Dhurandhar Composer Shashwat Sachdev Opens Up About Personal Inspiration Behind Viral Song 'Shararat'
In a revealing interview, Dhurandhar composer Shashwat Sachdev, a longtime collaborator of director Aditya Dhar, has shared the deeply personal story behind the creation of the viral song 'Shararat'. The track has become one of the most discussed elements of the much-anticipated film since its theatrical release.
The Emotional Core: From Personal Baggage to Musical Expression
Shashwat Sachdev revealed that 'Shararat' emerged from his own lived experiences and emotional landscape. "Shararat is a very special song for us," the composer stated during his conversation with Galatta Plus. He elaborated on carrying what he described as "the baggage of being born in a third-world country, in a Tier-2 city, to a lower-middle-class family."
Reflecting on his formative years, Sachdev explained how these circumstances shaped his perspective. "At that level, especially in a country with such a terrible sex ratio, your chances of having a beautiful girlfriend are very slim," he shared candidly. This reality sparked a creative longing that would eventually find expression in the song.
Reimagining Romantic Dynamics: When Women Express Desire
The composer described a specific fantasy that fueled the song's creation. "When I was growing up, I always wished I could be that guy a girl would sing for at a party," Sachdev recalled. "At weddings, you usually see boys singing for girls. I kept thinking—what if a girl sings for the guy? What if the girl wants the man?"
He was quick to clarify that this wasn't about material wealth or social status. "It's not about rich versus middle class," Sachdev emphasized. "I think the world we live in often entitles men to want women, and that isn't always romantic. I wanted to imagine a world where the woman expresses desire—where she says she wants to hang out with me. That felt like a beautiful world to live in."
The Creative Process: Tight Timelines and Emotional Honesty
The creation of 'Shararat' happened under considerable time pressure, as Sachdev explained. "Jasmin and I were working on the idea together. Initially, the lyrics were meant to be written by Kumar sir, a longtime collaborator, but he was travelling that day," he revealed. "Aditya told me it was a lip-sync song and we needed it immediately. We wrote a rough version, it got shot, and there was no scope to replace it later."
Despite these constraints, the emotional authenticity remained central. "The idea was that the girl talks about herself and woos the man," Sachdev described. "When she does that—especially with a wink—it satisfies the boy in me who comes from a third-world country, someone who also wants to feel desired and think that there are people who would want to seduce me."
Personal Resonance: When Art Mirrors Life
Perhaps most poignantly, Sachdev reflected on how the finished song unexpectedly mirrored his own journey. "I don't know if it fully makes sense in the context of Dhurandhar, or if Aditya even sees it that way," he admitted. "But when Sara's character moves with Ranveer in the song, it feels like my own story—where I come from and what I have become. I want to be honest to my filmmaker and to the text."
The song 'Shararat' has generated significant discussion since Dhurandhar's release, initially finding itself in the spotlight when the choreographer claimed Tamannaah Bhatia was initially considered before Ayesha Khan and Krystle D'Souza were brought on board. While that controversy was resolved, the conversation has now shifted to the powerful personal story behind the music's creation.
Shashwat Sachdev's revelations provide a rare glimpse into how personal history, emotional longing, and creative vision can converge to produce art that resonates with audiences. His journey from carrying what he describes as "baggage" to creating a song about feeling desired represents a powerful narrative of artistic expression born from authentic experience.
