Zeenat Aman’s Laila O Laila from the 1980 Bollywood film Qurbani directed by Feroz Khan, the evergreen track which lives rent-free across generations was composed by the legendary duo Kalyanji-Anandji, the song which brought cabaret-style music to life and set a new benchmark in the Indian music industry. And now in a recent exclusive interview, the 92-year-old Anandji Virji Shah reflected on his decades-long musical journey and shared many personal stories, including the real inspiration behind the sensational song Laila O Laila.
The Story Behind Zeenat Aman’s Iconic Song
Anandji recalled that he had approached lyricist Indeevar for the song’s lyrics. However, even after six months nothing was finalized yet so eventually, Feroz Khan called Anandji for a meeting to brainstorm together. During their discussion, Anandji recited a few lines, ” “Laila main Laila, aisi hoon Laila, har koi chahe mujhse…” At that moment, interrupting in between Feroz Khan exclaimed saying, “This is what I want, why are you wasting my time, bloody! Kaviraj!”
Who Was ‘Laila’?
Answering the lingering question, Anandji revealed, “It’s his daughter (Feroz Khan’s daughter)” referring to Laila Khan. He added with a laugh, “Ab nacheli apne beti ke naam pe gaana banta toh kaun nahi bolta, hamari wahi confidence.”
Interestingly, Zeenat Aman had also once shared on the show of Indian Idol that the song was originally recorded for a film titled Kasak. However, the project was shelved and Feroz Khan later used it in Qurbani.
Anandji’s revelation adds another layer to the legacy of Laila O Laila, proving that sometimes the most iconic songs have the most personal origins. For more such untold stories, do not miss his full interview that is worth every minute.
