Salim-Sulaiman had to ‘plead’ with Aditya Chopra to include Ainvayi Ainvayi in Band Baaja Baaraat: ‘Director rejected the song’

Sulaiman told HT City, “In Ainvayi Ainvayi, if you hear the whole music production, the whole beat, with the words so creative…” Salim interrupted, “That song was a reject. The director rejected it. He said, ‘Ye gaana merko nahi samjhta (I don’t get this song).'”

“So, I had to speak to the producer (Aditya Chopra) and plead with him. It was the director’s (Maneesh) first film, actor’s (Ranveer) first film. I had to really request the producer because sometimes you just happen to make such songs. A week before, I had gone to a wedding in Delhi, and the afterparty of that wedding had really cool music. So, I thought Band Baaja Baraat should have this kind of music,” Salim added.

Recalling how much of a ‘struggle’ it was to get “Ainvayi Ainvayi” added to Band Baaja Baraat’s soundtrack, Salim shared, “Fortunately, the producer told the director, ‘I don’t know what is going to happen to your film and your actor, but this song is a hit, let’s go with this song.'”

Finally, the song ended up being a part of the movie. But, today, no film producer is willing to take such a risk. “There was still that hope that at least there would be one person who would understand, But now it has become tough. Everyone wants to be safe today, nobody wants to take the risk,” Salim opined.

Band Baaja Baaraat released in the theatres in 2010 and was a blockbuster. The film established Ranveer Singh’s career in the Hindi film industry and he went on to star in various hits like Gully Boy, Bajirao Mastani, and Ram-Leela among others.