Did the bombing of your last film Hu Tu Tu (1999) turn you away from filmmaking?
No. The film’s unimaginative editing by producer Dhirubhai Shah, that too on the day it was released, discouraged me from making any more films. I even went into depression for not being able to release Hu Tu Tu the way I had visualised it. I thank my daughter Meghna for help me get over it though.
I am writing the novel version of Hu Tu Tu to set right that anomaly. Books are a more independent medium of expression than cinema, which is not my property and can fall in the hands of others, who cut it as they want.  

You are currently writing the songs for Subhash Ghai’s Yuvraaj and Amol Palekar’s Dum Katha. How has it been working with them?
I haven’t yet begun writing Yuvraaj as it still has to roll. Dum Katha is a children’s film and it’s a pleasure working with Amol as he is a bubbly child within.  

Yuvraaj is your first project with a prolific filmmaker like Subhash Ghai. Any other filmmakers you wish to have worked with?
Mr Satyajit Ray. Working with a master of a man like him, one would have learned so much. Another man I wanted to work with is Shyam (Benegal) but he just laughs at me and never gives me any work. Perhaps he doesn’t take me seriously. 

As one of the finest lyricists, which of your seniors, contemporaries and current songwriters have inspired or impressed you?
I have always considered Shailendra and Sahir Ludhianvi as the greatest masters and teachers. Anand Bakshi sahab’s Amar Prem had impressed me a lot too. Nida Fazli is another very capable poet who has written very little.

... contd.