Lalit Pandit Reveals Anand Bakshi’s Creative Challenge Behind ‘Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna’
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Mumbai, October 26, 2025 — Music composer Lalit Pandit, of the legendary duo Jatin–Lalit, has revealed a fascinating behind-the-scenes story about the making of the iconic Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) track “Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna”. Speaking on Spotify’s Behind the Beats podcast, Lalit shared how the late lyricist Anand Bakshi turned into a teacher on set, giving the entire creative team an unusual task while composing the song.
Anand Bakshi’s Unusual Assignment
During the podcast, which also featured Udit Narayan and Neeti Mohan to celebrate DDLJ’s 30 years of timeless music, Lalit recalled how Anand Bakshi made everyone in the studio participate in an impromptu writing exercise.
“This song, ‘Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna’, when he wrote it, he said, ‘Do one thing first.’ He gave everyone a book and said no one should talk to anyone. He just became a teacher to all of us,” Lalit revealed. “He asked everyone to write 25 verses of that song. So we were all writing — everyone was writing their own. Some liked the sound of it, others liked something else.”
He added that the exercise went on for nearly two hours before Aditya Chopra, the film’s debut director, admitted that the challenge was too difficult. “Adi said, ‘Bakshi Sahab, you tell us, this is too difficult, it won’t happen.’ Then Bakshi Sahab smiled and said, ‘Keep these two antras,’” Lalit recalled with a laugh.
A Composer Who Also Set the Mood for SRK’s Entry
In a surprising revelation, Lalit shared that Anand Bakshi himself composed the initial segment of Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna to create a perfect “cut point” for Shah Rukh Khan’s entry in the song. This insight highlights Bakshi’s instinctive musical sense and his understanding of how lyrics and melody blend seamlessly with cinematic moments.
The song went on to become one of Bollywood’s most celebrated wedding anthems, sung by Udit Narayan and Lata Mangeshkar, and continues to be a staple at Indian festivities around the world.
DDLJ: A Film That Redefined Generations
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, released in 1995, marked the directorial debut of Aditya Chopra, son of the legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra. The film not only became one of Indian cinema’s biggest blockbusters but also changed the course of Bollywood’s storytelling.
The movie’s music, composed by Jatin–Lalit with lyrics by Anand Bakshi, played a central role in its success. Each song — from Tujhe Dekha Toh Ye Jana Sanam to Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna — captured the essence of love, tradition, and Indian values.
The film also established Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol as Bollywood’s most beloved on-screen couple, while behind the scenes, it shaped the early careers of Karan Johar and Uday Chopra, both assistant directors on the project.
From DDLJ to YRF’s Modern Empire
As revealed in Netflix’s documentary The Romantics, Aditya Chopra had promised his father that he would only make his first film if Yash Chopra could finance it entirely without external investors. That decision, driven by creative freedom, became the foundation for Yash Raj Films (YRF) to evolve into India’s largest independent film studio.
Today, YRF continues to shape Indian cinema through films like Chak De! India, Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year, Bunty Aur Babli, Ek Tha Tiger, War, Pathaan, Jawan, and the upcoming ‘Alpha’, starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari Wagh.
A Timeless Legacy of Music and Memory
Three decades later, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge remains a touchstone of Indian pop culture — a film where music, emotion, and storytelling came together in perfect harmony. Lalit Pandit’s recollection of Anand Bakshi’s creative process is a reminder of the meticulous artistry that went into crafting songs that continue to resonate across generations.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
The revelation from Lalit Pandit about Anand Bakshi’s creative exercise showcases how great cinema often springs from simple yet profound processes. Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna wasn’t just a song — it was the product of discipline, imagination, and collaboration among some of India’s finest creative minds. As DDLJ celebrates its 30th anniversary, it continues to remind audiences of an era when melodies had meaning, and lyrics carried emotion that transcended time.