It was considered quite a feat to get Aamir Khan to sing Aati Kya Khandala in Ghulam. Composer Lalit Pandit clearly remembers how it happened.
The Idea Was Born During A Car Ride
“Aamir was taking us to the shoot, and both my brother Jatin Pandit and director Vikram Bhatt were in the car. A huge mohalla set had been created for a major portion of the film. On our way to Film City, we were discussing the scene and what kind of song it should have. I remember Aamir started singing Sagar Jaisi Aankhon Wali. He has a wonderful voice, and all of us liked the way he was singing. That’s when I quickly suggested, ‘Why don’t we have Aamir sing a song in Ghulam?’”
The idea excited everyone, but Aamir was surprised and remained quiet. That night, while watching Aamir shoot on set, writer Nitin Raikwar came up with the idea of Aati Kya Khandala. He wrote it superbly in a style that suited Aamir’s character in the film. Everyone was thrilled, but Aamir was still cautious.
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The Secret Recording Sessions
Aamir eventually agreed to record the song- but in secrecy. “He told us, ‘We will record this song secretly, and no one should know about it. If I don’t like it, we will scrap the song and do something else,’” Lalit recalled.
Since Aamir was busy shooting all day, he promised to rehearse the song late at night after wrapping up. The team, excited by the opportunity, agreed to all his conditions. Rehearsals began, and Aamir delivered the song with the exact swag that Vikram Bhatt had envisioned.
Few people know that Aamir was unhappy with the initial shoot of Aati Kya Khandala. Lalit revealed, “Aamir didn’t like the way the song was shot, so he scrapped the first version. The song had to be re-shot, and this time, it turned out to be mind-blowing.”
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A Crucial Project For Jatin-Lalit
With Aamir Khan in the lead, Ghulam was an important film, and delivering a hit music score was a challenge. The team had already worked with Vikram Bhatt on his directorial debut, Fareb, which had a tremendous soundtrack. However, Ghulam was on a much bigger scale. The music team put in extra effort to ensure the album’s success, and the result was a memorable soundtrack that remains popular today.
