‘Owe my success to R D Burman and Nasir-saab,’ insists ‘70s rock-star Tariq Khan

“ Frankly speaking, 95 per cent of my success as a guitar-strumming flamboyant dancing rock-star’ goes to genius composer R D Burman and showman Nasir Hussain-saab, who is my maternal uncle - Chaitanya Padukone

That’s because I got hijacked into movies by default. By nature I was shy, reserved and introvert and did ‘not know either acting or formal dancing,” shared actor and dancing Rockstar of ‘70s Tariq Khan who has just turned 70 (Nov 9th) years.

When I wished him on phone, unassuming Tariq-bhai, who has been more of my buddy-friend for past three decades, disclosed that he is celebrating his birthday with his own family at home..

Recalls the retro-swag-icon Tariq ( yes, he is Aamir Khan’s cousin), “Besides the melodious title-song of super-hit ‘Yaadon Ki Baarat’ (1973), the chartbusting dance ‘duet’ numbers like ‘Aapke Kamre Mein Koi ’ , ‘Dil Mill Gaye’and ‘Lekar Hum Deewana’ were picturised mainly on me and some portions on Zeenat Aman and Vijay Arora.

Before the songs were even shot, it was Pancham-uncle who boosted my morale as he said excitedly ,’Gaane bahut hi kamaal ke bann gaye hain.

Ab tumko super-kamaal screen-performance dena hoga. Jo tum kar sakte ho.’ Then came jubilee mega-hit ‘Hum Kisi Se Kum Naheen’ (1977), featuring the evergreen National Award-winning track ‘Kya Hua Tera Waada’ sung by Mohd

Rafi-saab which I feel so super-fortunate to have given my lip-sync to the song. There was also this fabulous romantic track ‘Yeh Ladka Haaye Allah’.

The crowning glory is the unique ‘competition-song’ medley in which ‘Tum Kya Jaano Mohabbat Kya Hai’ sung amazingly well in high-octaves by the innovative Pancham-da which is picturised on me Incidentally, celeb guests-of-honour, talented composer Anand ( of Anand-Milind duo) and Tariq Khan who released my authored memoirs book ‘R D BurMania in Pune at the ‘Panchammagic’ Pune group bi-annual event.

Incidentally both Anand and Tariq have shared their exclusive detailed fond tributes to R D Burman in my book R D BurMania.