Originally posted by: HR ki sayyonni
Experiencing love once is enough'
What urged you to have your biography (by Derek Bose) written?
I've always kept a low-profile despite having done much work (over 5000 songs). At times people would be surprised to know that I had written a particular number and ask 'Kya yeh gaana aapne likha hai?' This would hurt me. I realised that perhaps I didn't know how to sell myself.
Any partcular reason for Amitabh Bachchan releasing your biography?
The number 'Tera mujhse hai pehle ka nata koi' sums up our relationship. Years ago, my father (the late lyricist Anjaan) had written a parody 'Madhubala' on the late Harivanshrai Bachchan's classic 'Madhushala'. My father's biggest hit song 'Khaike paan Benareswallah' was for Amitji's 'Don'. When Amitji began his second innings with 'Mritudaaya', I wrote the Daler Mehendi number 'Na na na re'. So there's a close connection.
Do you miss working with composers Nadeem-Shravan, having shot to fame with them?
I miss them intensely. The period during the '90s was traumatic. I lost my backbone when Gulshan Kumar was killed and Nadeem implicated. Above all, I lost my father. I went back to my native place and didn't want to return. But I had no alternative. Then 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' happened. Even today, when I visit Mahesh Bhatt's office all memories flood back. When we did 'Raaz', it was like reliving our 'Aashiqui' days.
Apparently, writing for 'Tere Naam' was a memorable experience.
Initially, I wasn't ready to work with Himesh Reshammiya. I thought he had attitude. No hero was willing to do the film either. Salman Khan agreed to do it because he was going through a similar trauma in his personal life. After much persuasion by director Satish Kaushik I agreed to write for the film.
When Salman first heard the number 'Kyun kisiko wafa ke badle', he cried like a baby. He'd hear the number before the shoot began and get inspired. Gradually, Himesh and I vibed well too.
You must be a romantic at heart.
How can I write without being a romantic? Nadeem once said, 'Jo kaam jahan se kiya jaata hai, waheen jaa kar asar karta hai'. I write from my heart. But when people ask whether I have many girlfriends, I tell them that experiencing love once is enough.
Sameer's super five
'Nazar ke saamne' — 'Aashiqui'
'Jiye to jiye' — 'Saajan'
'Ghunghat ki aad se' — 'Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke'
'Aaye ho meri zindagi mein' — Raja Hindustani'
'Aapke pyar mein' — 'Raaz'
k_farhana@dnaindia.net
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