Sukhwinder Singh Says Jai Ho Was Originally Meant For Subhash Ghai’s Yuvvraaj | Entertainment News

Jai Ho received widespread acclaim on the global stage.
(Photo Credit : X)

Playback singer Sukhwinder Singh is known for several high-energy iconic hits, including Chaiyya Chaiyya, the ultimate sports anthem of Chak De! India, to dance numbers like Dard-E-Disco, Gallan Goodiyaan, and many others. However, his Academy Award-winning global hit, Jai Ho from the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire, has etched a special place in the hearts of many.

In a recent conversation, Sukhwinder Singh recalled his memories of being part of Jai Ho. The veteran singer revealed that the song was initially intended for a Subhash Ghai film. But what happened next completely changed the song’s fate. “Mere liye pride ki baat thi. Yeh gaana jo hai, humare liye bahut surprising gift tha (For me, it was a matter of pride. This song was a very surprising gift for us),” Singh said to Pinkvilla.

Sukhwinder Singh On Subhash Ghai Rejecting The Song Jai Ho

“The song was supposed to be recorded for another movie called Yuvvraaj, for Subhash Ghai ji’s film. He said the song was very good, even better. It sounded very decent,” Singh continued.

However, he mentioned that it was his then-image that couldn’t make the song’s place in the Pardes director’s movie. “Aur mera jo character hai, iss waqt main bahut tapori ho chuka hai… bahut malang (But at that time, my image was very carefree).”

“So then unhone (Subhash Ghai) AR ko kaha, Rahman ko kaha, ki aap dusra gaana banaiye yeh. Uss film ke gaane bhi Gulzar saab ne likhe the (Subhash Ghai then asked AR Rahman to compose another song instead for that film, which was also written by Gulzar saab),” he stated. Singh then happily agreed to sing another song for the film, and Jai Ho was shelved for some time.

How Jai Ho Was Ticked For Slumdog Millionaire

A few days later, music composer AR Rahman called him while Singh was re-recording Chaiyya Chaiyya for Denzel Washington’s film Inside Man, directed by Spike Lee. Rahman referred to him as a “Hollywood singer” during their phone call, leaving the latter a bit surprised. “I asked why he had mentioned me as a Hollywood singer. He said that the song I had sung as Jai Ho had gone into the film Slumdog Millionaire. The director loved it, and the song went on to win an Oscar and a Grammy. That was the surprise. I have to thank Gulzar saab as well,” Singh mentioned.

“Ismein AR Rahman ka jo best part hai, woh yeh hai ki unhone kaafi fresh melody create ki. Jo dil se gaya, woh dil tak pahunch gaya. (The best part about AR Rahman in this is that he created a very fresh melody. What came from the heart reached the heart.) I never felt that the awards I received for Jai Ho were personal. Instead, I felt that my country, India, had received them,” he concluded.

FYI: AR Rahman had offered Jai Ho to director Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire, which later received global recognition. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2009 and a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture.