Did you know AR Rahman’s Oscar-winning song ‘Jai Ho’ was created for THIS Salman Khan film, not for ‘Slumdog Millionaire’? | Hindi Movie News

In 2008, the world was mesmerised by the song ‘Jai Ho‘, which became a massive hit and even won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Featured in Danny Boyle’s film ‘Slumdog Millionaire‘, the song played a major role in the film’s success. However, not many know that ‘Jai Ho’ was not originally made for ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. It was first created for Subhash Ghai’s Bollywood film ‘Yuvvraaj’, starring Salman Khan.
A.R. Rahman first composed ‘Jai Ho’ for ‘Yuvvraaj’, a Bollywood film that also starred Anil Kapoor along with Zayed Khan, Katrina Kaif and others. The song was meant for a scene featuring Zayed Khan’s character. However, after recording, director Subhash Ghai felt that the song did not match the film’s mood. He thought it was “slightly too soft and subtle for the aggressive character (Zayed Khan).” So, the song remained unused.

Ghai revealed in an interview with ANI that’Jai Ho’ song was made for ‘Yuvvraaj’. We recorded it but after recording, I felt that it wouldn’t work for us in that situation. Rahman gave the song to that (‘Slumdog Millionaire’) film. It is his composition.

Reflecting on how ‘Jai Ho’ found its place, Subhash Ghai said, “I happily gave the song to Rahman when he said it was needed for Danny Boyle’s film. I felt the song was slightly too soft and subtle for the aggressive character (Zayed Khan). I’m glad they could use it. Every film and every song has its own destiny. That song was meant to be in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.”
The journey of ‘Jai Ho’ from ‘Yuvvraaj’ to ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ happened by chance. As per Pinkvilla, Danny Boyle was in Mumbai for a music release when he unexpectedly met A.R. Rahman in a hotel lobby. This meeting led to a discussion about Boyle’s film, and Rahman decided to offer him the unused track.

Rahman later said, “Danny loved it, so I gave it to him.” Anil Kapoor also shared in an interview with Hindustan Times, “We kept telling Danny that he must get in touch with Rahman in Chennai but Danny said that he had heard Rahman didn’t agree to (immediate) projects and he needed someone who’d come into the project right away.”
Once added to ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, ‘Jai Ho’ became a perfect fit for the film’s uplifting theme. The energetic rhythm and inspiring lyrics made it an iconic song. At the 81st Academy Awards, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ won multiple Oscars, including Best Original Song for ‘Jai Ho’ and Best Original Score for A.R. Rahman. The song also won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award, making it a historic achievement for Indian music.