Aashiqui 2 clocks 10 years: Composer Mithoon reveals what his father told director Mohit Suri ‘What my son has done for your film is better than the work of my entire career’

Composer-lyricist Mithoon’s father, Naresh Sharma did the sound arrangement for Aashiqui, which turned out to be a blockbuster back then in 1990. Carrying the franchise forward, Aashiqui 2 released in 2013 and it was indeed a destined coincidence that 23 years later, Sharma’s son, Mithoon came on board to work on the music.

“For quite some time, I did not even tell my father that I have been signed up for Aashiqui 2. That gave me a lot of space to work as no conversations were happening with him,” reveals Mithoon, whose career got a major push after the film’s success.

Admitting that there were “high expectations” from him to recreate the magic with his music, he adds, “When the basic idea of the song was ready, I went to him and shared the news. My father gave a very understated reaction. That’s also because he is my guru and I can’t get very pally with him. However, after few days, when he heard the final version of Tum Hi Ho as well as the instrumental in the film, he called up (director) Mohit Suri, who was in South Africa at that time, and said, ‘What my son has done for your film is better than the work of my entire career’. That felt so good.”

Mithoon recalls that being an “extremely emotional” moment not just for him but also for Suri, as the entire team needed that pat on the back from someone as experienced as his father.

Tum Hi Ho received tremendous response and went on to becoming one of the most performed song during live events and reality shows. Hundreds of covers were made for Youtube. However, Mithoon confesses that at the time of working on it, he never expected such a fabulous response.

“I was told by filmmakers Mukhesh Bhatt and Mahesh Bhatt that it will be a huge hit but I have never really dwelled upon the consequences. Mene expect bhi nahi kiya tha ki woh itna pasand kara jayega. In fact, when the song’s first teaser was launched, I had no idea about it and my phone started ringing. Itne calls aane lage ki mujhe laga something has gone wrong. Tab mujhe pata chala ye itna bada hit ho gaya hai,” he gushes.

Ask him what makes that melody timeless, and Mithoon says it’s the intention and not the thought to create any history. “All I tried was to work on an emotion I connected to,” says the composer pointing out how between 2009 and 2012, a lot of experiments were going on in the Indian music industry including rap music gaining wide popularity.

“I was also tempted to experiment but I stuck to my calling and what I enjoy as a composer. And I am happy I did that as it reaffirmed my faith in the fact that one should always do what one believes in. Aaj bhi log bolte hain ki, ‘It’s a very Mithoon-sounding song’. That feels like an achievement,” he shares.

Mithoon, who is often requested to perform that song during his live shows, calls its the “most honest moment with his audience.” He tells us, “When all the barriers between me and my audience are broken, and we are one, that’s when I perform Aashiqui. I never see it as a mere presentation to impress people. This song is beyond streaming numbers, awards for me, and when I perform it, I let people know that I am sharing a piece of my life with them.”