The Unlikely Path of a Bollywood Lyricist Who Started Behind the Camera

When Raj Shekhar entered the film industry, his ambition was limited to the logistical side of filmmaking. Hired as an assistant director for *Tanu Weds Manu* in 2010, he spent his days coordinating shots, managing schedules and occasionally facing reprimands for missed logistics.

The turning point arrived when the production team needed placeholder lyrics for a few songs. Raj, with a lifelong love for poetry, stepped up and wrote quick drafts for “Manu Bhaiya” and “Rangrez”. The director’s enthusiastic response converted an assistant director into a full‑time lyricist overnight, a shift Raj now describes as “accidental”.

Key to his success has been a disciplined habit of creating detailed narrative notes for every script he signs. By dissecting character motivations, emotional beats, and plot twists, he crafts verses that act as an additional storytelling layer. This method shines through tracks like “Tum Ho To”, “Pehle Bhi Main”, “Kitne Dafe” and “Jaan De”, where the lyrics echo the protagonists’ hidden feelings.

The journey was not without setbacks. After the initial burst of fame, several films failed to launch, and revenue dryness forced him to pivot toward television dialogue writing for shows such as *Savdhaan India*. Those months of financial strain sharpened his resolve and broadened his writing skill set.

His most recent experiment, the song “Tabahi” for the 2026 film *Toxic*, took him beyond the Hindi market into the Kannada‑Malayalam space. Collaborating with director Gitu Mohandas, actor Yash and composer Vishal Mishra, Raj blended regional idioms with his signature narrative lyricism, demonstrating that his behind‑the‑camera beginnings have equipped him with a unique perspective on visual storytelling.

Raj Shekhar’s narrative proves that an unexpected role change, combined with disciplined preparation, can transform a backstage professional into a celebrated voice of the Indian film music landscape.