Shah Rukh doesn't get involved in film's music, Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan do ‘100% mehnat', reveals Amaal Malik

Indian Express

08-07-2025

Singer and music director Amaal Mallik recently shared in an interview that while actors like Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan are actively involved in the music of their films, Shah Rukh Khan typically listens to the tracks just once. He also drew a comparison between Bollywood and the South Indian film industry, stating that the former often shows a lack of respect toward music composers.
During a conversation with Radio Mirchi Plus, Amaal stated that it's easier to work with senior actors than the younger generation. 'With senior actors, it's easy because they know what music works on them. Shah Rukh gets less involved in music. He leaves it to the director, vo sirf sunte hain thoda (he just listens briefly). Akshay sir 100% mehnat karte hain apne music par (Akshay sir puts in 100% effort into his music). Salman Khan too. But with Akshay, there's an understanding to experiment, he isn't stuck in his era,' he shared.
The singer added, 'Newer guys are stuck, they don't know who to relate with. There's no particular name, but all new actors. They are in such self doubt that they are not able to do good work. They are so confused. It's like sabzi mandi for them – sabse gaane le lo. Sit and listen to them with your management team at night. Vo sab bheed hai, music mein jitni kam deciding bheed ho utna acha hai (That's all just a crowd; the fewer people deciding in music, the better).'
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Amaal Malik also complained about the hierarchy process for a music composer in the industry. 'Music composer yahan par hai. Uske upar label (Above it is the music label). Above that there's the producer. They also have four supervisors to give advice. Then there's executive producer from production side to tell what kind of songs they want. Hero, heroine, their teams, choreographer, fir film ke director se baat horahi hai (after that, discussions are held with the film's director),' he revealed.
Amaal continued, 'Itna door rakha hai composer ko director se (They've kept the composer so far away from the director), there are so many levels between us. Directors are also not able to fight this trail. Beech wale karne hi nahi denge (The middlemen just won't let it happen). Jab tak aap Pritam da, Rahman sir ke level par nahi ho, toh yahi hota hai (Until you're at the level of Pritam da or Rahman sir, this is what happens). No one knows whose song will get selected in the film.'
The 'Kar Gayi Chull' singer also said that a hero can cancel any song if he wants. 'If at night, the hero is not finding the composer's song relevant, agar kisi ne boldiya acha nahi hai (if someone says it's not good), he can call the label and say 'remove him'. They take someone else's song. We sometimes get to know that our song wasn't taken after the movie's release.'
'There's no respect of music directors in the industry. South film industry have been giving that since 20 years. Udhar bhagwaan jaisa treatment hai (There we are treated like gods). Bollywood only does this, it's ego massage. Udhar kaam ki kadar hai; idhar maska maarne ki kadar zyada hai (Over there, work is valued; over here, buttering people up is valued more). People like me can't stay in the industry forever. There's nothing to prove here. Film industry pehle apne pairon par khud toh khadi ho (Let the film industry first stand on its own feet before anything else). Main music se kitna hi bacha lunga, films aren't working at all,' Amaal Malik concluded.