In an incredibly raw and candid conversation on the ABtalks podcast hosted by Anas Bukhash, Indian music sensation Yo Yo Honey Singh has opened up about the gruelling physical and mental toll of his long-term struggle with bipolar disorder. The rapper, who dominated the Indian pop music scene in the early 2010s, provided a detailed account of his “darkest years,” revealing that his battle involved a seven-year period of severe isolation and heavy medical treatment that left him physically unrecognizable.
Honey Singh described the onset of his illness as happening at the absolute peak of his fame in 2014, while he was juggling a music reality show in Mumbai and an international concert tour with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
He recalled feeling an overwhelming sense of paranoia and a terrifying conviction that he was going to die. This fear became so debilitating that, in a moment of extreme distress, he even shaved half of his head, hoping it would help him escape his stage commitments. Despite his internal turmoil, he struggled to communicate his condition to those around him, eventually leaving a performance midway.
Following that period of peak fame, the rapper withdrew from public life entirely for nearly seven years. He described a state of debilitating fear where he locked himself indoors, avoiding not just the public eye but also his closest childhood friends.
“I didn’t want my fans to see me in that condition,” Singh confessed. “There was no communication, no phone calls, no TV, no internet. People used to think the devil was talking to me.” He further explained that by 2018–19, his mental state had deteriorated to the point where he genuinely believed he was already dead, living in a limbo between heaven and hell.
One of the most startling revelations from the podcast was the physical impact of the heavy psychiatric medications he was prescribed for seven years. Singh explained that while the medication was intended to stabilize his bipolar disorder, it caused significant side effects.
“I was on heavy medication for seven years. I became 105 kilos because of it, and I lost my hair completely,” he stated candidly. Addressing public speculation about his appearance, he clarified, “This is fake hair; I am totally bald. This is a wig.”
The rapper shared that the turning point in his recovery journey occurred when he finally changed his medical team and treatment plan. After years of being on a medication regimen that he felt was not working, his new doctor adjusted his dosage and introduced different salts.
The results were transformative. “I started recovering within four weeks,” he said. “In just four weeks, I started meeting people and facing life again.” Despite officially quitting substance use in 2014, he emphasized that the road to recovery was arduous, spanning seven to eight years before he felt like himself again.
Today, Honey Singh views his life through a different lens. While the recovery process was exhausting, he expresses gratitude that his illness occurred in his early 30s, giving him enough time to rebuild his career and his life. He continues to perform and create music, sharing his story now as a testament to the fact that healing—while slow and painful—is possible.
His story serves as a reminder of the often invisible battles fought by public figures and highlights the critical importance of mental health awareness, proper medical support, and the patience required for genuine recovery.
