For Amaal Mallik, the excitement surrounding ‘Awarapan 2’ has little to do with landing a major film project. Instead, the composer sees the sequel as a personal victory after years of feeling sidelined by an industry he once believed would define his future. While the announcement of his involvement sparked renewed interest from filmmakers, Mallik admits it also confirmed something he had long suspected about the nature of success in Bollywood. According to Mallik, the sudden flood of phone calls following the project’s announcement was less a celebration of his talent and more a reminder of how quickly perceptions change in the entertainment business.Talking to Variety India, the musician shared, “The minute the ‘Awarapan’ announcement happened, there were 20 calls from this industry”.
Amaal Mallik’s take on success
Mallik does not hide his disappointment while discussing the industry’s shifting loyalties. He recalls how several people who had once distanced themselves from him suddenly reappeared after news of ‘Awarapan 2’ broke. “Many of them hadn’t worked with me in a long time, had removed me from many films. It’s a very sad situation.”The composer says he isn’t angry anymore. If anything, the experience has helped him understand the transient nature of fame. Growing up in a family deeply connected to music, he watched careers rise, fall and rise again.“I have seen my father be successful, be good and fail. I’ve seen my uncle debut in 1977 and then flopped in 1992. And then one ‘Baazigar’ comes. Then everyone wants his music.”He witnessed the same cycle in his own journey after songs like ‘Sooraj Dooba Hai’ from ‘Roy’ became chartbusters and later when the momentum slowed after ‘Kabir Singh’.
Why Amaal Mallik no longer wants to chase projects
Unlike earlier phases of his career, Mallik says he is no longer interested in being part of the race for visibility. In fact, when asked about future projects, his answer is surprisingly blunt. “I don’t want to take up anything right now.”The statement is not about retirement. Instead, it reflects a conscious decision to work only when he feels creatively fulfilled. “I think I retired in 2019. So now, it’s more of me just doing it my way.”Having spent years trying to fit into an ecosystem driven by deadlines, expectations and constant competition, he now prefers to invest his energy in music that speaks to him personally.Mallik believes musicians today enjoy opportunities that simply did not exist when he entered the profession. Streaming platforms, independent releases and social media have changed the rules completely.“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.”For him, this shift is liberating. Success is no longer tied to a film’s box-office performance or the backing of a major production house.“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.” He points to independent artists emerging from unexpected corners of the country and building loyal audiences on their own terms.
Why ‘Awarapan 2’ feels like a full-circle moment
The sequel holds special significance because it connects him to a musical legacy he admired as a teenager. More importantly, he sees the song as the ultimate representation of everything he has learned over the years. “I made it very clear that ‘Awarapan’ is the last song on my CV which will prove the musician I am.”For him, the project captures the frustrations, disappointments and perseverance that have defined the last several years. “All of that emotions of the last seven, eight years of whatever I felt, is in this song.”
Amaal Mallik’s final statement to the industry
Even though Mallik insists he is not chasing opportunities, he remains open to collaborations under the right circumstances. Respect, transparency and understanding, he says, are non-negotiable.“Now if those opportunities come through to me respectfully from the film industry, then I am okay to work.” At the same time, he has no interest in endlessly pursuing validation.“I have seen legends like Pritam, A. R Rahman, everyone do years of great work and then again be forgotten.” Having observed that cycle repeatedly, he believes ‘Awarapan 2’ may well be the final statement he needs to make.“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.” And if there is one message he wants the industry to hear, it is this: “They may have removed me from 60 movies, but I will answer them with one ‘Awarapan.’ Simple!”While he remains open to future opportunities, Mallik said any collaboration would depend on mutual respect, reasonable timelines and a proper understanding of an artist’s requirements. For now, his immediate focus remains on ‘Awarapan 2’, a project he has described as an important milestone in his musical journey.
