Noted lyricist Gulzar, who shared the Oscar for his song "Jai ho" in "Slumdog Millionaire" with A. R. Rahman, has confessed that he never thought Hindi lyrics could win the golden statuette.

"I never thought in the wildest of my dreams that Hindi lyrics can ever win an Oscar. Indian songs never had a place there (in the West) and the credit for this recognition goes to Rahman, " Gulzar told a news channel.

The lyricist was gaga over composer A. R. Rahman.

He said: "What a team to work with. You see the spirit of a film in his music. It's a pleasure to work with that man. He is an amazing innovator - the way he innovates the sounds is just amazing. "

"He is the one who broke the cliched methods of music compositions in the country and his innovativeness is the reason he has reached the Oscars. I am really proud of him, " Gulzar added.