Bappi Lahiri, the legendary composer who revolutionized disco music in Indian cinema, left an indelible mark on the 1980s and 1990s. His songs continue to captivate new audiences even decades later. Among the many fascinating stories from his life, a particular memory involving Michael Jackson stands out.
Bappi Lahiri's 2015 Interview Revisited
In a 2015 interview with Bollywood Hungama, Bappi Lahiri shared a personal experience from Los Angeles. He recalled attending a party during his stay there, where an unexpected encounter with a Chinese fan took an interesting turn. Describing the incident, he said, 'Nowadays I live in Los Angeles and am working on 2-3 Hollywood projects. So at a party, a Chinese girl came to me and said Namaste. I was with my friend. I asked that girl if she knew any of my songs because I had received a China Gold Award for Disco Dancer. I said 'Jimmi Jimmi' and she exclaimed.'
Meeting the King of Pop
Bappi Lahiri also spoke about meeting Michael Jackson during the pop star's visit to India. The meeting left a lasting impression on him and became one of the most memorable moments of his career. Recalling that interaction, he shared, 'When Michael Jackson came for a show, I met him when Raj and Bal Thackeray brought him to their house. The first thing he said to me was, I love your song Jimmi Jimmi. Just as there is only one Kishore Kumar, there is only one Michael Jackson.'
'Jimmi Jimmi' and Global Popularity
The song 'Jimmi Jimmi' from the film Disco Dancer became an international hit, gaining massive popularity in countries like Russia and China. Bappi Lahiri's final notable track was 'Bhankas' from Baaghi 3, featuring Tiger Shroff and Shraddha Kapoor.
The Michael Biopic
A new biopic titled Michael has renewed conversations around the pop legend. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, the film traces Jackson's journey from his early days with the Jackson 5 to his rise to global stardom. Jaafar Jackson plays the lead role, while Juliano Krue Valdi appears as the younger version of Michael Jackson. In related news, the Michael Jackson Estate paid $2.5 million to settle five abuse cases, and fresh claims have shaken the biopic's production.
