4 min readMumbaiUpdated: Jun 2, 2025 04:59 PM IST
Adnan Sami, Pakistan-born singer and composer, became an Indian citizen in 2016. While he has received flak from across the border for the move, Sami has maintained that he’s proud to be a part of India. Sami was even awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of the Republic of India, earlier this year.
In a new interview, Sami revealed the real reason why he started making music in India. “After the songs I released in 1998, people in the Pakistani music industry thought I’m finished. So they didn’t provide any marketing for those songs. Nobody got to know when the album released and vanished. I was very dejected. I was in Canada at that time. I knew they’d done that on purpose,” recalled Sami.
In the interview with India TV, Sami recalled discussing the issue with legendary singer Asha Bhosle. She had sung popular tracks like “Kabhi To Nazar Milao” from his 1997 album Badaltey Mausam with Sami. “I told Asha ji I’m dejected because people here have decided they don’t want to work with me for whatever reason, and that I want to record with her in London,” said Sami.
“‘Why do you want to record in London?’ she asked me. I said I know some people there. So she said, ‘See, if you really want to do something new, come to Mumbai. This is the capital of Hindi music. Whatever gets popular here would spread out to the rest of the world. So this is the place to come,'” Sami recalled his conversation with Bhosle.
“Main boriya bistar le ke pahuch gaya Mumbai,” said Sami, claiming that Bhosle and her entire family took very good care of him. Bhosle was married to legendary music composer RD Burman, who died in 1994. “She made me stay in RD Burman’s home. I was very lucky because it was like a music temple,” recalled Sami.
“The songs that didn’t work in Pakistan, like “Kabhi To Nazar Milao”, “Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein”, “Lift Karadey”, they were marketed so well that the rest is history. The way people embraced me and loved me, I could’ve never imagined it,” added Sami. Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein and Lift Karadey were part of Sami’s 2000 hit album Always Yours.
Sami revealed not just him, but legends like ghazal maestros Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Mehdi Hassan, and folk singer Reshma, did thrive in Pakistan, but their popularity grew by four times. “You can’t deny the audience and the masses are in huge quantity today. The attitude and respect for music here can’t be matched anywhere else,” said Sami.
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He lamented the fact that Hassan and Reshma saw very horrific last days and deaths despite being masters of their profession. “The audience loves them and has always praised them. But the authorities have never offered any help. These are just a few names. There have been many others like this, including actors,” added Sami.
The singer also responded to the letter then-Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf wrote to his father in 2005, criticizing him for abandoning Pakistan. “There was no truth to that letter. In 2005, I wasn’t an Indian citizen. I was a Pakistani citizen. I don’t know where he got the wrong information from. It’s obvious that it’s gone from the bottom to the top. That’s why everyone just disowned me,” Sami recalled.
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He revealed that he didn’t apply for Indian citizenship for money as he left his inherited properties worth crores back in Pakistan. “Money wasn’t my driving force. In fact, when I came here, I had to start from scratch again,” said Sami. “I was facing a lot of problems then as a Pakistani citizen, especially in a public profession. Everyone knows all your moves. I had even reached out to Musharraf for help,” said Sami. He consequently applied for Indian citizenship in 2015, which he was granted the next year.
Adnan Sami reveals why he started making music in India.