How Bimal Roy Discovered Gulzar in a Mumbai Garage

The turning point in Gulzar’s life arrived when he met director Bimal Roy through lyricist Shailendra. Roy, then directing the classic “Bandini,” recognized the raw poetic talent hidden behind the paint‑stained hands of a garage worker. He told Gulzar, “Don’t go back to the garage; don’t waste your life.” The advice resonated, and Gulzar left his job to write lyrics for the film. His debut song, paired with S.D. Burman's music, opened the door to a distinguished career that would later include directing films such as “Mere Apne,” “Koshish,” and “Aandhi.”