EXCLUSIVE: Amaal Mallik Confesses He Would’ve QUIT Music Has Sooraj Dooba Not Happen; Reveals His Badrinaath Ki Dulhaaniya Song Was Cut Days Before Release

Amaal Mallik is a versatile Indian music composer, singer, and songwriter known for his fresh, heartfelt, and contemporary musical style. Born into a family with a rich musical heritage. He has successfully blended tradition with modernity, creating a signature sound that resonates with audiences. He made his Bollywood debut as a composer with Jai Ho (2014) and quickly rose to fame with hit songs from films like M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, Badrinath Ki Dulhania, and Kabir Singh.

Beyond Bollywood, Amaal has made a mark in the independent music scene. Collaborating with leading artists and experimenting with different genres. With his emotive compositions and innovative approach, he continues to redefine the sound of contemporary Indian music. In an exclusive interview, Amaal talks about how his songs were rejected.

Amaal Mallik On Almost Quitting Music

In an exclusive chat with Bollywood Bubble, Amaal Mallik shares an anecdote about this early songs and how he almost quit the industry. He says, “Ha Sooraj Dooba hai, aisa hi ek gaana tha mera star song bhi hai woh. If it wouldn’t have happened, I would have quit music. Maine Jai Ho bhi ki thi but, maine phir 1 saal tak…. I went back to being an assistant after debuting in that film and nowhere I was getting a chance. Jingles me bhi wapas gaya toh jagah bhar gaayi thi. Literally, MCOM wapas padhne laga main, and woh books leke main T-Series ke bahar jaata hai and Vishesh Films where it was my dream.” (Sooraj Dooba Hai was my breakthrough song—if it hadn’t happened, I would have quit music. After Jai Ho, I struggled for a year, went back to assisting, and even tried jingles, but found no space. I even started studying for my M.Com again while standing outside T-Series and Vishesh Films, hoping for a chance.)

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He continued, “Mukesh Ji and Bhatt Sahab… yahi jagah pe ek chance mil sakta tha. But yeh joh ek journey rahi hai gaane ki, yeh gaane maine 30-40 logo ko sunaya and I don’t know how it was Bhushan Kumar’s ears. I would say that he heard the melody… aur uss time par industry ne backtrack le liya tha, Honey Singh because of his health and Pritam Da was very busy so when I went to meet these guys they would say, ‘We want a dance track.’ But yeh ek aise melody thi joh EDM, guitar pe sunnlo toh you will connect in every way to Sooraj Dooba Hai.” (Mukesh Ji and Bhatt Sahab were my only hope for a chance. I played Sooraj Dooba Hai for 30-40 people, but Bhushan Kumar saw its potential. With Honey Singh on a break and Pritam Da busy, the industry wanted a dance track. But this melody stood out—it could connect as EDM or even on a guitar.)

When Asked About His Other Songs

He said, “Aur Main Rahoon Ya Naa Raahon me bhi maine 2-3 filmo ko pitch kiya tha. I feel like that song is me, log mujhe shayad wahi gaane se yaad rakhe and it’s a tribute to my grandfather. So har gaane ka aapna hi ek destiny hai.” (I pitched Main Rahoon Ya Na Rahoon to 2-3 films, but I feel that song truly represents me. People might remember me for it, and it’s also a tribute to my grandfather. Every song has its own destiny.)

He continued, “Even in Badrinaath Ki Dulhaaniya, Roke Na Ruka Naina last moment film se hat gaya tha. Trailer ke 2 raat pehele mujhe phone aya ki yeh film me nahi rahega and 1 saal kaam kiya tha maine gaane pe with Kumaar Sir, Arijit had sung it, koi aise reason nahi thi that it should stay. Film lambi ho rahi thi and kuch cheeze but it found it’s way, kuch cheeze idhar-udhar hoti hai. I think hum sab were trying to do their creative best.” (In Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Roke Na Ruke Naina was dropped just two nights before the trailer release. I had worked on it for a year with Kumaar Sir, and Arijit had sung it, but the film was getting long, so changes were made. Still, the song found its way—sometimes, things just shift creatively.)

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Interview transcribed & written by Harsh Nargolkar

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Amaal Mallik Admits There’s Pay Disparity Even For Musicians In The Industry; Says, “Anirudh Ravichandar Is The Only Composer To Charge 10-15 Cr For An Album”