National Award-winning singer and composer Shankar Mahadevan, known for his soulful voice and timeless compositions, recently shared a delightful behind-the-scenes story about one of his most iconic songs, Kajra Re from Bunty Aur Babli. In a candid conversation Shankar recalled how Amitabh Bachchan once jokingly warned him not to touch his parts in the song, else he would end his career. Reminiscing about his experiences with the legendary actor, Shankar Mahadevan revealed that Amitabh Bachchan has always been deeply appreciative of his work.
Shankar Mahadev
Shankar Mahadev Recalled Amitabh Bachchan Incident
He recalled a special moment on the sets of Rock and Roll, where Big B expressed his admiration for the song. “I remember Bachchan sir, he was shooting *Rock and Roll*, and we went to the set. He actually lifted me up with all my weight because he was so happy with the song. He hugged me and said, ‘What a song you’ve made!’ He’s so sweet and humble”, Shankar shared with a smile.
Kajra Re
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Shankar then shared a humorous memory from the making of Kajra Re, one of Bollywood’s most loved songs. The song, composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and written by Gulzar, featured Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan, and Abhishek Bachchan. Its mix of qawwali and kajri folk styles, combined with Vaibhavi Merchant’s choreography, turned it into a timeless classic.
Shankar Mahadevan
Recalling the recording process, Shankar said, “It was a unique experience. I had dubbed a rough version of Kajra Re for Amitabh Bachchan so he could come and record his voice later because Javed Ali had sung for Abhishek, and I had done his parts.” He continued, “When I met Bachchan sir at an event, I said, ‘Sir, please come and dub your parts. We have to mix the song.’ He asked which song, and I told him, ‘Kajra Re.’”