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NDTV
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Chandra Barot's Don Left Producer Nariman Irani In Debt, Who Died Before The Film's Release
New Delhi: Filmmaker Chandra Barot, best known for directing the 1978 classic Don, died on Sunday, July 20. He was 86. And while Don became a massive hit, its backstory is full of unexpected turns. Turns out, making Don was not easy at all. The film's producer, Nariman Irani, was in deep financial trouble during its shoot. Things were so bad that he did not even have money for meals. Even though the film eventually became a hit, Nariman Irani did not live to see it. He tragically died just before the release, after a freak accident on another film's set. The money Don earned later went into clearing his debts. In a chat with DD Urdu, lyricist Sameer Anjaan opened up about all this. He also shared how Don's most iconic song, Khaike Paan Banaras Wala, almost did not make it into the movie. Sameer remembered how Javed Akhtar was not happy with the second half of the film. He thought it was too action-heavy. "Javed Akhtar watched the movie with everyone else, and felt that the second half was too dry. He felt that it had too much action. So, he advised that a new song be filmed and inserted to balance things out. He was adamant and stubborn about it. He said, 'No, I want a song,'' Sameer said. There was a problem, though – no budget. Sameer Anjaan added, 'The movie had been completed, the release date had been locked! Then, my father was summoned. The poor producer was in such a bad state because of the film that he didn't even have money for food.' Even after being told there was no money to shoot anything new, Javed Akhtar pushed for it. According to Sameer, 'The song was made. But then, a new issue cropped up. Amitabh Bachchan was supposed to leave for abroad. He would be away for over a month. There was only one day to shoot the song, and no set to shoot it on.' So they came up with a hack. They found a tabela (a cowshed) in Goregaon and shot the whole thing there, super quick. 'You won't believe it, but they went to a 'tabela', shot the song in a couple of hours, and the rest is history,' Sameer said. There is one more cool detail Sameer dropped. His father, the lyricist Anjaan, was once told he would become the next Harivanshrai Bachchan. Instead, he got forever linked to Amitabh Bachchan in a different way. 'But little did my father know that instead of becoming the next Harivanshrai Bachchan, he would become eternally linked to Amitabh Bachchan because of the song Khaike Paan Banaras Wala. Even today, it is impossible to mention Bachchan without mentioning the song. But did you know that the movie wasn't supposed to have the song at all?' Don may have been a hit, but the road to get there was anything but smooth.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- 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).
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sameer Anjaan lived in Mumbai on stolen puris; famous music director threw his diary after hearing his songs: 'I was shaken and broke'
Lyricist Sameer Anjaan is known for his beloved classics like 'Nazar Ke Saamne,' 'Teri Umeed Tera Intezaar,' and 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.' Despite being the son of renowned lyricist Anjaan, Sameer carved his own path through years of hardship and rejection. He recently spoke about leaving his full-time job to pursue his passion for becoming a lyricist, and how he initially struggled to thrive in Mumbai. Sameer Anjaan recalls surviving on tea and biscuits during his struggling days in Mumbai 02:45 Late Shravan Rathod's close friend Sameer Anjaan clears the air about non-payment of hospital bill: 'There was no financial issue' In a conversation with DD Urdu, Sameer revealed that he experienced the hardest times during his early days in Mumbai. He did not even know how to cook, as he had lived a life of luxury in Benaras. All he knew was how to make tea, and he survived on biscuits and tea for breakfast. A man from Uttar Pradesh, working at a South Indian restaurant near Khar station, would steal puris for him, and Sameer paid ₹10 for lunch each day. He would eat well only if someone invited him for dinner; otherwise, he would simply eat a banana. Sameer's mother wrote to Anjaan after seeing him in worn-out clothes and poor health Sameer's presence in Mumbai went unnoticed by his family for some time. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo His mother was heartbroken after seeing him in worn-out clothes and looking lean due to months of poor nutrition. She wrote to Anjaan, who was also in Mumbai at the time, about the situation. She wrote, 'My son has been struggling in Mumbai and you never cared to check on him.' His response was, 'I wouldn't know unless I was informed. How would I know he's here?' Sameer recalled. His father then reached out to relatives in Mumbai in search of Sameer. When they finally reunited after 23 years, it was a tense meeting. 'I was so upset with him and frustrated with all the struggle,' Sameer shared. Anjaan decided to test his potential before supporting his dream and passion. Having endured a 17-year-long struggle himself, he was cautious about the realities of the industry. Sameer passed his father's test and was then mentored by him. Anjaan taught him the craft but refrained from recommending him to anyone. Rejected by a renowned composer despite being the son of a legendary lyricist Sameer narrated a disheartening encounter with a prominent music director, though he did not mention the name, as the person was a friend of his father. The director had high expectations of him, being the son of Anjaan. 'After listening to about 40 of my songs, he gave an extremely rude response: 'You've wasted my time. You are a terrible writer. Never dare to share your work with anyone. You'll ruin your father's name. I'll pay you—please return to Benaras.' He even threw my diary out of his window in anger. I was shaken. This broke me,' he added. Veteran composer Usha Khanna gave him his first break But Sameer remained hopeful about his career and later went to Usha Khanna's house. The veteran music director gave his work a chance. She agreed to record four of his poems after listening to them. After becoming a successful lyricist in the industry, he eventually met the musician who had once rejected him. That musician never dared to face Sameer again.
Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
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
Every music lover must have come across the name Sameer Anjaan. He is the man behind the lyrics of some of the most iconic songs: 'Nazar Ke Saamne', 'Teri Umeed Tera Intezaar' and 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' among others. However, success didn't come easy to him. Despite being born to one of the most well-known lyricist Anjaan, Sameer had to go through years of struggles before getting his first break and eventually taste success. In a recent interview with DD Urdu, Sameer recalled the time when he left his full-time job to chase his dream of becoming a poet/lyricist. He managed to come to Mumbai, but struggled to survive. He shared, 'I have seen the hardest times in Mumbai. I was the same boy, who didn't even have to take a glass of water by myself when I was back in Benaras. I didn't know how to cook, just knew how to make tea. Biscuits were my breakfast. For lunch, I had a setting with an Uttar Pradesh man at a South Indian restaurant in Khar station. He would steal puris for me. I paid Rs 10 for lunch everyday. For dinners, if people ever invited me over then well and good, if not then would just eat a banana or so.' For the longest time, his father was unaware of his presence in the city of dreams. 'In between, I had to visit Benaras. At that time, I was wearing a shirt worth Rs 10 and an extremely old pant. I looked lean without good food. My mom saw me and felt terrible about my situation. This prompted her to write a letter to my father. She wrote, 'My son has been struggling in Mumbai and you never cared to check on him.' His reply was, 'I wouldn't know it until I am informed. How would I know he's here?'' ALSO READ | 'Ranveer Singh was never written off': Dhurandhar co-star Madhavan calls actor 'secure', says 'couple of bad films' don't end careers After the letter, Sameer's father contacted all his relatives in Mumbai to look for him. 'It was after 23 years that I met him. I was so upset with him and frustrated with all the struggle.' However, this was just the beginning. Before approving his career choice, Anjaan who himself struggled for 17 years before tasting success, took a test of his son. Luckily, Sameer passed. His father then advised him that the industry tests people's patience and success is hard to get. He agreed to teach him the technicalities of being a lyricist, but refused to refer him to anybody for work. Sameer recalled, 'I struggled a lot. And amid this, I came across a music director. I don't want to name him as he was friends with my father. But when I visited him, he asked me to show my work to him. His expectations were high as I was lyricist Anjaan's son. After listening to about 40 of my songs, he had an extremely rude response, 'You wasted my time. You are a terrible writer. Never dare to share your work with anyone. You will spoil your father's name. I will pay you, please return to Benaras.' He even threw my diary out of his window in anger. I was shaken after listening to him. This broke me, but I was still hopeful. I picked my diary and went to Usha Khanna's house.' She is India's third female music director after Jaddan Bai and Saraswati Devi. There he found her alone, and requested if she would read his work. 'She happily agreed. Soon after listening to four of my poems, she stopped me and said, I am going to record all four of them. It were the same poems which had received such negative remarks just hours ago, and now the same poems impressed Usha. This is how my career started.' While Sameer Anjaan struggled in his 80s, with songs from the films Aashiqui (1990), Deewana (1992) and Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), he shot to fame as well as bagged three Filmfare Awards. Many years later, he confronted the music director who once questioned his talent. 'I bumped into that music director a lot of times at various events, but he never dared to see me in my eyes. After I became extremely successful, I saw him at a party. I stopped to confront him and cleared things out.'
Economic Times
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
He produced Amitabh Bachchan's blockbuster ‘Don' but did not have money to buy food, died penniless before its release. Who was Nariman Irani?
Don, starring Amitabh Bachchan, was a hit film. Nariman Irani produced it. He faced financial troubles. Industry friends helped him make the film. The song 'Khaike Paan Banaras Wala' was added later. Irani died in an accident before the film's release. Don became a success. Profits cleared Irani's debts. The film spawned a franchise. Irani's legacy lives on. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A Career-Crowning Role for Bachchan, A Financial Wreck for Irani A Song That Was Never in the Script A Producer on the Brink of Collapse Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Tabela Shoot That Made History Music That Made the Film a Classic A Tragic Turn of Fate Friends Who Rallied Behind a Vision A Legacy Larger Than Life Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Remembering Nariman Irani: The Man Behind the Vision When Don hit theatres in 1978, it wasn't just another Bollywood release. It was the latest chapter in the meteoric rise of Amitabh Bachchan, following blockbuster hits like Zanjeer, Deewaar, and Sholay. Directed by Chandra Barot and crafted by the legendary writing duo Salim–Javed, Don became a roaring commercial success. Yet, behind its triumph lay a tale of financial despair and personal tragedy—particularly that of its producer, Nariman A. Irani For Amitabh Bachchan, Don was another feather in an already crowded cap, but for Nariman Irani, the man who backed the film, it was a last-ditch effort to salvage his career. After his previous venture, Zindagi Zindagi (starring Sunil Dutt), had failed to generate revenue, Irani found himself burdened with debt. As director Chandra Barot revealed in a 2006 interview with Rediff, several industry stalwarts—including Amitabh Bachchan, Pran, Zeenat Aman, and the writing pair Salim–Javed—collaborated on Don out of loyalty and goodwill toward Irani. According to Barot, the film's development stretched over three and a half years, with numerous hurdles and tight budgetary one of the film's most iconic elements—its unforgettable song 'Khaike Paan Banaras Wala'—wasn't part of the original plan. In an interview with DD Urdu, lyricist Sameer Anjaan recounted how his father, the renowned lyricist Anjaan, came to be associated with what would become a signature tune for Amitabh explained that after watching the film's final cut, screenwriter Javed Akhtar felt that the second half of the movie had become overly saturated with action and lacked an emotional or cultural pause. To counteract the dryness, Akhtar suggested the addition of a lighthearted song. Despite the film already being completed and the release date confirmed, Akhtar pushed strongly for the inclusion of this new the time, Nariman Irani's financial situation had deteriorated to such an extent that he reportedly lacked even the money for basic needs. As Sameer Anjaan recalled, Irani told Javed Akhtar that he simply couldn't afford to shoot another scene. However, Akhtar remained insistent. The creative team understood that the right song could bring balance to the film's tone and enhance its appeal. Eventually, despite his reservations and constraints, Irani more obstacles lay ahead. Amitabh Bachchan was set to leave India for an overseas commitment, and only a single day was available to shoot the new song. Moreover, there was no budget to build a set. Faced with the logistical nightmare, the team improvised. They chose a real cattle stable, or 'tabela,' in Goregaon—a locality in Mumbai known for housing workers from Uttar Pradesh . With barely any preparation, the team rolled cameras at this makeshift location and managed to film the entire song within a few resulted was cinematic magic. 'Khaike Paan Banaras Wala,' composed by Kalyanji-Anandji with lyrics by Anjaan, became a cultural sensation. It not only boosted the film's popularity but became eternally tied to Amitabh Bachchan's on-screen soundtrack played a pivotal role in its success. Kalyanji-Anandji's composition, alongside lyrics from Anjaan and Indeevar , gave the movie its memorable musical identity. Apart from 'Khaike Paan Banaras Wala,' the film featured other chartbusters like 'Yeh Mera Dil,' performed by Asha Bhosle. These songs helped elevate Don from just another thriller to an iconic Bollywood offering that would influence generations of Don turning into a box office hit—it was the third highest-grossing Indian film of 1978 and achieved the prestigious golden jubilee status—Nariman Irani never lived to see its triumph. Just weeks before the movie's release, he was involved in a tragic working as a cinematographer on Manoj Kumar's film Kranti at the Rajkamal Kalamandir studios in Bombay, Irani was caught in a sudden cloudburst. During the chaos, a wall collapsed and fell on him, resulting in a serious hip injury. Though he was rushed to the hospital, he did not survive. Irani passed away in December 1977, leaving the film incomplete and his family devastated. The profits from Don were later used to repay the debts he had Chandra Barot reiterated in his Rediff interview that Don was born not just out of creative ambition, but as a rescue mission for a friend in dire need. Irani, whose work as a cinematographer was well regarded—he had even won the National Award and the Filmfare Award for Saraswatichandra (1968)—was experiencing one of the lowest points of his professional life. His friends in the film industry didn't abandon him. Instead, they pooled their talents to create something that could lift him out of crisis. Tragically, he would never enjoy the fruits of their A. Irani might not have witnessed the release of Don, but his name lives on through its legacy. The movie sparked a successful franchise that has evolved through decades. A remake starring Shah Rukh Khan arrived in 2006, followed by a sequel, Don 2. Now, a new reboot featuring Ranveer Singh is in development, proving the staying power of the character and story Irani helped bring to initial concept for Don reportedly drew inspiration from his own previous work as a cinematographer on Chhailla Babu (1977), as per historical sources. He discussed a revamped story idea with Chandra Barot, who took the project forward. Though he never saw its completion, his creative fingerprints remain all over the A. Irani's contributions to Indian cinema extend beyond his tragic story. As a cinematographer, he brought visual poetry to films like Talash, Phool Aur Patthar, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, and of course, Saraswatichandra. His work was critically acclaimed, and he was regarded as a master of black-and-white cinematography during a time of transition in ambition to become a producer may have led to financial hardship, but it also resulted in one of the most iconic thrillers in Indian cinematic history. Though he never saw the applause or reaped the financial success of Don, his influence echoes through every frame of the film and every beat of its unforgettable songs.
