Gulzar has donned many hats excelling as a screenwriter, producer, director and author. There are many facets to this personality but his poetry is what brought him close to the hearts of every Indian. The portrayal of vivid colours and deep visuals of life through simple words endeared him to his readers. His poetry is like free-flowing water of a stream - lucid, flexible and full of life. He not only became a much-revered name in the literary and film circle but went on to get international accolades by winning the coveted `Oscar` award for the song `Jai Ho`.

In Bimal Roy's last movie 'Bandini', S D Burman gave the music but he was facing a deadlock with the music of Bandini as lyrics of only one song was left to be completed. This is when Debu Sen, an assistant of Bimal Roy introduced a motor mechanic who used to write poetry. Roy desperately needed a good replacement and it was then, that the name of young lad Sampooran Singh Kalra was recommended. Apparently, Shailendra had read his poetry and gave his nod for the young mechanic to Bimal Roy. This is how the young poet got the film 'Bandini' and wrote the iconic song `Mora Gora Rang Layile`. A legend was thus born - whom we all know today as Gulzar!!

The young poet must have been thrilled when he was approached by none other than Bimal Roy, right? Wrong! As Saran narrates in her biography of SD Burman, Gulzar had his aversion for Bollywood who was using his pen name Gulzar Deenvi initially after his hometown Deena in Jhelum district of present Pakistan. Interestingly, Gulzar had joined Bimal Roy Productions two years before Bandini was released and was working in the production line, but he never wanted to write for films. He first refused to write a song for Bandini but then was coaxed By Debu Sen to visit Mohan Studio and after meeting Bimal Roy and SD Burman changed his mind. And from there onwards, Gulzar aka Sampooran Singh never looked back and the rest is history.