Mustafa Zahid replaced Strings in Shootout At Wadala? : Bollywood News

The Lahore-based rock star Mustafa Zahid, the lead vocalist of Roxen and a regular with Mahesh Bhatt, has reason to rejoice. After being associated with Vishesh Films in Murder 3, Blood Money and Awarapan, the 29-year old has managed a successful breakthrough in the Balaji camp.

Balaji and Sanjay Gupta's keenly awaited multi-starrer Shootout at Wadala is his starting point. What is interesting about his association with Sanjay is that the latter has, in the past, always incorporated tracks from the Pakistani band Strings. He has opted for Mustafa this time round.

Mustafa Zahid replaced Strings in Shootout At Wadala?

"Strings had come up with a smashing title song for Zinda (2006), 'Zinda Hoon Main'. The song was a chart-buster and further to that, Sanjay Gupta also repeated them in Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007) for 'Aakhri Alvida'. It was almost a given that the association was for keeps, pretty much demonstrated yet again when Gupta and Strings got together for music sittings during the making of the Shootout at Wadala soundtrack," informs a source.

In fact Gupta is believed to have been happy to host the band in India and had all the right intentions to get something smashing yet again for his mega action-drama. However the right song did not materialize. After a while, Gupta started hunting afresh and that's when Mustafa Zahid's name was strongly recommended by a senior official from the Balaji management.

Remarks the source, "Mustafa's past work speaks for itself. Once Gupta started work with Mustafa, he was impressed with his 'Yeh Junoon' composition, which was eventually used for picturising a romantic sequence between John Abraham and Kangana Ranaut. In fact, Mustafa's song, being the only mellow romantic number on the soundtrack, is a real clutter-breaker and stands out."

Another source close to the film provides a contrary view, "Mustafa has not replaced Strings. Both the tracks were to be a part of the film but things changed on the film and only Mustafa's track was retained by Gupta."

Adds the source, "Gupta still adores Strings and will certainly use them for his next project. But for now, Mustafa is the flavour."