In the beginning of 1991, the shooting of the film “Saajan”, starring famous actors like Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit, Kader Khan, was completed and the post production work was going on in full swing. The producer-director of the film was very confident about the success of the film. The main reason for this was the superhit trio of lyricist-composer-singer of this film. Lyricist Sameer Composer Nadeem-Shravan and singer Kumar Sanu had earlier created a stir in the Indian cinema world with Mahesh Bhatt sahib’s superhit film “Aashiqui”. They had done a brilliant job for this film too. Then the starcast of the film was also excellent. It was certain that the film would be a superhit.
Amidst all this, one day the film’s lyricist “Sameer” came to meet the music composer “Nadeem”. Meeting Nadeem, he said, “Friend Nadeem Bhai, there is something missing in this film, my heart is saying that there should be a title song in the film. Hearing this, Nadeem was shocked and said, “Have you gone mad Sameer, the shooting is over, the film is to be released in some time and today you are telling me that there should be a title song in the film. Have to include one more song. Well that day the matter stopped there.
After a couple of days, Sameer and musician Nadeem Shravan were having breakfast in a restaurant. In the middle of breakfast, Sameer suddenly said, “Nadeem Bhai, a line has come, please make something on it.” Having said this, Sameer Saheb recited the line, “For the first time, I have seen love in Saajan’s eyes.”
Nadeem liked the line and asked Shravan to give the beat on the table. Shravan kept giving the beat and Nadeem composed the tune of this line. Everyone liked the tune very much. Nadeem immediately called the film’s director Lawrence D’Souza and said that he wanted to include another song in the film. Lawrence also had the same reaction to this that now that the release date of the film is so close, then how will this song be shot.
In response to this, Nadeem said that you should call Salman and Madhuri to listen to this song once, if they like this song then we will include it in the film, otherwise we will keep it for our second film. Nadeem also said that he is so confident about this song that he himself is ready to bear the entire expense of its shooting and recording.
Lawrence agreed and Nadeem – Shravan recorded this song in the voices of SP Balasubramaniam and Alka Yagnik. The next day the song was played to Salman and Madhuri and they liked the song very much. After listening to the song, Salman said, “I want this song in the film at any cost, you book tickets for tomorrow, we will shoot tomorrow itself.” Next morning Salman and Madhuri reached Ooty and by evening they completed the shooting of the song. This song was included in the film.
When the film was released on 30 August 1991, it proved to be a superhit as expected. The songs of the film started being heard everywhere and especially the song “Dekha Hai Pehli Baar” gained immense popularity.