Amaal Mallik reveals how his surname worked against him in early career

Music composer and Amaal Mallik, who recently emerged as a finalist on Bigg Boss 19, opened up about the lesser-known struggles that shaped his journey in the film industry.

Despite belonging to a well-known musical family, Amaal revealed that his surname often became a hurdle rather than an advantage during his formative years.

Also Read: Bigg Boss 19 opens new doors for Amaal Mallik as acting offers pour in from the South

My Surname Worked Against Me

In a candid interview with Pinkvilla, Amaal spoke about facing prejudice because of his family background. He shared that while working as an assistant early in his career, he was often removed from jobs once people discovered his surname.

“Wherever I got a job as an assistant, the moment they found out that my surname was Mallik, they would remove me from the job… ‘Oh, he’s from that family, he might sell out our music,’ or whatever,” Amaal revealed, adding that there was a constant sense of suspicion around him.

He further said that this bias also affected his brother, singer Armaan Malik. “So it actually worked against me and my brother,” Amaal noted, explaining how assumptions about legacy often overshadowed their individual talent and hard work.

A Decade of Struggle That Built Resilience

Reflecting on his early years, Amaal described the decade between the ages of 15 and 25 as the most difficult yet transformative phase of his life. He recalled facing repeated challenges, obstacles, and rejection during that time.

“From the age of 15 to 25, what I saw in 10 years… all those struggles, all those difficulties, all those obstacles happened at the earliest stages of my life,” he said. Rather than viewing it negatively, Amaal believes those early hardships helped him build emotional strength, discipline, and clarity about his craft.

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Hustling Behind the Scenes Before Recognition

Contrary to popular belief, Amaal stressed that he was never handed opportunities easily. As a teenager, he worked behind the scenes as an assistant and even took up runner jobs, carrying hard disks for post-production work just to earn money and stay connected to the industry.

These experiences, he says, taught him humility and perseverance, reinforcing the idea that legacy alone does not guarantee success. According to Amaal, proving oneself consistently is essential, regardless of background.

On the professional front, Amaal Mallik was recently seen as a contestant on Bigg Boss 19, where he finished among the top five finalists. The season was eventually won by actor Gaurav Khanna.