It was a casual evening at Gulshan Kumar’s home when destiny decided to create one of the most iconic Bollywood songs of the 1990s. The founder of T-Series, known for his sharp musical instinct, had invited lyricist Sameer Anjaan over. What began as an informal meeting soon turned into a creative session that would give Hindi cinema one of its most memorable dance numbers, ‘Aankhiyon Se Goli Maare‘ from the film Dulhe Raja. (News18 Hindi)
According to lyricist Sameer, Gulshan Kumar had called him to his Mumbai home one evening. “He asked me to sit in a corner of his bedroom,” Sameer recalled in an old interview, “Then he quietly sang a folk tune – ‘Jab se sipahi se bhaile havaldar, nathuniya se goli maare saiyan humaar…’ It was a Bhojpuri folk song he had heard during his travels in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. He looked at me and said, ‘Make something magical out of this’.” (News18 Hindi)
That one line was enough. Sameer teamed up with music directors Anand-Milind, and together they reimagined the rustic folk tune into a peppy romantic number. “We worked through the night,” Sameer said, “The moment we found the hook line ‘Aankhiyon Se Goli Maare‘, we knew it was a winner.” (News18 Hindi)
Originally, the song was meant to be sung by Altaf Raja, whose track “Tum Toh Thehre Pardesi” had become a nationwide hit. But when Raja’s secretary demanded Rs 1 lakh for the recording, the team turned to Sonu Nigam. “Sonu sang it beautifully,” Sameer recounted, “Later, Altaf was very remorseful when he found out what he’d missed.” (News18 Hindi)
When Dulhe Raja hit theatres on July 10, 1998, it became one of the biggest comedy hits of the decade. Starring Govinda, Raveena Tandon, Kader Khan, Johnny Lever, and Asrani, the film grossed over Rs 22 crore on a modest Rs 5 crore budget. Its music, composed by Anand-Milind and written by Sameer, was instrumental in the film’s success. Of the seven tracks recorded, five made it to the final cut, and all turned out to be chartbusters. (News18 Hindi)
But “Aankhiyon Se Goli Maare” stood apart. The song’s infectious rhythm and Govinda’s effortless dance moves made it an anthem at weddings and parties across the country. Raveena Tandon once admitted in an interview, “I’ve worked with many stars, but no one could match Govinda’s energy. If there’s one song that defines our pairing, it’s Aankhiyon Se Goli Maare.” (News18 Hindi)
Interestingly, the success of the song inspired director Harmesh Malhotra to later make a separate film titled Aankhiyon Se Goli Maare with the same lead pair, though it failed to replicate the success of Dulhe Raja. (News18 Hindi)
As for Gulshan Kumar, his musical foresight once again proved prophetic. His knack for spotting melodies, even in local folk songs, helped bridge India’s regional and mainstream music. In transforming a Bhojpuri tune into a Bollywood sensation, he not only created a song for the ages but also reaffirmed T-Series’ reputation as the pulse of popular music in the 90s. (News18 Hindi)
And decades later, whenever that familiar hook line plays, it still makes listeners smile – a reminder of a time when melody, instinct, and creative passion ruled Bollywood. (News18 Hindi)
