Deepak Tijori reveals Aashiqui was made on a shoestring budget of Rs 40 lakh, destined for TV release

Tijori revealed that Gulshan Kumar, the founder of T-Series, played a crucial role in the film’s development. Kumar’s strategy was to first ensure the success of the film’s songs, and then proceed with the production of the film. “Gulshan Kumar did that, he made sure the songs (from Lal Dupatta Malmal Ka) were a hit first and then he made the film. He did the same with Aashiqui, he made sure the songs were a hit and then he told Bhatt sahab to make the film,” Tijori explained.

The songs of Aashiqui, composed by Nadeem-Shravan, indeed became a massive hit, paving the way for the film’s production. Tijori recalled how Kumar approached Mahesh Bhatt with the idea of making a film around the songs. “The songs were beautiful, they were loved, the movie was made once the public caught on to the songs. So, he called Bhatt sahab and made him listen to the songs and told him, ‘Iske upar film banaiye (make a film around these songs).’ Bhatt sahab actually did that and the film turned out the way it did, and added more songs to it, and the rest is history,” Tijori said.

Aashiqui, starring Rahul Roy and Anu Aggarwal, went on to become a massive commercial success, and its songs continue to be remembered as some of the most iconic in Indian cinema.