Kuch Kuch Hota Hai: Sameer recalls Dhawan’s ‘bad song’ jibe

Over a career spanning decades, lyricist Sameer Anjaan has made his mark through his words and music. He recently opened up about a memory involving veteran director David Dhawan, describing how Dhawan reacted upon hearing the title track of ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, the film starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, and Rani Mukerji.

Sameer Anjaan's memory of David Dhawan

In a recent episode of trade analyst Komal Nahta's podcast, Game Changers: The Music Series, lyricist Sameer recounted one of the funniest exchanges from his conversation with David. He shared how Dhawan had reacted candidly when the now-iconic title track of ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ first released. Laughing as he recalled the moment, Sameer said, “The first song of 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', which was released, was 'Tum Paas Aaye, Yun Muskuraaye'.

David Dhawan heard the song. He called and told me, ‘Bada ganda gaana likha hai tune, yaar. Meri picture mein aisa gaana likhna mat’ (laughs)! I asked him, ‘Teri picture ka gaana hai? Tu kyun pareshan ho raha hai? Jaane de na’. He said, ‘Meri film ke gaane bhi release hue hain. Uss film ke music ko khatam nahin kar diya toh tu mujhe bata!’.

Sameer Anjaan's film released alongside ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’

Interestingly, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ hit theatres on October 16, 1998. Directed by

Karan Johar

and starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, and Rani Mukerji, the film went head-to-head at the box office that same day with David Dhawan's ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’.

Sameer Anjaan's decades-long career in Bollywood

With a career stretching over four decades and thousands of memorable songs to his name, Sameer continues to be regarded as one of Bollywood's most prolific lyricists. He penned some of the biggest hits of the 1990s and 2000s, blending emotional depth with mass appeal, which has kept him popular among filmmakers across generations. In 2015, Guinness World Records recognised him as the most prolific lyricist in Bollywood, crediting him with over 3,500 songs.

Over the years, he has also received numerous accolades for his contribution to the industry. Interestingly, his father, Lalji ‘Anjaan’ Pandey, was himself a celebrated Hindi lyricist.