We've talked and written about the World War so much that it has almost been purged off. The bitterness is gone. The drama came to an end and it is history.

I had written the song 'aaza aaza Shamiyane ke tale... ' for Ghai's film 'Yuvvraj' but he felt the song did not suit his film and Rahman suggested that the track should be used in 'Slumdog' and it fitted well with the movie.

Translations are very important these days, since an average person can only know 2-3 three languages. We have so many languages in India and poems are being written in as many of them.

The success of Indian music at the Oscars is a great achievement.

If a film promotes communal harmony, which for me is beyond religion, I am happy to work on it because the film's premise is in line with my beliefs.

Short stories and poems are an intense burst of emotions.

I used to put black ink on the author's name in a book and write my name instead to check how it would look there - such was my passion!

When I write a poem, I do not have to worry about using a higher Urdu vocabulary because I know the reader knows Urdu well.

There is an old guest house opposite my house, and grandsons visit from time to time from the U.S., every time grown up a little. I don't know whether the same grandchildren come every time or it is someone else.

I believe words should amaze or amuse. Only then will the listener want to understand the meaning of the song.