Rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh has opened up about the darkest period of his life, revealing that in 2019 he turned to God and “pleaded for death” as his physical and mental health deteriorated to a point where even doctors had given up on him.
Speaking at an event in Mumbai on Wednesday, the 43-year-old musician, known for hits like ‘Blue Eyes’, ‘Angreji Beat’, and ‘Dheere Dheere Se’, shared his journey from despair to faith, crediting divine intervention for pulling him back from the brink.
‘My condition was so bad’
“My condition was so bad that even doctors had given up. I had no hope left. That’s when I turned to God. I pleaded for death. I said, ‘Ya Allah, either take me or save me, because I cannot live like this’,” Honey Singh recalled.
The rapper, who shot to fame in the early 2010s and became one of India’s most bankable music stars, had largely retreated from public life between 2017 and 2020. During this period, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and reportedly struggled with substance abuse and severe mood swings.
At the event, Honey Singh described how his family stood by him during this difficult phase. “My family never left my side. They kept praying, kept hoping, even when I had given up. And then, slowly, things started to change.”
‘I got the purpose to live’
The rapper said that hitting rock bottom became the turning point of his life. “When you lose everything — your health, your career, your sense of self — you realise what truly matters. I got the purpose to live. Not to make money, not to be famous, but to be alive, to be healthy, to be with my family.”
Honey Singh credited his recovery to a combination of medical treatment, family support, and spiritual awakening. “I became a believer. I started praying five times a day. That connection with God gave me strength I didn’t know I had.”
He also acknowledged the role of his fans in his comeback. “They never stopped loving me. Even when I wasn’t making music, they kept playing my old songs. They kept asking, ‘Where is Honey Singh?’ That love pulled me back.”
A remarkable comeback
Since 2020, Honey Singh has staged a remarkable comeback, releasing hit singles and collaborating with major artists. In 2023, he appeared on stage with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan at the IIFA Awards. In 2025, he completed a sold-out international tour.
However, the rapper admitted that success no longer means to him what it once did. “Earlier, I wanted to be number one. I wanted to break records. Now, I just want to make music that makes people happy. And I want to stay healthy. That’s enough.”
Raising awareness about mental health
Honey Singh’s candid admission has reignited conversations about mental health in the entertainment industry, a space where vulnerability is often hidden behind glamour.
Fans and fellow artists took to social media to praise him for his honesty. One user wrote: “Honey Singh’s story is proof that no amount of fame or money can protect you from mental illness. We need to normalise talking about this.”
Another commented: “He was trolled for years. People made memes about his weight gain, his absence, his behaviour. No one asked if he was okay. This is why we need more compassion.”
The spiritual shift
At the event, Honey Singh also spoke about how his relationship with his craft has changed. “I used to make music because I had to. Now I make music because I want to. There’s a peace in the process now. There’s no anxiety, no pressure.”
He ended his speech with a message for those going through similar struggles. “If you are in that dark place, don’t give up. Turn to God. Turn to your family. It gets better. Trust me. I am living proof.”
