17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Shah Rukh Khan complained all hit songs of debut Deewana went to Rishi Kapoor, Nadeem Shravan didn't trust a newcomer: Sameer
Don't we all remember Shah Rukh Khan making a memorable entry in Mumbai and Bollywood, riding a bike across the city, lip-syncing to 'Koi Na Koi Chahiye' in his 1992 debut film, Raj Kanwar's romantic drama Deewana? However, initially, Shah Rukh didn't have that song, or for that matter, any songs in Deewana. All the songs were picturized on Rishi Kapoor and the late Divya Bharti.
Veteran lyricist Sameer, who wrote the songs of the film, recently recalled Shah Rukh approaching him before the filming, requesting to write a song for him. 'When I was writing Deewana, most of the songs were filmed on Rishi Kapoor. After hearing the songs, when Shah Rukh met me, he said, 'Please give me one or two hit songs too. All songs are for Rishi bhaiya,'' said Sameer.
In the interview with DD Urdu, Sameer added that Nadeem Saifi of the music composer duo Nadeem-Shravan initially didn't have too much trust in Shah Rukh because he was a newcomer. 'Pehle Nadeem ko laga naya-naya launda hai, kya karega maloom nahi (He's a newcomer, not sure how he'd do it). Then he thought the boy looks good, so let's do something for him,' added Sameer.
That's how Shah Rukh got two songs — his intro track 'Koi Na Koi Chahiye' and his romantic song with Bharti, 'Aisi Deewangi.' 'His career reached a different level altogether with those two songs and that film,' said Sameer, adding that Shah Rukh did call him up after the film's success to thank the lyricist.
'In my time, Shah Rukh, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan started their struggle in the film industry with me. I've spent so many nights together with Aamir sitting at Mansoor Khan's home,' recalled Sameer. Aamir, who made his debut with Ketan Mehta's 1984 coming-of-age film Holi, got his breakthrough in Bollywood with his cousin Mansoor's 1988 directorial debut romantic drama Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.
'We had such close relations. I used to meet Shah Rukh regularly. I used to go for dinner to the place of Salman's father, great writer Salim Khan. He's a wonderful person, it used to feel so good to talk to him. All of us got success at around the same time. We also had great contributions in each other's success. The actors needed good music, we needed good performers. When the time is right, everything falls into place,' added Sameer.
Also Read: Son of top Indian lyricist survived on stolen bread in Mumbai, hadn't seen his dad for 23 years; went on to write songs for Govinda, Shah Rukh Khan
Sameer also claimed he pushed Govinda's mama (maternal uncle), who was his friend, to let the actor try his luck in films only because he was an extraordinary dancer. After Deewana, Sameer wrote several other popular songs for Shah Rukh, including the tracks of Anjaam (1994), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Baadshah (1999), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham… (2001), and More Piya in Devdas (2002).
