Ismail Darbar Breaks Silence on Painful Split with Sanjay Leela Bhansali
The celebrated musical partnership between composer Ismail Darbar and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, which produced iconic soundtracks for films like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas, has reportedly suffered a serious rupture. The rift appears to have been triggered by an article that described Darbar as the "backbone" of Bhansali's Netflix series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar.
The Heeramandi Incident That Changed Everything
In a recent candid YouTube conversation with Subhojit Ghosh, Ismail Darbar revealed that the description in the article allegedly upset Bhansali. Darbar claims he was subsequently removed from the Heeramandi project despite dedicating nearly one and a half years to composing its music. "My heart had already broken," Darbar confessed, recalling that Bhansali had personally invited him to the show's premiere, telling him he hadn't called anyone else.
Reflecting on their long association, Darbar explained that while creative clashes were common throughout their collaboration, they had always found ways to work together—until the Heeramandi episode fundamentally altered their dynamic. "If me and Sanjay would have done Heeramandi together, we would have created history," he lamented.
A Turbulent Yet Deeply Bonded Creative Partnership
Darbar painted a complex picture of their relationship, describing frequent arguments rooted in artistic passion. "We used to fight during the making of every song," he admitted, while simultaneously expressing profound respect for Bhansali's support over the years. He revealed that during the Devdas era, Bhansali had restricted him from giving interviews, yet Darbar acknowledged: "He tolerated me a lot. No matter how many bad things I say about him, I feel the pain inside because if he would not have tolerated my tantrums at that time, I would not have come in front of the public."
The composer shared a powerful memory from their early collaboration on Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, specifically when Bhansali first heard the now-iconic track "Tadap Tadap." "He heard the song nine times when he first heard it," Darbar recalled. "After hearing it for the 9th time, he turned to me and he was crying like a dog. It looked like somebody close to him had died." Bhansali reportedly told him that this song completed the film in his mind, giving him clarity on where to place the interval and conclusion.
Personal Bonds Beyond Professional Collaboration
Beyond their professional relationship, Darbar revealed deep personal connections that made the fallout particularly painful. "Me and Sanjay have always fought like cats and dogs. But we love each other," he shared emotionally. He recounted how Bhansali had personally delivered the news of his father's death at night and traveled to Surat for the funeral. Seven years later, when Darbar's mother passed away, Bhansali learned about it independently and attended the funeral, sitting by the graveside longer than even family members.
"He is a different person," Darbar said. "I am sad that I lost a good friend because of this work." He also remembered a conversation following the commercial failure of Saawariya, when Bhansali told him, "Ismail, we will not fight from now." Darbar noted with irony that the film had met the same fate he had predicted three years earlier.
Accusations of Betrayal and Philosophical Reflection
Darbar directly accused Bhansali of breaking promises, stating: "He betrayed me, not one, but twice. He committed to working with me, and then didn't do so. I had worked on Heeramandi for 1.5 years, and he didn't tell me before replacing me."
When questioned about the possibility of future collaboration, Darbar responded philosophically: "This will not happen if I, you or Sanjay wish about it. This will happen only if God will want us to work together. And this is why I'm saying sorry to Sanjay. And I am apologising to the audience for my remarks."
The emotional interview reveals the complex layers of a creative partnership that produced some of Bollywood's most memorable music, now seemingly fractured by professional disagreements and perceived betrayals.
