‘Please don’t sensationalise’: Amaal Mallik on estrangement from family and depression diagnosis; how to deal with family turmoil

"It's taken a lot for me to open up & it is a very tough time for me... I will always love my family, but for now, from afar," Amaal wrote.

By: Lifestyle Desk
New Delhi | Updated: March 23, 2025 05:41 PM IST

3 min read

Amaal Mallik opens up about depression, family estrangement, and his relationship with Armaan Mallik (Source: Amaal Mallik/Instagram)

Singer-composer Amaal Mallik has opened up about his struggles with clinical depression and family estrangement, a revelation that quickly gained attention on social media. However, after receiving overwhelming public response, he deleted his original post and issued a new statement urging media outlets to respect his family’s privacy.

Taking to Instagram, Amaal Mallik thanked fans for their support but requested the media to avoid negative headlines that could further complicate an already difficult situation.

“Thank you for the love and support, it truly means a lot, but I would request the media portals not to harass my family… Please don’t sensationalise and give negative headlines to my vulnerability… It’s taken a lot for me to open up & it is a very tough time for me… I will always love my family, but for now, from afar. Nothing changes between us brothers, Armaan and I are one, and nothing can come between us. Love & Peace,” said Amaal Mallik in his story.

His words reassured fans that his bond with brother Armaan Mallik remains strong despite ongoing family tensions.

Taking to Instagram, Amaal Mallik thanked fans for their support but requested the media to avoid negative headlines that could further complicate an already difficult situation. (Source: Amaal Mallik/Instagram)

What did Amaal say in the now-deleted post?

Before this statement, Amaal had shared a deeply personal post, where he spoke about his mental health struggles and a strained relationship with his brother, attributing it to his parents’ influence.

“The journey has been terrific for both of us but the actions of my parents have been the reason we as brothers have gone too far from one another… I am clinically depressed because of these happenings. My self-worth has been diminished countless times by the actions of near and dear ones that stole pieces of my soul.”

In his deleted post, Amaal also mentioned feeling undervalued despite composing over 126 songs in a decade, and how his mental well-being had been repeatedly affected by family conflicts.

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In a career spanning a decade, Armaan Malik has collaborated with brother Amaal Mallik on songs like “Bol Do Na Zara,” “Jab Tak,” “Main Rahoon Ya Na Rahoon,” and more (Instagram/@amaal_mallik)

How to deal with family turmoil

According to counselling psychologist Srishti Vatsa, family conflicts—especially in high-profile families—can be mentally exhausting.

“Fame and success can shift power dynamics within a family, leading to unspoken emotions like jealousy and feelings of inadequacy. The person at the center of it all often feels lonely and emotionally cut off. In India, family expectations are deeply ingrained, making it difficult to set boundaries or walk away guilt-free,” explains Vatsa.

She suggests three key strategies to navigate family turmoil:

Build a trusted support network outside the family.
Limit interactions when necessary.
Manage expectations to avoid unnecessary emotional distress.

While Amaal continues to focus on his music, his emotional revelation has started an important conversation on mental health, family expectations, and personal boundaries—subjects rarely spoken about in India’s entertainment industry.

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