After creating timeless melodies in films like ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ and ‘Devdas’, composer Ismail Darbar and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali have reportedly had a serious fallout. Tensions are said to have escalated after an article referred to Ismail as the “backbone” of Bhansali’s series Hiramandi: Diamond Bazaar.
The description allegedly upset Bhansali, and Ismail later claimed that he was removed from the project despite devoting nearly a year and a half to composing his music.In a recent conversation with Subhujit Ghosh on YouTube, Ismail spoke about his long and often turbulent relationship with Bhansali. He explained that disagreements were nothing new between them—creative clashes were common—but they always found a way to collaborate, until the Heramandi incident changed the dynamic.Recalling the Devdas phase, Ismail revealed that Bhansali banned him from giving interviews at that time. However, he acknowledged the director’s patience and support over the years. He said, “Bhansali did not allow anyone to take my interview during Devdas. However, I would not have spoken in front of people (about all this) as if it were not for Sanjay Leela Bhansali and what he did for me… He put up with me a lot.”
No matter how much I say bad things about him, I feel pain inside because if he had not tolerated my tantrums at that time, I would not have appeared in front of the public.”Describing their creative process, Ismail admitted that the arguments were repetitive but rooted in emotion. “We used to fight while composing each song. I respect him a lot about that because he gave me and my family a lot of love. We had a good relationship until Hiramandé, he called me from the front to invite me to the premiere of the show.
He told me he hadn’t called anyone else but me, but by then my heart was already broken.
He later added, “If Sanjay and I had done Hiramandi together, we would have created history.”He also revisited a powerful memory from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, particularly the moment when Bhansali heard the famous song ‘Tadap Tadap’ for the first time. “He heard the song nine times when he first heard it, and after he heard it for the ninth time he turned to me and was crying like a dog.
It seemed that someone close to him had died. He admitted that this song was the one that completed his film in his mind, as he had the idea of where to end the film and where to place the time lapse.
After that, I thought at least now he would finish the music, but he didn’t either.Speaking candidly about their emotional bond, Ismail said, “Sanjay and I have always fought like cats and dogs. But we love each other. We both respect each other’s work a lot.”
He will stand by me if I have a bad time in my career because he is a good human being. When my father died, it was Sanjay who brought me this news at night, and he also came to Surat, my hometown. Seven years later, when my mother died, I didn’t tell him, but he found out and attended the funeral.
It sat near my father’s grave for a long time. Even I or any of my relatives didn’t sit there for long. He’s a different person.
“I am sad because I lost a good friend because of this action.”Ismail also recalled a conversation following the failure of Sawariya at the box office. “When Sawariya failed, Ismail told me, ‘We will not fight from now on,’ and the film met the same fate that I told him about 3 years ago.”Accusing Bhansali of going back on his word, Ismail said: “He betrayed me, not once, but twice. He committed to working with me, and then he didn’t do it. He betrayed me.”
I worked at Hiramandi for a year and a half, and he didn’t tell me before he replaced me.When asked if future collaboration was possible, Ismail replied on a philosophical note: “This will not happen if you, me or Sanjay want it. This will only happen if God wants us to work together. That is why I say sorry to Sanjay. I apologize to the public for my statements.”
