Sonu Nigam to sing Mohammed Rafi song ‘Badan Pe Sitare’ in Fanney Khan

Directed by Atul Manjrekar, Fanney Khan's first poster had shown a glimpse of the lead character's musical idols — actor Shammi Kapoor and singer Mohammed Rafi. Actor Anil Kapoor plays an orchestra singer in the film who is not able to accomplish his dreams and instead pins his hopes that his daughter Lata (Pihu Sand) to make a hit musical album for her.

In the film's trailer, Kapoor says, "Mein Mohammed Rafi toh nahin baan saka, lekin tereko Lata Mangeshkar zaroor banaunga [I couldn't become Mohammed Rafi but I will make you Lata Mangeshkar for sure.]"

Recently, Anil shot a recreation of the famous song ‘Badan Pe Sitare Lapete Hue’ from the film Prince (1969) directed by Lekh Tandon. The film stars Shammi Kapoor and the song, of course, is sung by Mohammed Rafi. This is not a remake like the songs featured OK Jaanu (2017) and Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017). As Anil's character is a singer, Sonu Nigam has sung this version. The music and lyrics of the song by Shankar-Jaikishan and Hasrat Jaipuri remain the same.

Manjrekar told the daily tabloid Mumbai Mirror, “We couldn’t use Rafi saab’s voice as AK Sir’s character sings in the film. At the same time, we wanted someone who would do justice to our tribute to the original. It was AK sir who suggested Sonu’s name and all of us instantly agreed because who better than him to do justice to this great song.

In his musical career, singer Nigam has often sung Rafi songs on stage and on private albums. In fact, Nigam started out at age four singing 'Kya Hua Tera Vaada' from Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1997) on stage with his father Agam Kumar Nigam.

On the radio programme, Agar Tum Na Hote, Nigam had said, "Whenever I talk about Rafi sahab, I feel I'm talking about my father. Mujhe lagta hai Bhagwaan ne mujhe is dharti par Rafi saab ka danka bajaane ke liye hi bheja hai."

Fanney Khan, which also stars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Rajkummar Rao and Divya Dutta, is due to be released on 3 August.