Indian rapper, singer, and music producer Yo Yo Honey Singh opened up about the darkest phase of his life during a recent appearance on a podcast, revealing that bipolar disorder and drug addiction nearly destroyed him at the peak of his fame. He also shared how Indian stars Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar gave him a major wake-up call about mental health and addiction.

Speaking about the height of his career, Singh recalled how success came at the time his mental health began to collapse. “I was at my peak in 2013 and 2014. I was sick for a very long time, for seven years and I had lost hope that I’ll ever be back to my senses,” he said.

The rapper also reflected on the influence of Bollywood stars who, despite their fame, managed to live disciplined and grounded lives. “People like Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar – they are such simple people, there is no darkness in them,” he stated.

Singh also discussed conversations he had with Shah Rukh Khan, saying he “told me many times, ‘this is going to spoil you, finish you, and destroy you.’”

Describing the severity of his condition, the rapper said he isolated himself for years and completely withdrew from public life. “I was in a room locked up, self-locked up. Not talking, not meeting anybody, away from the internet, away from running information on the radio or media,” he revealed.

He also explained that his breakdown happened while he was juggling several massive projects at once. “I was doing a world tour with Shah Rukh Khan, I was doing my television reality show and I was putting out a Punjabi film, so everything was happening perfectly. I was Yo Yo Honey Singh, the biggest pop star of India at that time,” he said, adding, “Then I got stuck getting symptoms of bipolar disorder.”

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Singh credited faith, relationships and spiritual healing for helping him recover despite having considered himself an atheist for most of his life. He also spoke about raising awareness regarding mental health and substance abuse in India.

“My biggest dream project is to build a mental health hospital in India,” the rapper said. Addressing the growing drug crisis, he added, “Drugs are taking over in India, especially in Punjab. I want to be an example for people. I did it and got a second chance — you may not.”

Reflecting on his musical journey, Singh revealed that he initially never wanted to become a singer or rapper. “I always wanted to be a music producer, not a rapper or singer. My greatest inspiration is AR Rahman, he is the greatest composer,” he said, recalling that he first listened to Rahman’s music at the age of 10.

Sharing the story behind his breakthrough hit Brown Rang, Singh revealed that his friend encouraged him to go solo. “I said I wanted to be seen as India’s first Punjabi artist going international, and then I picked Dubai,” he recalled, adding that he spent $60,000 on the music video for the song.

The gamble paid off. “Brown Rang was the biggest song in India at that time, and it changed my life,” Singh stated.

Explaining the meaning behind his stage name, the rapper said, “Honey is my name. My mother gave it to me and Singh is my Father’s name, so we used to put Honey Singh.” He added, “For Brown Rang, I felt I had to add something extra, so I added the slang ‘Yo Yo,’ which means ‘all yours.’”

From battling bipolar disorder and addiction to rebuilding his life and career, Singh’s story stands as a reminder of the importance of mental health awareness, recovery and second chances.