Amitabh Bachchan used to sing the folk songs on which this song and "Mere Angne Mein" ("Laawaris", 1981) were based at his house every Holi. Yash Chopra heard him sing it once and asked him to sing a version of it for this film. Amitabh's father, poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, was credited for the song's lyrics. The folk tune on which this song was based was used previously in another Holi song "Holi Khele Nandlala Biraj Mein" ("Rahi", 1953).[1][2][3]