Anu Malik, whose real name is Anwar Sardar Malik, is one of the most prolific composers in Hindi cinema. Born on November 2, 1960, the son of composer Sardar Malik, he has built a major career in Bollywood’s music world, with honors including a National Award and a Filmfare Award. A singer, arranger, and composer, he has written the soundtracks for many hit films. While his birth name may suggest an affiliation with Islam, linked to his paternal family heritage, his own public statements present a different religious image, one he clearly embraces.
Anu Malik has spoken about his spiritual life several times, in fairly direct terms. In an interview with The New Indian, he notably stated: “I am married to a Saraswat Brahmin girl, her name is Anjani, I am an Arya Samaji and a Krishna Bhakt.” To date, this statement remains the strongest source for describing his personal belief.
Arya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement founded in the 19th century by Swami Dayananda Saraswati. It is based on the Vedas, rejects polytheism, idol worship, and caste hierarchies, while claiming a purified and universal form of Hinduism. At the same time, Anu Malik also presents himself as a devotee of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of music and knowledge, as well as of Krishna, two important figures in the bhakti tradition. He is married to Anjali Vasudev Bhat, a Saraswat Brahmin Hindu, with whom he has two daughters, Anmol Malik and Ada Malik.
Anu Malik’s father, composer Sardar Malik, belonged to the Muslim community. This places Anu Malik among public figures whose family heritage and personal belief do not necessarily overlap. His birth name, Anwar Sardar Malik, reflects this family tradition, but his public statements indicate that he does not define himself as Muslim.
According to an opinion piece published in The Quint, Anu Malik is said to have left Islam to declare that he believes only in the principles of Arya Samaj. The same text also mentions the phrase that “music is his only religion,” a spiritual expression he readily uses to sum up his philosophy of life. However, caution is needed: the details of his religious upbringing during childhood, as well as any possible formal affiliation with Arya Samaj, have not been documented by reliable sources to date.
Anu Malik is hindu. This information has been officially confirmed.
No, Anu Malik does not identify as Muslim. Although his father, composer Sardar Malik, belonged to the Muslim community, and although his birth name—Anwar Sardar Malik—reflects this family heritage, Anu Malik himself has publicly stated his affiliation with the Arya Samaj as well as his devotion to the Hindu deities Saraswati and Krishna. Some low-reliability sites continue to present him as Muslim, but these claims contradict his own statements and are not based on any verifiable source.