Himesh Reshammiya Reveals Why He Rejects Films Without Romantic Songs

MUMBAI– Indian music composer and singer Himesh Reshammiya says he frequently turns down film projects that do not offer opportunities to create romantic songs, explaining that his preference reflects both his creative strengths and the commercial success of love-themed music.

Speaking on film trade analyst Komal Nahta’s podcast, Game Changers: The Music Series, Reshammiya discussed his approach to selecting Bollywood projects, the importance of romantic music in his career and the challenges of composing songs under tight production deadlines.

The composer said he often receives offers for films that require songs centered on friendships, family relationships or other situations but lack a romantic element.

“I frequently get situational films where I am required to make songs for two friends or siblings. They are just straight situational songs. Because I want to work on romantic songs, if 90% of the film consists of five or six situational songs and there is no romantic song, I turn them down. Forgive me, but I don’t want to work on them. I have clarity because the numbers coming from romantic songs are 10 times higher. I like doing romantic songs, and I am very good at it. When I work on a film, there is a certain expectation”, Reshammiya said.

He explained that audiences and filmmakers associate his work with a particular style of music, making it important for him to choose projects that align with those expectations.

“If I don’t deliver those numbers, they won’t say that the numbers weren’t good because there was no romantic song”, he added.

Reshammiya also discussed the creative process behind successful film music, arguing that memorable compositions cannot always be produced according to rigid deadlines.

He said some of his songs were composed well before they were selected for particular films, allowing him to develop them without the pressures of an immediate production schedule.

“I always feel that if you go in search of a song today, we say that such music is not made. It is not made because if you give me a deadline that I want a song in a month It is possible that a great song can be made. It can be made in a minute too. But it is possible that it is not made”, he said.

The composer suggested that tight filming schedules can sometimes force music directors to use existing material rather than wait for a stronger composition to emerge.

“And because of the deadline, when the shooting takes place in the same 15 days or a month then you either have to take the same song that I have made or anyone else has made. And that thing may not be great at that time. But if you have made one thing on time, in which there is no pressure of a time limit and it is great, after that you have made a sample”, he added.

Reshammiya’s comments highlighted his belief that creative freedom and adequate time are essential to producing music with lasting appeal.

For the composer, romantic songs remain central to his artistic identity, influencing both the projects he accepts and the expectations he seeks to meet through his work. (Source: IANS)