Coronavirus update: Ibrahim Ashq, lyricist of Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, dies at 70

Veteran lyricist and poet Ibrahim Ashq died due to COVID-related complications yesterday. He was 70. Ashq, who is survived by his wife and three daughters, was laid to rest on Monday morning.

Ashq was admitted to Mumbai’s Meditech Hospital on Saturday after he complained of breathlessness. “He was admitted to the hospital on Saturday after he became very ill. There he was diagnosed with COVID-19. He had COVID pneumonia which the doctors told us affected his lungs and he had breathing difficulties. He passed away today around 4 pm,” his daughter Musaffa told the news agency Press Trust of India. 

Born in Madhya Pradesh, Ashq did his post-graduation in Hindi literature from Indore University. 

Known for writing the lyrics for the numbers in Rakesh Roshan’s Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai (2000) and Koi…Mil Gaya (2003), both starring Hrithik Roshan, he also wrote the lyrics for another Hrithik-starrer, Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage (2002). 

Some of his other popular films which he wrote songs for are Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar (2001), Janasheen (2003), Dus Kahaniyaan (2007), Welcome (2007) and Black & White (2008). 

Ashq also tried his hand at screenwriting, penning the films Dhara (2008) and Musaa: The Most Wanted (2010).