Aishwarya-Abhishek-Amitabh's song 'Kajra Re' was right at the bottom: Ehsaan recalls how YRF doubted the song

In a fun and revealing chat on the YouTube channel Just Filmy Things, music maestro Ehsaan Noorani, one-third of the iconic trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, opened up about an unexpected twist in the journey of Kajra Re, one of Bollywood’s most beloved item numbers from the 2005 blockbuster Bunty Aur Babli.

Before becoming a nationwide obsession, the now-iconic track had once ranked lowest in internal evaluations by Yash Raj Films’ marketing team. As surprising as it sounds, Ehsaan shared that the team had gathered to assess which songs from the album would hit the right note with audiences and Kajra Re was brushed aside as the weakest contender.

“They did a review of the songs, and Kajra Re was right at the bottom,” Ehsaan recalled. But music has its own magic. Just four days after the song was officially released, he remembers hearing a wedding band playing the tune near the Mumbai airport. “That’s when I knew it had already started connecting with people,” he smiled.

Sung by Alisha Chinai, Shankar Mahadevan, and Javed Ali, Kajra Re had a charm like no other. The trio’s decision to bring in Chinai, then an unusual choice for a Bollywood qawwali-style track was a bold move that paid off brilliantly. With Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Aishwarya Rai lighting up the screen and Gulzar’s mischievous lyrics adding flair, the song soon transcended its initial scepticism and became a cultural phenomenon.

Bunty Aur Babli was already a vibrant mix of con jobs, romance, and small-town dreams. But it was the soundtrack, composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, that gave the film its lasting heartbeat. From Dhadak Dhadak to Nach Baliye, every song found its audience. And in time, Kajra Re became the crown jewel.

Over the past two decades, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy has shaped the sound of modern Bollywood. They’re now gearing up for Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par, once again promising fresh tunes. As for Kajra Re, from being underrated to unforgettable, it proves that music often surprises even its creators.