What Shah Rukh Khan movie titles have to do with song lyrics

Shah Rukh Khan’s next film is called Jab Tak Hai Jaan. The name of the Yash Raj film, directed by Yash Chopra himself, was a well-kept secret till today, when it was revealed on Twitter by trade analyst Taran Adarsh.

As anybody with the sketchiest knowledge of Bollywood will know, the title of the film has been borrowed from the lyrics of a song – Basanti’s finale number from 1975’s Sholay, directed by Ramesh Sippy. In the song, Hema Malini, playing village belle Basanti, dances on broken glass to save Dharmendra, playing petty criminal turned crimefighter Veeru. All the while singing Haan, jab tak hai jaan, jaane jahan, main nachoongi (I will dance as long as I have life in me).

Jab Tak Hai Jaan is just the latest in a string of films starring Shah Rukh Khan with titles that have been taken from songs.

It all started with another SRK-Yash Raj film – the first ever, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, in 1995. The title, borrowed from a song called Le jayenge le jayenge from 1974 film Chor Machaye Shor, was suggested by actress Kirron Kher who wasn’t in the movie but who’s husband, actor Anupam Kher, was playing SRK’s father.

In 2000, Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla starred in Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, a phrase made famous by Raj Kapoor in the song Mera joota hai Japani from 1955’s Shree 420.

In 2003, there was Chalte Chalte. SRK’s co-star was Rani Mukherji, and the film title was taken from Meena Kumari’s courtesan number in 1972’s Pakeezah.

2007 brought with it Om Shanti Om, SRK’s second superhit collaboration with choreographer-turned-director Farah Khan. Not only did the film borrow it’s theme of reincarnation from an older film (in fact, two older films), it also borrowed it’s name from a song made famous by Rishi Kapoor in one of those two films – Karz (1980).

And now there’s Jab Tak Hai Jaan, also starring Katrina Kaif and Yash Raj regular Anushka Sharma. We’re certain it won’t be the last.