How Javed Akhtar and Anjaan saved Amitabh Bachchan's classic ‘Don' with a Kishore Kumar song that was almost dropped
Bollywood classics
, few films enjoy the cult status that Don (1978) does. With its gripping narrative, unforgettable dialogues, and an electrifying
Amitabh Bachchan
in a dual role, the film has been a cultural mainstay for over four decades. But what many fans don't know is that one of its most iconic songs—Khaike Paan Banaraswala—was almost never part of the film.
In a recent interview with BBC Hindi, noted lyricist
Sameer Anjaan
revealed the lesser-known tale behind the song that became a desi anthem. According to Sameer, the track was not part of the original script and only came into being after two cinematic heavyweights—Javed Akhtar and Manoj Kumar—voiced concerns over the film's tone.
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The Song That Saved the Second Half
Sameer recounted how
Javed Akhtar
and
Manoj Kumar
were shown an early cut of the film. 'They thought the second half was dragging. Too much action, no relief,' Sameer said. 'So they suggested a song—something that could give the audience a breather.' That's when they called upon his father, the legendary lyricist Anjaan, to inject a musical break into the narrative.
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But crafting a hit song wasn't as simple as inserting a melody. Anjaan drew inspiration from an earlier track in the film, Yeh Hai Bambai Nagariya, and decided to follow a similar flavor. What emerged was
Khaike Paan Banaraswala
, a playful, vibrant number that would go on to become one of
Kishore Kumar
's most unforgettable performances.
Convincing the Composers and Kishore Kumar
However, not everyone was immediately on board. Music directors Kalyanji-Anandji weren't convinced. 'They felt a song about paan might not work,' Sameer revealed. 'But Javed Sahab insisted. He said the song had to be there.'
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The next hurdle? Getting Kishore Kumar into the mood. Known for his flamboyance and creative unpredictability, Kishore wasn't keen on the Bhojpuri-style diction. ''Chaka-chak' and 'khaike' didn't sit right with him—he wanted to say 'khaake',' Sameer explained. It took Anjaan's insistence—and a literal paan in Kishore's mouth—to get the vibe right. The singer finally relented, ordered a peekdaan (spittoon), and gave a single, flawless take.
'When he sang, it didn't feel like Kishore Kumar anymore. It felt like someone straight from the lanes of Banaras,' Sameer said.
Don, directed by Chandra Barot, starred Amitabh Bachchan, Zeenat Aman, Pran, and Iftekhar. But it was Khaike Paan Banaraswala that injected flavor into the film's second act, helping cement Bachchan's desi mard image and giving audiences a tune they'd hum for generations.
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