Music composer Amaal Mallik has made public allegations that his uncle, veteran composer Anu Malik, repeatedly sabotaged the career of his own brother, Daboo Malik. In a recent interview, Amaal detailed how professional rivalry and jealousy within the family led to what he described as a pattern of betrayal and career setbacks for his father.
Amaal Mallik, son of Daboo Malik, described the relationship between his father and Anu Malik as emotionally intense but professionally fraught. While the brothers appeared inseparable in public, Amaal claimed that Anu Malik was “overly competitive” and driven by a need to be recognised as the best composer in the family. According to Amaal, this ambition led Anu Malik to actively undermine Daboo’s opportunities in the Hindi film industry.
He alleged that Anu Malik would approach film producers who had already signed Daboo Malik for projects and offer to compose music for a lower fee or even for free, thereby taking away his brother’s work. Amaal cited the example of the film ‘Murder’, where he claimed Daboo was about to be signed on as the music director before Anu Malik intervened and secured the project for himself. Amaal stated, “Every time my dad got a movie, he would go and snatch his work from the producers by offering to work for little money or even free.”
The accusations did not stop with Anu Malik. Amaal also claimed that other industry figures, notably the composer duo Sajid-Wajid, played a role in marginalising Daboo Malik’s career. He described his father as “too naïve” to retaliate against these manoeuvres and said that repeated betrayals by both family and friends in the industry left Daboo Malik professionally isolated.
Amaal explained that witnessing these events as a child left a lasting impact on him. He said his father’s struggles and the lack of recognition for his work motivated him to carve out his own path in music, determined to prove himself and bring honour to his father’s name. He recounted how Daboo Malik, despite composing for at least seventy films, was often overshadowed and referred to simply as “Anu Malik’s brother”, which Amaal found deeply unfair.
The revelations come amid broader discussions about family dynamics and professional rivalries within Bollywood’s music industry. Neither Anu Malik nor Sajid-Wajid have responded publicly to the allegations at the time of writing.
