EXCLUSIVE: Lyricist Mehboob on making a comeback with Heropanti 2 and collaborating with Rangeela team A.R. Rahman and Ahmed Khan

Veteran lyricist Mehboob is all set to make a comeback with the upcoming film Heropanti 2. Directed by Ahmed Khan and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, the music is composed by A.R. Rahman. For Mehboob, AR Rahman, and Ahmed Khan it was a happy reunion as the Rangeela team got together for a project after two decades. “The Rangeela days came back to us. We never even realised when the songs got made, that much fun we had collaborating. Jaha dil milti ho, samjah mil jaaye, kaam aasan ho jaata hai. (Where the hearts and thoughts meet, work becomes easy),” says Mehboob on a phone call with Bollywood Hungama on a hot sunny afternoon of April. Owing to his back problem, Mehboob stayed away from the film scenes for some time to work on his recovery. After all these years and hits, Mehboob speaks with the joy of a newcomer about his work in Heropanti 2.

From Rangeela to Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Mehboob has several hits to his credits. An out-and-out action film like Heropanti 2 is not specifically the territory that someone would imagine him to take up and write lyrics for. Talking about writing lyrics for songs for an action film he said, "Different moments come in life- whether sad, happy or romantic. All our lives are one big cinema only. Milna, bhichadna, pyaar, mohabbat, nafrat,gham, (bonding, distance, love, romance, hatred, sorrow) all these emotions are that make humanity. Even in an out-and-out action film, there will be elements of romance. Love blooms everywhere. Thake hue badan ko bistar se ishq hai, aankon ko neendh se ishq hai(A tired body falls in love with the bed, eyes fall in love with sleep). This happens in life. So our hero, too, has moments such as this in his life. Sometimes he is having fun, sometimes praising himself, sometimes remembering God, sometimes remembering his loved one, sometimes singing songs of love; so situations were there."

"Our director Ahmed Khan, since he is a choreographer himself, knows all these emotions. He has blended it beautifully into the script. But always remember situations should also be such that it instigates or provokes you to write something. Secondly, the director should also know what he wants. For example, Ahmed knows what lyrics he wants, what the thought process should be, and what should be said. That gives us a lot of help. I would like to praise Ahmed and say that he is very keen on lyrics, he insists on using good lyrics, he is averse to using cheap lines, very against double meaning thoughts. Same for me and Rahman. We wanted to give good songs. Our point of view was that we cater to the youth," he added.

Mehboob is also all praise for producer Sajid Nadiadwala. "He understands the importance of music and has a creative mind. He did not once rush us into the process of making the songs for the film and supported us throughout the process".

The team of Heropanti 2 have launched four-tracks from the film- ‘Dafa Kar’, ‘Jalwanuma’, ‘Miss Hairan’, and ‘Whistle Baja 2.0’. Mehboob believes that one would be able to visualise every song in the film with its lyrics. He also said that every song takes the story forward as it goes. “Every situation has a song. The film carries the song with it. No songs were put for the sake of it. In the comment section, people have said that after a long time, they got to hear original songs."

Whether it is the songs in Rangeela, Daud, or AR Rahman's Vande Mataram or Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Mehboob's early songs are still sung and hummed by people. Talking about what still attracts people to the music from the 90s, Mehboob says, “Whichever song has a good melody and lyrics, and presents good thoughts they are a hit. Back in the day, the songs had a great melody. If you look at songs from the 90s and 2000s, and even today on reality shows, today's generations sing songs from the bygone era. They sing them because it was quite simple. Technically it is difficult to sing, but a common person could catch it. If someone from today's generation picks an old song, it's because there is peace in it, calmness, melody, and lyrics. You can visualise the songs with the lyrics. (He sings) 'ye raatein, ye mausam, ye nadi ka kinara'. So people enjoyed listening to it. I say again, singing, sur, raag is difficult, but our singers would sing it so well that a normal person would sing and hum it and that you will get in our film (Heropanti 2).”

Ever since the video songs of Heropanti 2 have been released, Mehboob said he has been receiving reels being made by fans on the songs from the film. He has also been reading the comments on the music video on YouTube and other platforms. When asked how he takes in all kinds of instant feedback the internet has to offer, he calmly says, “Criticism and appreciation is a part and parcel of our job. Sometimes there is appreciation some also say, what is this song. one said, Mehboob is back, one said beautiful song, lyrics, and someone wrote, ‘worst music of the year’. Now, we are not God, we try our best. We give our best and also consider their comments and work harder on our next projects. Or maybe they know better than us (he said playfully)."

Ending on a joyous note, Mehboob thanks his fans and critics. “You can’t satisfy all, somebody will always be disappointed. 'Chalo kisi ne bura bol diya par gaana suna toh sahi. Bas sunkar bol rahe hai na, anjaane mai toh nahi bol rahe na . Bas hogaya humara kaam, gaane ke surr kaan take pauch gaya. Ab aage unki marzi.(Even if someone says bad, it’s alright as long as they judge it after listening to it. Our job is done if the song reaches them and they listen to it, rest is on them). I try 100 percent. I do not take bad comments to heart.”

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