He always wore a smiling face, Rajesh Roshan says of lyricist Ibrahim Ashq

Veteran lyricist and poet Ibrahim Ashq, 70, died of COVID-19 complications on Sunday. Two of the films for which he wrote the lyrics were Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai (2000) and Koi… Mil Gaya (2003), both of which had music composed by Rajesh Roshan. Both films went on to become big hits at the box office.

Recalling Ashq, Rajesh Roshan told Cinestaan.com, “Ibrahim Ashqji had written quite a few songs for me. Most of them became hits. He always wore a smiling face and took up all the challenges that came with writing lyrics to my tunes.”

The composer felt Ashq should have written lyrics for far more films. “Given his high calibre, he should have written for many, many big films," he said. "It is sad he is no more with us. He was very close to my heart and I shall miss him forever.”

Both Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai and Koi... Mil Gaya were directed by Rajesh's filmmaker brother Rakesh Roshan and starred Hrithik Roshan. Hrithik shared a condolence message for Ashq on Twitter, saying, “Thank you for touching my life with your beautiful words, Ibrahim Ashq sir. Om shanti. My prayers and condolences to the family.”

Ashq had also written the songs for another Hrithik-starrer, Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage (2002).