February 23, Mumbai: Bollywood’s romantic anthems of the 80s and 90s owe much to one man’s lyrical genius. Sameer Anjaan, turning 68 tomorrow, crafted words that immortalized love stories for the three Khans. While melodies and voices captivated audiences, it was his evocative lyrics that breathed life into iconic tracks.
Hailing from Varanasi’s vibrant culture, Sameer inherited a poetic legacy from father Anjaan, yet was steered away from films. Schoolboy verses blossomed into All India Radio features. A short-lived bank stint couldn’t quench his songwriting fire. Mumbai beckoned, notebooks in hand.
Initial hurdles included countless nos from industry insiders. Veteran composer Usha Khanna broke through with ‘Bekhabar”s playful hit. Momentum built when Anand-Milind, longtime friends, roped him into ‘Dil’ post-‘QSQT’ triumph. From there, Sameer’s discography exploded.
Blockbuster after blockbuster featured his magic: ‘Saajan”s soulful ballads, ‘Raja Hindustani”s passion, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai”s youthful romance, ‘Devdas”s tragedy, and more. Salman romanced via ‘Tere Naam’ and ‘Dabangg 2’; SRK via ‘Dilwale’ and ‘KKHH’; Aamir via ‘Dil’ and ‘Dhoom.’ His record-breaking song count underscores his dominance.
Sameer’s Bhopuri-infused Hindi elevated everyday emotions to poetry. Rejecting a stable life for artistic pursuit, he proved persistence pays. On his birthday eve, fans reminisce how his lines made stars shine brighter in love’s light, cementing his legacy as Bollywood’s romance architect.