How Dum Maro Dum was made

Did you know the hugely popular song Dum Maro Dum Mit Jaye Gham from Hare Rama Hare Krishna was to be sung by Lata Mangeshkar?

That was composer Rahul Dev Burman's original plan.

But Dev Anand, the film's producer-director-leading man who had a keen ear for music, suggested Asha Bhosle instead.

"Lata sang two beautiful solos Phoolon Ka Taaron Ka, Ho Ho Re Ghungroo and a lovely duet Kanchi Re for me in Hare Rama Hare Krishna. Dum Maro Dum didn't seem right for her," Dev Anand had told Subhash K Jha.

That's how Asha stepped in.

But her terrific singing the song almost didn't make it into the film.

When Dev Anand heard Dum Maro Dum, he told RD he found it strange and decided to drop it from the film.

In a panic, RD pleaded to let the song be a part of the film's soundtrack album, if not a part of the film.

Eventually, Dum Maro Dum was filmed and it became one of the biggest hits of RD and Asha's career.

Ashaji once told Subhash that Dum Maro Dum was the most requested song at her live concerts after Oh Mere Sona Re (Teesri Manzil).