/bollyy/media/media_files/2025/01/31/S52CGpSTVHEe0wSzXsUG.jpg)
By Sharad Rai
K. Asif, the maker of the iconic film Mughal-E-Azam, was often labeled as a "madman" or a "mad genius" for his relentless pursuit of perfection. His obsession with delivering a 100% result in his work made him stand out, and his commitment to his craft became legendary.
There’s a story about how Sanjay Leela Bhansali was once discussing the grandeur of his upcoming project Heeramandi, and someone commented, “You think like K. Asif!” Bhansali, with great humility, immediately joined his hands and replied, “No, he was a genius!” A person sitting nearby quickly countered, “He was mad! It was a madness to make films like he did!” And thus began the conversation about Asif’s obsessive dedication to his work.
For those unfamiliar, K. Asif was the legendary director and producer behind Mughal-E-Azam, a timeless masterpiece in Indian cinema. What set him apart from others was his unwavering demand for perfection — not just good, but 100% excellence. He spent 16 long years in making Mughal-E-Azam, and this film became a testament to his singular vision.
50 thousand rupees were given to Bade Ghulam Ali for one piece of the song
The journey of Mughal-E-Azam began in 1944, and it wasn’t until 1960 that the shooting was finally completed. Asif had a very hands-on approach, meticulously overseeing every department and engaging in countless discussions with the crew. The film’s music, composed by the legendary Naushad, was no exception. Asif had frequent sittings with Naushad, debating every minute detail of the music.
One such instance was when Asif was working on a scene where the character of Tansen, portrayed by an artist, would perform music. Asif said, “When Tansen played music, it had to be at that level. We need someone of that caliber in our film.” Naushad, knowing a potential artist, said, “There’s one, but he doesn’t work in films.” He was referring to the renowned Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan.
Naushad and Asif went to meet the maestro in Lucknow. Despite their pitch, Ustad Ghulam Ali refused to lend his voice to the film. Asif, however, was relentless and firmly said, “The music must be done by you.” In a separate conversation, Ustad Ghulam Ali questioned Naushad’s choice of Asif, saying, "What kind of man is this?" Naushad explained, “He’s someone who is obsessed with the work; his madness for perfection is unparalleled.”
In that moment, Ustad Ghulam Ali decided to demand a staggering sum of 50,000 rupees. Naushad, stunned by this amount (a hefty sum in 1944 when the average music composer earned just 500 rupees a month), was taken aback. But Asif, undeterred by the amount, pulled out a wad of 10,000-rupee notes from his pocket and handed them over, saying, “This is your advance; the rest will be given in Bombay.”
This was the kind of madness K. Asif had for his craft — a singular obsession with excellence. Today’s filmmakers lack that kind of passion and commitment to give their all to their work. As Bhansali rightly said, "He (K. Asif) was a great filmmaker!"
Mughal-E-Azam Full Movie
Mughal-E-Azam Songs
Read also: