of fame, and the emotional weight of growing up in the public eye. In a heartfelt interview with Siddharth Kannan, Amaal reflected on the personal struggles behind the emotional Instagram post he shared — and later deleted — in March, where he revealed his mental health diagnosis and hinted at distancing himself from his family.

Amaal admitted he had reached a breaking point, caught between the expectations of the industry and those of his own family. Despite a successful career filled with awards and accolades, he said peace always felt out of reach. “I was constantly trying to live up to something — to be who people wanted me to be — but I couldn’t keep doing that. I had to choose myself.”

He opened up about a growing disconnect with his mother, who comes from a corporate law background. “She wanted structure, and I tried. But I’m a messy, rebellious artist — I didn’t fit the mould. She’d often compare me with Armaan, and that created pressure for both of us,” Amaal said. “But we’re completely different people, doing different music, living different lives.”

The constant comparisons and demands eventually took a toll on him, leading to emotional withdrawal. “It mattered to me because it mattered to them. But I realised I had to draw a line. My personal life was being eaten up by professional expectations, and it was hurting my mental health.”

When asked if that was the moment he chose to step back from his family, Amaal confirmed it was. But he was quick to add that his relationship with his brother Armaan remains strong and unaffected.

Back in March, Amaal shared a deeply emotional Instagram post — which he later deleted — revealing his depression and how the situation had affected him. “I’ve been robbed of my peace, drained emotionally and maybe financially too — but that’s the least of my concerns,” he wrote. “I’m clinically depressed because of these happenings.” He clarified that stepping back from his family wasn’t an act of anger, but a necessary step for his healing. “From now on, my interactions with my family will be strictly professional,” he wrote, expressing his intent to protect his peace and rebuild his well-being.