In his much-awaited documentary Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous, the popular rapper and singer Honey Singh has opened up about his long struggle with bipolar disorder, revealing the personal turmoil he faced during a difficult period in his career. The documentary, which is now streaming on Netflix, offers an intimate look at Singh’s mental health journey, shedding light on his battle with the illness and the psychological symptoms that affected his life.
Recalling a turning point in his life, Singh shared the moments when he started experiencing alarming symptoms while on tour with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. He vividly described feeling paranoid, believing that someone was plotting against him. “I started getting suspicious symptoms that someone was staging a conspiracy against me to trap me and file a case against me. I didn’t understand what was happening,” Singh recalled, speaking candidly about his mental state during the Slam Tour.
One of the most striking moments in the documentary reveals how Singh’s condition worsened before a show in Chicago. He felt overwhelmed with dread, convinced that he might die on stage, and even went as far as to trim his hair in an attempt to avoid performing. Singh explained that rumors about Shah Rukh Khan slapping him were spread, but he quickly dismissed them, emphasizing the love and respect they shared.
As his symptoms escalated, Singh was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which caused him to experience psychotic episodes. He explained the impact of the condition on his mind: “Your mind goes out of control. You start seeing dreams while you’re awake. I used to get scared even when my maid came, thinking she’d be laughing at me.” Singh shared that during this period, he often wished for death, feeling disconnected from reality and overwhelmed by the intense emotions and thoughts he was experiencing.
The documentary also reveals how Singh withdrew from the public eye, retreating into isolation, growing his hair and beard, and spending long hours staring at the moon, which he described as an eerie and disorienting experience. “I thought I was going to die. I thought I would never meet my parents again,” Singh reflected.
Directed by Mozez Singh and produced by Guneet Monga Kapoor and Achin Jain, Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous provides a deeply personal portrayal of the artist’s life, offering viewers a glimpse into his rise to fame, his struggles, and his road to recovery. With heartfelt testimonies from his family, friends, and collaborators, the documentary highlights Singh’s journey through mental health challenges and his return to the spotlight.
