Shah Rukh Khan’s debut film Deewana had the actor starring in a supporting role alongside Rishi Kapoor. The film also starred Divya Bharti and SRK’s part kicked only in the second half of the film. In a recent interview, lyric writer Sameer recalled how Shah Rukh was eager to have a hit song to himself and would request music composers Nadeem-Shravan for one as he felt that they were giving all the good songs to Rishi. Sameer recalled that Nadeem-Shravan were initially annoyed by Shah Rukh, but eventually gave in to his request.
Deewana released in 1992, and during this time, Nadeem-Shravan were regarded as one of the top composers of the Hindi film industry. They had delivered hit albums like Aashiqui, Saajan, Phool Aur Kaante, among others. Sameer, in a chat with Ashoke Pandit on his YouTube channel, said that Nadeem had a lot of respect for Rishi Kapoor and he wanted to make some of his best tunes. “And he did so. Deewana had great songs,” Sameer recalled. The film had hit numbers like “Sochenge Tumhe Pyar”, “Teri Umeed Tera Intezar”.
Sameer recalled that even Shah Rukh Khan would sometimes drop by their studio. “He would listen to the songs and say ‘Nadeem bhai, you are giving all the hits to Rishi bhaiya. Yaar, mujhe ek gana…’ (Give me one song).” Sameer recalled Nadeem saying, “Yaar hatao yaar ise, kya bakwas karta hai? (Ask him to leave, what nonsense is he saying?)” Sameer then recalled that Shah Rukh called Nadeem and after that, he developed a soft corner for him.
“Nadeem went, ‘Yaar bechara bahut acha ladka lag raha hai, de do yaar Shravan ek gana isko (He sounds like a good guy, give him a good song).’ Then the first song for Shah Rukh was ‘Aisi Deewangi’, and then his introduction song, ‘Koi Na Koi Chahiye’,” Sameer shared.
Shravan passed away in 2020. Nadeem was named as one of the accused in Gulshan Kumar’s murder in 1997, and left the country. He is currently in the UK.
