Backstage anecdote: Shantanu’s slip‑up and Mahadevan’s insight

During a special video recorded for Spotify to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the film *Dil Chahta Hai*, Shantanu (known as Shan) asked Mahadevan why he sometimes forgets his own lyrics. Mahadevan responded that once a song has already been sung and declared a hit, the artist’s focus drifts away from that track.

Shan shared a humorous incident from a recording session where he began improvising lines on the spot. When lyricist Javed Akhtar noticed, he asked if everything was alright. After some confusion, Akhtar clarified that Shan was unintentionally creating new verses for his own song, highlighting how even seasoned singers can lose track of their original words when the novelty fades.