Gulzar Reflects: Vishal Bhardwaj Held My Hand and Carried Me Along, Though Time Might Have Faded Away

Renowned poet-director Gulzar credits filmmaker-composer Vishal Bhardwaj for keeping his creative flame alive even after his filmmaking days concluded. Their collaboration began in the 1990s with the iconic "Jungle Jungle Baat Chali Hai," the theme song for the Hindi dubbed version of "The Jungle Book." This partnership extended to films like Gulzar's "Maachis" and Bhardwaj's directorial ventures such as "Maqbool," "Omkara," and "Haider."

Gulzar, expressing his gratitude, stated, "I might have faded away, but a young poet, singer, composer held my hand and carried me along, that's Vishal." He emphasized how Bhardwaj's influence rejuvenated his songwriting, citing examples like the unconventional "Beedi Jalaile" from 'Omkara.'

Speaking at the launch of "Gulzar Saab: Hazaar Rahein Mud Ke Dekhin..." by Yatindra Mishra, Gulzar acknowledged his continuous learning and the inspiration he draws from fellow creatives. Bhardwaj reciprocated the sentiment, calling it a dream come true to collaborate with Gulzar on 500 to 700 songs, crediting him as a vital pillar in Hindi film music.

Gulzar also lauded actor Hema Malini's unwavering dedication to dance and revealed his admiration for her. He reminisced about directing her in films like "Kinara" and "Khushboo," highlighting her commitment to simplicity in character portrayal.

Hema Malini, in turn, acknowledged her evolution as an actor under Gulzar's direction, citing instances where he encouraged simplicity over glamour in her roles. She recalled how he guided her to slow down her dialogue delivery, a lesson she embraced and incorporated into her performances.

Mishra, the book's author, shared insights into Gulzar's planned but incomplete film "Devdas," featuring Hema Malini, Dharmendra, and Sharmila Tagore. The event, attended by Hema Malini, Vishal Bhardwaj, singer Rekha Bhardwaj, and lyricist-CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi, celebrated Gulzar's enduring impact on Indian cinema and music.

(With Agency Inputs)