Apr 28, 2026 11:28am IST
Irshad Kamil On working with Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan (EXCLUSIVE)
He is basking in the success of multiple hits, especially since 2025— "Sky Force," "Chhaava," "Kesari 2," "Saiyaara," "Tere Ishk Mein" and the "Dhurandhar" franchise.
At the serene bungalow that is both his office and workplace, the ever-genial Irshad Kamil talks about his association with Aamir Khan on the upcoming "Ek Din" starring Junaid Khan, his work with the other Khans and more.
How did your association with Aamir Khan begin? And why did it happen so late —well past 20 years for you as a lyricist?
(Smiles) I think whoever feels that I am writing well and working right comes to me! I have done films with almost all the big stars: Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar and the Khans.
My beginning with Aamir Sir was amusing. He wanted me to write songs for Laal Singh Chaddha. At that time, he had sent me a message on my phone, saying that he wished to work with me, without stating who he was. As I did not have his number, I ignored it as many such messages would keep coming, so I never replied! I came to know of this later when Pritam asked me why I had turned Aamir-sir down. I told Pritam that the message had no name, so I never replied to it.
So this time, Aamir Khan approached you in what may be termed a more ‘apt’ way.
Yes! It was a great experience working with Aamir, as well as the film’s director Sunil Pandey and composer Ram Sampath, all three as first-time associates. There was a great comfort zone while working with him, as his involvement was total. After the compositions were locked, I wrote on the tunes. There was no fuss from his side like ‘Change this, change that!’ Like Aamir-sir, Sunil Pandey was also clear in his vision. And it was clear that discussion mein aap creative ho rahe ho. And when that is the case, mazaa aata hai!
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What about Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan? How has your experience been with them?
I have the same comfort zone with Shah Rukh Sir! I have done several films with him—“Happy New Year” (2014), followed by “Jab Harry Met Sejal” (2017), “Zero” and “Jawan” (2023). He has the same involvement and a great sense of music.
With Salman Khan, my relationship was restricted to doing Ali (Abbas Zafar)’s films, “Sultan” (2016), “Tiger Zinda Hai” (2017) and “Bharat” (2019) and also “Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo” (2015) and a song in “Tiger 3” (2023). But there was no personal interaction. But yes, when we once met during this phase, Salman-sir hugged me and also told me that his father Salim Khan saab had commented to him: “Nowadays, your films seem to be having dumdaar (powerful) lyrics!” (Smiles)
Do you ever face interference in your work? What is the difference between involvement and interference for you?
When it is interference, you feel bandhaa hua (caged) because you are unable to communicate properly with the filmmaker. My work, my job, is to write songs to the best of my ability. And when the whole team is involved, there is great creative satisfaction, which I got especially with Sooraj R. Barjatya and Himesh Reshammiya on Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo and with Aditya Dhar and Shashwat Sachdev in Dhurandhar. There was no hurry, only endless patience and a lack of compromise in giving quality music. That is involvement!
Your prolific output and the reputation makes you comparable to legends like Anand Bakshi, Shailendra and Majrooh Sultanpuri. How do you look at the lot of a top lyricist today?
(Smiles) Today, however, I miss the mahoul (atmosphere) in which these legends are known to have worked. I know of endless stories about how composers, lyricists and filmmakers would sit for days or weeks on a single song to achieve perfection! Today, there is a great shortage of patience! In 99 cases out a hundred, the tune is first locked and if you cannot fulfill their expectations in writing; the words, the filmmakers go to a different songwriter and he too may go through the same experience! Sadly, in all these cases, everyone is already enamoured by the tune and so, the lyricist becomes the scapegoat!
So how do you look back at your long innings despite all these snags?
It’s been 23 years since I first came to Mumbai—on April 1, 2003, for what I call a ‘trail run’! I came to assess the monies I would need in my struggling phase for accommodation, for going to the studios to meet composers and so on. I was in the habit of reading film magazines like Mayapuri and Screen.
But today, I am extremely satisfied with whatever I have done. I have worked with the best of composers, directors, banners and singers, and have been very lucky in that respect. My break came about when, after some frustrating efforts to meet a few composers, a friend pestered me to meet Sandesh Shandilya. He gave me a break with “Socha Na Tha” (which was released only in 2005), but my first release was his “Chameli” in 2004. And the music for both was appreciated.
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