Amitabh Bachchan’s performance in ‘Kajra Re’ is unforgettable, but few know the surprising story behind how the song was recorded. Recently, composer Shankar Mahadevan shared an anecdote that sheds new light on the making of the iconic track.
Bachchan was supposed to sing his own parts
In a recent chat with Mashable India, Mahadevan shared an interesting detail: Amitabh Bachchan was supposed to sing his own parts in the song, but he chose not to, in his signature style.The ace singer recalled that when he recorded Kajra Re, he had also sung Amitabh’s portions, expecting the actor to dub them later. Since Bachchan is a good singer himself, Shankar called to ask when he would come to the studio. To his surprise, Bachchan replied that there was no need for dubbing. When Shankar reminded him it was his part, Bachchan insisted that Shankar’s version should stay, jokingly adding that if anyone replaced it, he would “destroy his career.” Shankar clarified that the remark was made in good humor.
Why his voice worked on screen
Mahadevan laughed as he remembered realizing that, even though his singing voice wasn’t Bachchan’s natural speaking voice, it fit perfectly on screen. He added that a similar situation happened with Jhoom Barabar Jhoom. While the film didn’t succeed, its music became hugely popular, and even today audiences request those songs. Shankar revealed that for the film’s title track as well, Bachchan had insisted on keeping his voice.
Kajra Re almost didn’t happen
Interestingly, Kajra Re—which went on to become a cultural phenomenon—almost didn’t make it past the planning stage. In an earlier chat with SCREEN, director Shaad Ali revealed that Big B wasn’t convinced about the song. While Shaad instantly felt its magic after hearing just an eight-second riff, Yash Raj Films had ranked it the least likely to work. Bachchan even advised him not to shoot it at all. Still, Shaad stood firm, recalling how when he played the track for Bachchan, the superstar dismissed it, saying it wouldn’t work.Meanwhile, Bunty Aur Babli starred Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukerji in lead roles. The song Kajra Re featured Big B, Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai.
