People said he wouldn't make it - he became one of the biggest music directors in Hindi cinema ever.
People said he could only do light, cacophonous stuff - he did Border and Virasat, which pushed the boundaries of melody in Indian film music
-He has done a period film, Asoka
-A light classical album, Umrao Jaan
-Broadway style Jaanemann and Bride and Prejudice
-Invented a new genre of comedy songs, from Garam Chai to Tan Tana Tan
-Brought back the qawalli in an updated form, in Tumse Milke DIl Ka
-And brought a true pop flavour into Bollywood music
-Has produced the definitve soundtracks for Hindi war films, in LOC Kargil, Border, and Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Sathiyo
-He dealt with darker themes in Aks and Fiza
-He did all of this without any formal training in music and without working in a musical duo or trio
These achievements are what take him to the big league of composers. Best wishes to him!