If you thought directing comedies was hard, try writing songs for David Dhawan. At the Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai trailer launch in Mumbai, songwriters Sameer and Rumy Jafry revealed why the director gave them sleepless nights.
Sameer didn't hold back. "David Dhawan ki picture likhna matlab uss din mera blood pressure kam se kam 20-degree upar chadha hota tha," he said, explaining that Dhawan would reject songs if they lacked the "punch" he demanded. "Whenever I see you, I remember your childhood. Your dad may not have harassed you so much, but he harassed me a lot!" he told Varun Dhawan.
The odd part: Sameer once wrote "Main Tujhko Bhaga Laaya Hoon Tere Ghar Se, Tere Baap Ke Darr Se" for a Dhawan film despite there being no father in the movie. "So David used to famously say, 'Situation gayi tel laga ne. Tu mujhe hit gaane de'," Sameer said, describing Dhawan's demand formula.
Rumy Jafry had a similar experience. For Judwaa (1997), he wrote "Oonchi Hai Building Lift Teri Bandh Hai" — a song about a lift in a building. The problem: the heroine lived in a bungalow. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala was confused. "What is this song that David has recorded?" he asked. Rumy's response was that David simply refused to change it. "He said, 'Usko bol mere maamle mein bole nahin. Super-hit gaana bana raha hoon'," Rumy said.
Varun joked that his father David's first call every morning is to Rumy — even before greeting his own wife. "He doesn't even say 'Good morning' to my mother," Varun said.
Sameer confirmed he has written 95% of Dhawan's songs since the beginning, and Rumy called the director's circle "family." Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai releases June 5.
