Pakistani pop singer Hasan Jahangir revealed that he earned $50,000 for one of his songs featured in a recent Bollywood film.
Jahangir shared the details during a Ramadan special television program. When asked about payments for his music, he confirmed that filmmakers now seek permission and compensate him for using his songs.
“A film made with a budget of Rs 300 crore and earning Rs 1,100 crore recently paid me $50,000 for featuring my track,” Hasan Jahangir said. He added that several of his classic songs, including Shawa Ve, Nakhra Gori Da, Aa Jaana Dil Deewana, Hato Bacho, and his iconic hit Hawa Hawa, continue to appear in films.
Jahangir explained that earlier, there was no proper copyright system, and artists rarely received payment for the use of their music. “Now, whoever wants to use my songs first takes permission from me. I allowed my music to be used for free only once, for Pakistan Idol,” he said.
The singer also shared insights about the origins of Hawa Hawa. He recorded it in 1986 and released it in 1987. The song became a defining hit of his career and remains popular across generations.
Recalling his peak popularity, Hasan Jahangir described a memorable visit to India. Upon landing in Mumbai, he was amazed by the fan frenzy at the airport. “All customs officers and intelligence staff were following me. I didn’t know I created such a craze among the people,” he recalled. Bollywood actor Govinda, who also sang Hawa Hawa, welcomed him at the airport.
He described being escorted in a massive convoy, including cars, fire trucks, and ambulances, to his hotel and then to a stadium for a performance. “That’s when I realized what real stardom is,” he said.
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The discussion is linked to the use of Hawa Hawa in the recent film Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar. The movie blends real and fictional events, featuring actors such as Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, and Akshaye Khanna, and portrays cross-border terrorism with references to Karachi’s past.
