Jun 21, 2026 3:20pm IST
Amaal Mallik: ‘I Don’t Want To Take Up Anything After ‘Awarapan 2’
In many ways, “Awarapan 2” marks a full-circle moment for Amaal Mallik. He calls it a “completion of a journey.” A journey, he recounted in an earlier conversation, which began at the age of 16, outside the Bhatts’ office. The music from the 2007 cult classic starring Emraan Hashmi, continues to hold a special place in listeners’ hearts and Mallik, who is composing a song for the sequel is thrilled to showcase his craft.
At the same time, he says he will approach his career very differently now. Calling the “Awarapan 2” song his answer to years of being overlooked, he says the film represents his true self. After years of navigating the highs and lows of the music world in Bollywood, the composer-singer is prioritizing creative freedom over finding fame or chasing opportunities. He is now choosing projects on his own terms and focusing on making music that resonates with him.
“I don't want to take up anything right now,” is his response to a query on what’s next after “Awarapan 2.” The “completion of a journey” line doesn’t imply a retirement from films or music. “I think I retired in 2019. So now, it's more of me just doing it my way,” he shares.
Related Stories
There’s a definite shift to looking beyond the Hindi film industry. “Every artist should start thinking about themselves. Whatever money you make, save it and invest it on yourself and your music, because that is what is going to make the film industry and audience look at you. People are not discovering music through just films and today, it's at the lowest. People today are discovering music through streaming apps, through friend recommendations, through Shazam, through random recommendations.”
He continues, “There is no rule now that a song from a movie only can come and make you a star, or from a superhit song promoted by a big label. People from random places are coming and doing some great music,” he notes, adding, “That inspires me. And I have waited for this time.”
Revealing that he took the “industry route” because of his legacy , he shares. “Those dreams were my father’s. I never cared [for this]. My dad was not well. He had a heart issue in 2009 and I was like inko kuch hone se pehle main kuch kar dikhata hoon life mein (I’ll do something with my life). Tab zariya sirf film industry thi (the film industry was the only avenue). There was no other way to become a musician. Now, it doesn't matter. Neither to the new kids, nor to me. I think I have done music in every genre that was available to an Indian musician. It takes people 30-40 years to show range. I've done it in one decade and I'm 35 years old.”
His father’s words soothed him. Mallik shares, “My father also told me, ‘I'm proud of your music. What did you want? What did you need in life? You only needed this, right? For me to be happy with what you have done? I really loved what you’ve done so far.’ He said, ‘You don't take stress. You don't feel like doing a movie, don't do it. If someone's upsetting you, bothering or disrespecting you, walk out.’ Now, this is also how I'm going to approach my life from 35 onwards because I do not need high cortisol levels. I have shouted, ranted, tweeted, said 1,000 things. Not that I'm afraid of anyone here, but mujhe aage aise kaam nahi karna hai (I don’t want to work like this).”
He adds, “I made it very clear that ‘Awarapan’ is the last song on my CV which will prove the musician I am. It can be eight years of silence from music and from the film industry, but I've kept my heart and kept my soul going on the IndiPop side, and my fans are starting to love me. I am making them love my music organically through my melodies and they are loving it with all their heart, even if it comes from a movie or doesn’t."
“The minute the ‘Awarapan’ announcement happened with Variety India, there were 20 calls from this industry,” says Amaal Mallik, “Many of them hadn’t worked with me in a long time, had removed me from many films. It’s a very sad situation. It doesn't make me happy. It makes me realize that in log kisi ke nahi hai and it's a very transient industry. And I knew it because I have seen my father be successful, be good and fail. I’ve seen my uncle [Anu Malik] debut in 1977 and then flopped in 1992. And then one ‘Baazigar’ comes. Then everyone wants his music. Then when I did one “Sooraj Dooba Hai” (from “Roy”) they all came with 40 films. Then when I went away after “Kabir Singh,” they all said. Now he's finished. This, that, Forget him. All of that emotions of the last seven, eight years of whatever I felt, is in this song."
Popular on Variety
“After ‘Awarapan,' if I feel like it, it is completely up to me. The way I have worked on it in the last year and-a-half and pitched, competed with almost 20-30 composers. It’s the biggest romantic film. It's a sequel of the cult classic of 2007. Everyone has tried for this film, and I think everyone who is in the album finally has made something special,” he says of his co-composers on the upcoming album.
“Now if those opportunities come through to me respectfully from the film industry, then I am okay to work. But if there is no understanding of my health, the timelines and advance, a contract? these things are unheard of for music directors,” he mentions, with work-life balance being top-of-mind.
He has no aspirations of seeking cyclical fame. “I have seen legends like Pritam, A.R Rahman, everyone do years of great work and then again be forgotten. Then again, be remembered again, be forgotten again, be remembered and ye sirf industry ka nahi, duniya ka dastoor hai (it's the way of the world'. But I don't want to play this game no more. This is my last ball. One ball, six runs needed. I want to hit a seven and leave,” he asserts.
As a parting shot, he offers, “If a maker has the understanding ki I want Amal Malik and I am ready to give him time. Forget the money. If you have intent and time… monies. We can always figure out. Kuch karna hai toh aapke intention achhe hone chahiye. Today I am in that position. They may have removed me from 60 movies, but I will answer them with one ‘Awarapan.’ Simple!”
Comments are moderated. They may be edited for clarity and reprinting in whole or in part in Variety publications.