The son of famous film lyricist Lalji Pandey, who went by the pen-name Anjaan, Sameer was born near Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. He started his career as a bank officer but eventually followed his father's footsteps and made his way to Bombay in 1980.
He made his debut as a lyricist with the film "Bekhabar" (1983) and but 1990 was really his breakthrough year. In 1990, he wrote hit songs for "Baagh", "Dil", "Swarg" and the mother of all music hits that year "Aashiqui". The song "Nazar Ke Saamne" from the film brought him his first Filmfare Award for Best Lyrics.
During the early 1990s, Sameer could do no wrong. He wrote blockbuster hits for films like "Saajan" (1991), "Dil Hai Ki Maanta Nahin" (1991), "Sadak" (1991), "Deewana" (1992), "Dilwale" (1994) and "Raja Hindustani" (1996) among many others. On the one hand he was part of films that were commercially successful and on the other, he racked up two more awards - one for "Deewana" (1992) and the other for "Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke" (1993).
The hold that Sameer established in the film industry lasts to this day, thanks to his ability to churn out hit songs in regular succession. Although he is not considered among the best Bollywood lyricists, he is certainly amongst the most prolific ones.
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