Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Nov 2: Music composer Himesh Reshammiya has credited Bollywood superstar Salman Khan and filmmaker David Dhawan for playing key roles in shaping his successful career spanning several decades.

Speaking on film trade expert Komal Nahta's podcast ‘Game Changers: The Music Series’, Reshammiya said he was doing well as a television producer and composer before Salman Khan encouraged him to explore the world of cinema and film music.

Recalling the support he received from Salman, Reshammiya said, “I get very emotional and feel grateful to everyone who has been a part of my journey. If Salman Bhai had never given me a break, there is a possibility that I would never have wanted to struggle. I was doing well in television serials, so why would I go out and sell music? The songs were genuinely superhits.”

He said even his school friends and others who listened to his compositions believed the songs were destined to become hits. He added that there was not a single music session where someone walked out of his studio saying that a song was not good.

Reshammiya recalled that he was working on four television serials simultaneously and composing music for them every day. Having achieved success in television, he had even begun thinking about making films independently.

However, his major breakthrough came when Salman Khan offered him an opportunity to compose music for his film. He also credited David Dhawan for recognising the potential of his compositions.

“I had four ongoing serials and was working every day. I even composed music for my serials and thought I could make films myself now. By then, I got my big break, and those songs went on to become hugely popular hits. I would like to give David Ji credit because I was working on Salman Khan's film for two songs when he came in,” he said.

Recalling how Dhawan selected his compositions for the film ‘Dulaara’, Reshammiya said he informed Salman that the filmmaker had arrived for the project. Salman then asked Dhawan to listen to the songs he had composed for his film.

“David Ji locked all the songs in 15 minutes, as a solo composer. After that, Ratan Ji and Abbas-Mustan came along,” he recalled.

Reshammiya also spoke about the making of the music for Salman Khan's film ‘Tere Naam’. He said the team wanted the film's protagonist to have a brooding personality, drawing inspiration from the character of Devdas.

“Then came ‘Tere Naam’. We thought the character had to be in the Devdas zone. He had to be a brooding hero; he couldn't be smiling and all that. That's how Tere Naam happened. That is why I always say it's important to jam,” he added.