Fanney Khan's Badan Pe Sitare: When Anil Kapoor meddled with Sonu Nigam's mind

Sonu Nigam and Anil Kapoor

Sonu Nigam, whose revamped version of Mohammed Rafi's Badan Pe Sitare released on the legendary singer's death anniversary yesterday, says if it was not for Anil Kapoor and his film Fanney Khan, he would not have tampered with a song by his "guru".

The song is a part of the film, which is an ode to people with musical aspirations. Nigam wrote in an e-mail interview, "Basically, I was avoiding doing it because I don't like to tamper with original songs anymore. I've done enough versions in my past. And it's Rafi sahab's song. Who wants to mess with it? He is my guru, he is my musical father. But Anil Kapoor ji insisted; he requested me to do it. He said he was playing a follower of Rafi sahab in the film, and that's why he wanted me to give him my voice."

Nigam loved the fact that Kapoor was playing a "Rafi sahab bhakt" in the film, directed by Atul Manjrekar. "I loved the fact that I'm lending my voice to a character who is a bhakt of Rafi sahab."

The other reason why he was convinced was that he a fan of Kapoor too. "I've been a fan throughout my childhood. Itna bada aadmi mujhe kuch kahe aur main unko mana kardu, it doesn't look good. He is like a teacher. We have learned so much from him and his life, the way he carries himself and his dedication to his craft." Nigam, who has given Bollywood some of its most memorable songs, says that if he did not have "substantial justification", he wouldn't have rehashed it.

Also Read: Anil Kapoor recreates Badan pe Sitare in Fanney Khan to give an ode to Mohd. Rafi

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