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Time of India
6 days ago
- 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
6 days ago
- 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.'
News18
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Anu Aggarwal Defends Casting Couch, Says One Must Use Their 'Potential': 'Kya Bura Hai?'
Last Updated: Anu Aggarwal, known for Aashiqui, opened up on casting couch in Bollywood. Anu Aggarwal, known for her breakout role in the cult classic Aashiqui, has offered a candid take on the issue of casting couch in Bollywood. In an exclusive conversation with Pinkvilla, the actress, who was a popular name in the 90s, didn't hold back while addressing the subject. While the casting couch remains a highly debated topic within the Hindi film industry — often either denied or reluctantly acknowledged — Anu questioned the general silence around it. 'Why are we pretending?" she asked. The actress reflected on her own experience in the industry, recalling that she maintained close yet professional relationships with all her directors, including Mahesh Bhatt. She clarified, 'There was no 'hanky-panky'," and confirmed she was never subjected to any casting couch situation. However, she didn't shy away from acknowledging the broader scope of the issue either. 'Kahan nahi hai casting couch?" she asked, adding that similar dynamics exist in other professional spaces like banks and corporate offices. She continued, 'Kya baat kar rahe ho aap? Why are we pretending? Everywhere there's casting couch. Since life has started, there's man and woman, and there are two energies, male and female, their union is something that everybody wants. That's what's entire history of Earth." The actress further challenged the moral panic surrounding the issue. 'So, what is 'Yeh bura hai' kya bura hai? So, at the end of the day, if you didn't make it, kya bura hai- when you don't use your potential, that is bura. What's the big deal being made about casting couch?" In the same interview, Anu also shared her thoughts on Aashiqui 2, which starred Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur. She admitted to having watched the film, commenting, 'Nice, nice, matlab you know I didn't want to like to judge it." Released in 1990, Aashiqui became a massive hit and is remembered as one of Bollywood's most iconic romantic musicals. Directed by Mahesh Bhatt and produced by T-Series' Gulshan Kumar along with Vishesh Films, the film starred newcomers Anu Aggarwal and Rahul Roy. While the story was simple, it struck a chord with audiences, largely thanks to its chart-topping soundtrack composed by Nadeem-Shravan. Songs like 'Dheere Dheere Se" and 'Nazar Ke Saamne" turned into instant classics and remain popular to this day. Watch CNN-News18 here. Stay updated with the latest news on Bollywood, Hollywood, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and regional cinema, movie reviews and K-dramas, web series , Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
News18
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Aashiqui Star Anu Aggarwal Says Makers Owe Her 40 Percent Of Fees: ‘Meri Gift Hai Unko'
Last Updated: Anu Aggarwal revealed she only received 60% of her payment for Aashiqui (1990). More than 30 years after her iconic debut in Aashiqui (1990), Anu Aggarwal has opened up about the unfinished business behind the blockbuster, in a chat with Pinkvilla. While the film turned her into a national sensation, the actor revealed that she never received her full payment. Aashiqui was jointly produced by T-Series and Vishesh Films. 'I haven't gotten the full fees for Aashiqui till today. I've only been paid 60% of the full fees. They still owe me the 40%," said Aggarwal. She also mentioned that she never followed up with the producers to recover the remaining payment. 'It's okay, I earned a lot. I earned much more in modelling. I became a brand ambassador," she said. In her interview with Pinkvilla, Anu Aggarwal said she was the first actor to become a brand ambassador, at a time when even male actors hadn't taken on such roles. 'There wasn't even a male actor who was a brand ambassador back then. Only cricket heroes were brand ambassadors then, like Sunil Gavaskar and all. Theek hai yaar. Ye meri gift hai unko (It's okay. This is my gift to them)," she said, about the unpaid fees. Anu Aggarwal shared that in the past, actors who asked for their unpaid fees often faced unfair treatment. She said the film industry was heavily influenced by the underworld at the time.'It was a dirty business. Today, I'm not in it. If I do a film now, I can tell you how dirty it is compared to back then. At that time, it was all under the table. It was ruled by people like Dawood Ibrahim. All the money that came into the industry came from the underworld. So it was a completely different scenario," she went on to add. Released in 1990, Aashiqui became a massive hit and is remembered as one of Bollywood's most iconic romantic musicals. Directed by Mahesh Bhatt and produced by T-Series' Gulshan Kumar along with Vishesh Films, the film starred newcomers Anu Aggarwal and Rahul Roy. While the story was simple, it struck a chord with audiences, largely thanks to its chart-topping soundtrack composed by Nadeem-Shravan. Songs like 'Dheere Dheere Se" and 'Nazar Ke Saamne" turned into instant classics and remain popular to this day. First Published:
