Pakistani poet Umair Najmi’s verses appear in Bollywood film

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani poet Umair Najmi has said that his poetry was formally licensed for use in the Bollywood film Gustakh Ishq, with the production team securing his consent through an agreement and paying him for the work.

Speaking on a recent podcast, Najmi said the film’s director, Vibhav Puri, contacted him in 2023 through a mutual poet friend in India. He said the director wanted to include his verses in the film and shared the full script, identifying the portions where the poetry would be used.

Najmi said he reviewed the script in detail and suggested adjustments so the verses would fit more closely with the film’s two central characters — an established poet and his younger protégé, played by Naseeruddin Shah and Vijay Varma. According to Najmi, those suggestions were accepted and became part of the final version of the film.

He said four of his couplets are featured across the film. Among the verses recited are Bichhar gaye to ye dil umar bhar lagega nahin and Hai koi jis se teri yaari na ho, both performed by Vijay Varma, while Naseeruddin Shah delivers the couplet Bade tahammul se rafta rafta nikalna hai.

Najmi said he had initially been doubtful about the offer, but changed his view after receiving the script and seeing how the process was being handled. "At first I wondered if the offer was genuine, but once I received the complete script and saw how professionally everything was being handled, I realised it was serious," he said.

He added that the project was especially appealing because the story centres on the bond between a senior poet and an aspiring writer, allowing poetry to become an organic part of the narrative.

Najmi also said the film’s presence on Netflix has expanded the reach of his work beyond South Asia, with translated subtitles making it accessible to wider audiences. On the question of recognition, he said he was both compensated and credited on screen in line with the agreement. He described seeing his name appear alongside that of lyricist and poet Gulzar as a significant personal moment. "Growing up, I used to see Gulzar's name on screen. Now my name appears beneath it. That alone is a source of pride," he added.

He also praised the filmmakers for respecting artistic ownership and involving him throughout the process rather than using the poetry without permission. "They could have used the poetry without permission, as often happens, but instead they contacted me, shared the script, sought approval and involved me throughout the process. That sincerity is one of the reasons the work came together so well," he concluded.