Singer-rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh has opened up about one of the darkest phases of his life, revealing how his battle with bipolar disorder left him feeling hopeless, isolated, and praying for death. The rapper, who once ruled India’s music charts, said there was a point when fame meant nothing as he struggled silently with mental health issues, addiction, and fear that completely changed his life.
In a recent conversation on the ABtalks podcast, Honey Singh spoke candidly about his years-long struggle with bipolar disorder and substance abuse. Reflecting on his lowest point, he admitted that he had surrendered completely after losing hope. “I was always a non-believer. I was always thinking that I was the one who made myself Yo Yo Honey Singh. The day I surrendered, I said to God, ‘I want something from you.’ That was death,” the singer recalled.
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Honey Singh shared that the first signs of his mental health struggles appeared when he was balancing major work commitments, including a music reality show in Mumbai and a US tour with actor Shah Rukh Khan. During that time, he began dealing with paranoia and constant fear.
“I was getting suspicious thoughts that I would die,” Honey Singh said, remembering how frightened he felt before performances. He also revealed that he shaved half of his head in an attempt to avoid going on stage. However, organisers still pushed him to perform, asking him to wear a cap.
The rapper revealed that his condition forced him into isolation for years. Speaking about that difficult period, he said, “I stayed inside my house for seven years. I didn’t want my fans to see me in that condition. I locked myself inside and didn’t even meet my childhood friends. There was no communication, no phone calls, no TV, no internet.”
Honey Singh also opened up about the physical effects of the medication he took for bipolar disorder. According to him, the treatment significantly changed his appearance. “I became 105 kilos because of it, and I lost my hair completely. This is fake hair; I am totally bald. This is a wig,” he said.
The singer shared that although he stopped using drugs in 2014, recovery took time. However, after consulting new doctors and changing medication, things slowly improved. Honey Singh revealed that he began recovering within four weeks and gradually found his way back to normal life, looking at his comeback with gratitude.
