Discussions are regular in top stars and top singers of Bollywood. So, why can’t we observe some rare but amazing combinations of Bollywood songs, which have always received positive response from music fans? One such deadly combo of Bollywood 1990s is Abhijeet & Suniel Shetty. Abhijeet owns a great voice and is indeed a versatile artist. Though remained a busy singer of 1990s, he always received fewer opportunities comparing his contemporaries – Udit Narayan and Kumar Sanu. Yet Abhijeet managed to give some evergreen tracks of 1990s.
Among the leading stars, Abhijeet’s voice has always matched with Shah Rukh Khan. Same is the case of Suniel Shetty in the 1990s, who never rose to the league of top heroes in 1990s. Yet he has managed to deliver many action hits. He frequently worked with Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in the 1990s. With Dhadkan in year 2000, he started accepting roles with negative shades and earned success also. Kumar Sanu has rendered his voice for many hit songs featuring Suniel Shetty such as Aankhom Mein Barse Ho Tum, Palke Hein Khuli, Haye Hukku Haye Hukku, Kajal Kajal etc. Yet let us put forward this discussion to name the top songs of Abhijeet – Suniel combination.
Film ‘Anth’ started the beginning of this successful combo
Though Suniel Shetty has been associated with Bollywood since year 1992, Abhijeet’s voice was tried for the first time in the year 1994 by the music director, Anand-Milind for the movie – Anth. Earlier Abhijeet’s voice has been used for Suniel Shetty’s movie Pehchaan, but for two songs of Saif Ali Khan. A raunchy song used to be associated with almost every film that decade and was considered as a trademark of Bollywood films of 1990s. “Aa Ja Jaane Jaa” featuring Suniel Shetty and Somy Ali too belongs to this category and the steamy shots between the leads gained popularity among the masses. Since then Abhijeet sang for several chartbuster hits of Suniel Shetty.
A series of solo and duets in the second half of 1990s since “Jhanjariya” magic
“Jhanjariya” from the movie Krishna featuring Suniel Shetty and Karishma Kapoor
In 1996, a sensuous rain song was pictured on Suniel and Neelam, in line with “Aa Ja Jaane Jaa” of Anth. “Sawan Ki Raaton Mein Baaton Hi Baaton Mein” – a duet with Kavita Krishnamurty from the movie Ek Tha Raja got noticed. Same year the chartbuster song, “Jhanjariya” from the movie Krishna was released. The song had two solo versions – Male version was sung by Abhijeet and the female version by Alka Yagnik. One of the most expensive songs shot in Bollywood till then, the male version song featured hundreds of dancers and its choreography also gained attention. I read in a magazine or column that time – more than 500 dancers were used to shot this single song. Suniel Shetty and Karishma Kapoor were featured in the song, and a very colourful song indeed.
After the song clicked in the public reviews, many music directors used Abhijeet’s voice for Suniel Shetty songs. “Jhanjariya” was followed by another top song of the year – “Shehar Ki Ladki” of this combination. Music was composed by Anand-Milind. Both these movies had Karishma Kapoor as Suniel Shetty’s female lead. The film also included a parody song where Abhijeet was one among the singers. 1996 was a good year for Suniel Shetty’s professional career too. He acted in a few movies as solo hero, and also received moderate success.
“Khul Gaya Naseeb” of Bhai, “Hasil Mazaa Hai “of Daal featuring Anjali Jathar, “Hello Hello Bolke” and “Madhosh Ho Gaya Main” of Aakrosh etc are a few more songs of this combination in the 1990s.
Dhadkan is the most successful album of this combination
Tum Dil Ki Dhadkan Mein featuring Suniel Shetty and Shilpa Shetty
Dhadkan was one of the top 5 albums of the year 2000. Its music composed by Nadeem-Shravan was well received. Suniel Shetty also played a negative shaded role in this movie, one of the first experiments of this kind before he turned a full-fledged antagonist for movies such as Mein Hoon Na, Baaz: A Bird In Danger etc. Tum Dil Ki Dhadkan Mein featuring Suniel Shetty and Shilpa Shetty topped many music charts of the year, and still loved by music fans. His expressions as an obsessive lover were well depleted in this song, and Abhijeet’s intense and expressive voice makes this song the most popular song of this combination. Though Tum Dil Ki Dhadkan was the single track of Abhijeet, it became the highlight of the film. Its sad version featuring Suniel Shetty was sung by Kumar Sanu.
Other hits of the combination since year 2000
“Humba Leela” from Hera Pheri
Tum Dil Ki Dhadkan was a huge hit of the year 2000. Year 2000 had two big hit films where Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty shared screen space – Hera Pheri and Dhadkan, and both these movies had Abhijeet songs featuring Suniel Shetty. Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty had earlier given many hits and flops together throughout 1990s. Abhijeet sung three songs for Hera Pheri – “Humba Leela”, “Denewala Jab Bhi” and a duet aside Kavita Krishnamurthy – “Main Ladka”. Mera Kangna of Kroadh was also released in the year 2000. Raatom Ko Raatom Ko Neend Nahi Aati Hai of Ittefaq, Hasate Ho Rulate Ho of Yeh Tera Ghar Yeh Mera Ghar etc are a few more.
Remained a popular hero of 1990s, Suniel Shetty moved to character roles with mid-2000s. Abhijeet also got less opportunity to sing for Shetty since then. One of the finest singers of 1990s, Abhijeet never received the recognition which he truly deserved. Yet some of his popular songs have stood against the test of time. I feel Kunal Ganjawala’s voice was later used as a best substitute for Abhijeet’s songs in Bollywood movies (It’s my personal opinion only, as both these singers are inspired great Kishore Da).
In the recent times, Abhijeet’s voice was used for Ranbir Kapoor in Besharam for the song – “Dil Ka Jo Haal Hai”. The voice heard in Bollywood after a long time gave me a feel of sweet melodies of 1990s. I wish to hear more similar type of songs in Abhijeet’s voice with new composers of Bollywood.
Also read a few topics on new era Bollywood music on miscellaneous topics
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