BTS With Some Of The Biggest Bollywood Hit Songs

Lyrics by Sameer: Stories Behind the Iconic Songs, by Sameer Anjaan and Shuja Ali

MUMBAI, (IANS) – For an entire generation, Sameer Anjaan is synonymous with popular Bollywood numbers, most notably the title track of ‘Dhoom’.

But who knew that Shravan – of the music director duo Nadeem-Shravan fame – had first refused to let a debutant Ajay Devgn enter the recording studio because he was convinced that he wasn’t “hero material.” Only after Sameer intervened did Shravan relent and allow the now-acclaimed actor in.

Also, the immensely popular title track of ‘Dhoom’ would never have seen the light of day but for Sameer, because Aditya Chopra had rejected its signature tune!

As interesting as the stories of Bollywood films are, the stories behind the making of those stories are just as interesting and intriguing. With up to 50 such stories woven around some of the topmost hits of Sameer, and the recounting of disagreements between music composers and film directors, the co-authors, one of whom is the lyricist himself and the other, accomplished screenwriter and director Shuja Ali, provide exclusive glimpses of the making of some of Sameer’s most iconic compositions in over three decades including ‘Chintata’ (Rowdy Rathore), ‘4 Baj Gaye’ (F.A.L.T.U), ‘Balma’ (Khiladi 786), ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ (Title), ‘Crazy Kia Re’ (Dhoom 2), ‘Say Shava Shava’ (K3G), ‘Jab Se Tere Naina’ (Saawariya), ‘Aashiq Banaya Aapne’ (Title) and many more.

Sameer Anjaan holds a Guinness World Record with more than 640 films and 4,500 songs to his credit and is the recipient of multiple laurels, including three Filmfare trophies and the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Award.