Did you know Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan initially had no hit songs in his debut film, “Deewana,” and had to lobby for them?
The Early Days of Deewana
Before he became the ‘King of Romance,’ Shah Rukh Khan made his memorable Bollywood debut in the 1992 film “Deewana.” Many remember his iconic entry, riding a bike and lip-syncing to “Koi Na Koi Chahiye.” However, that wasn’t the original plan.
Initially, all the hit songs in “Deewana” were picturized on Rishi Kapoor and Divya Bharti. Shah Rukh, then a newcomer, found himself without any chartbusters.
SRK’s Plea to the Lyricist
Veteran lyricist Sameer, who penned the film’s songs, recently shared an interesting anecdote. He recalled Shah Rukh approaching him before filming began, requesting a song for himself.
“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,’” Sameer revealed.
Music Duo’s Initial Hesitation
Sameer added that Nadeem Saifi, half of the renowned music composer duo Nadeem-Shravan, wasn’t immediately convinced about giving songs to Shah Rukh. Being a newcomer, there was uncertainty about his potential.
“Pehle Nadeem ko laga naya-naya launda hai, kya karega maloom nahi (He’s a newcomer, not sure how he’d do it),” Sameer explained. However, they soon reconsidered, noting Shah Rukh’s good looks and potential.
The Birth of Iconic Tracks
This push led to Shah Rukh getting two crucial songs: his introductory track “Koi Na Koi Chahiye” and the romantic duet “Aisi Deewangi” with Divya Bharti. These songs, coupled with the film’s success, propelled his career to new heights.
Sameer recalled Shah Rukh calling him after the film’s release to express his gratitude for the songs that became instrumental in his early success.
A Shared Journey to Stardom
Sameer also reflected on his close ties with the Khans – Shah Rukh, Salman, and Aamir – during their formative years in the industry. He described a collaborative environment where artists and musicians uplifted each other.
The lyricist emphasized that actors needed good music, and composers needed good performers. This mutual reliance, combined with opportune timing, paved the way for their collective success in Bollywood.
- Shah Rukh Khan initially had no hit songs in his debut film, “Deewana.”
- He personally requested lyricist Sameer to get him a few chartbusters.
- Music composer Nadeem-Shravan were initially hesitant about giving songs to the newcomer SRK.
- SRK eventually received two iconic songs: “Koi Na Koi Chahiye” and “Aisi Deewangi.”
This early struggle highlights how even superstars faced challenges and had to prove their worth before carving out their legendary careers in Bollywood.
