Lyricist Sameer Anjaan is known for his beloved classics like “Nazar Ke Saamne,” “Teri Umeed Tera Intezaar,” and “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.” Despite being the son of renowned lyricist Anjaan, Sameer carved his own path through years of hardship and rejection. He recently spoke about leaving his full-time job to pursue his passion for becoming a lyricist, and how he initially struggled to thrive in Mumbai.Sameer Anjaan recalls surviving on tea and biscuits during his struggling days in Mumbai
In a conversation with DD Urdu, Sameer revealed that he experienced the hardest times during his early days in Mumbai. He did not even know how to cook, as he had lived a life of luxury in Benaras. All he knew was how to make tea, and he survived on biscuits and tea for breakfast. A man from Uttar Pradesh, working at a South Indian restaurant near Khar station, would steal puris for him, and Sameer paid ₹10 for lunch each day. He would eat well only if someone invited him for dinner; otherwise, he would simply eat a banana.Sameer’s mother wrote to Anjaan after seeing him in worn-out clothes and poor healthSameer’s presence in Mumbai went unnoticed by his family for some time. His mother was heartbroken after seeing him in worn-out clothes and looking lean due to months of poor nutrition. She wrote to Anjaan, who was also in Mumbai at the time, about the situation. She wrote, “My son has been struggling in Mumbai and you never cared to check on him.” His response was, “I wouldn’t know unless I was informed. How would I know he’s here?” Sameer recalled.His father then reached out to relatives in Mumbai in search of Sameer. When they finally reunited after 23 years, it was a tense meeting.“I was so upset with him and frustrated with all the struggle,” Sameer shared. Anjaan decided to test his potential before supporting his dream and passion. Having endured a 17-year-long struggle himself, he was cautious about the realities of the industry. Sameer passed his father’s test and was then mentored by him. Anjaan taught him the craft but refrained from recommending him to anyone.Rejected by a renowned composer despite being the son of a legendary lyricistSameer narrated a disheartening encounter with a prominent music director, though he did not mention the name, as the person was a friend of his father. The director had high expectations of him, being the son of Anjaan. “After listening to about 40 of my songs, he gave an extremely rude response: ‘You’ve wasted my time. You are a terrible writer. Never dare to share your work with anyone. You’ll ruin your father’s name. I’ll pay you—please return to Benaras.’ He even threw my diary out of his window in anger. I was shaken. This broke me,” he added.Veteran composer Usha Khanna gave him his first breakBut Sameer remained hopeful about his career and later went to Usha Khanna’s house. The veteran music director gave his work a chance. She agreed to record four of his poems after listening to them. After becoming a successful lyricist in the industry, he eventually met the musician who had once rejected him. That musician never dared to face Sameer again.
