Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 17: Music composer Akhil Sachdeva has revealed that actor Emraan Hashmi personally approached him to compose Piya Ghar Aaya - Homecoming for the recently released Awarapan 2, and gave him complete creative freedom to experiment with the song.

Speaking to reporters after the film's release, Sachdeva said Hashmi wanted a different musical flavour from him and specifically asked him to move away from the kind of songs he had previously composed.

“Emraan Hashmi himself called me for the song and he wanted me to make a very different song from what I have usually done,” Sachdeva said.

He said he was pleased that Hashmi did not ask him to create another conventional love or heartbreak song, instead encouraging him to explore a different musical direction.

“I didn't have any pressure for it but I knew that I had to achieve the level, the legacy of ‘Awarapan’, the standard of ‘Awarapan’,” he said.

Sachdeva said he relied heavily on his instincts while creating the track and was encouraged by Hashmi to follow his creative instincts.

He also deliberately incorporated Punjabi words into the song's lyrics, something he said was not part of Awarapan.

“So people might be afraid of this, people might have different views but I thought that it is coming naturally. So I accepted that song as my gut feeling,” he said.

The composer described the song as being centred on Hashmi's character and expressed happiness that it had emerged as one of the most discussed tracks in the film.

He acknowledged that songs such as Tera Mera Rishta and Toh Phir Aao from the first Awarapan have a distinct legacy that is difficult to compare with, but said the new film also has new songs that are making an impact.

Sachdeva also addressed the criticism he received for using Punjabi words in the lyrical structure of Piya Ghar Aaya.

“I think criticism is definitely what we were expecting. I was very on for criticism. I also got abuses for using Punjabi words,” he said.

However, he claimed that some viewers who initially criticised the song later changed their views after watching the film in theatres.

“Everybody who has gone to the theatre and seen the film, they have said sorry to me on Instagram,” he said, adding that some viewers sent him direct messages acknowledging that they had initially misunderstood the song.

Sachdeva said the reaction ultimately reinforced his belief in following his instincts and creating music from the heart.

“I think that's the beauty of my song and beauty of doing it purely from my heart,” he said.