Created by Bandbaajabarat
Last edited March 28, 2026


Mehboob Kotwal
Born (1961-10-07) 7 October 1961 (age 64)
Bandra West, Mumbai, India
OccupationLyricist, writer

Mehboob Kotwal (born 1961) known professionally simply as Mehboob, is an Indian film lyricist.

Early life[edit | edit source]

Mehboob was born and brought up in Mumbai, Maharashtra, where he also received his primary education, first in English and later in Urdu.[1]

Career[edit | edit source]

In 1986, Mehboob met music composer Ismail Darbar who played violin in film orchestras those days. It was Darbar who taught him the difference between poetry and film lyrics.[2] Darbar introduced Mehboob to filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma and he began his songwriting career with Varma's 1992 film Drohi whose music was composed by R.D. Burman. He then worked with A.R. Rahman on Varma's Rangeela. Rahman liked his work and introduced him to Mani Ratnam and Mehboob penned the lyrics for the Hindi (dubbed) version of Bombay.[3] Mehboob went on to work with A.R. Rahman on films such as Thakshak, Doli Saja Ke Rakhna and Dubbed version of Dil Hi Dil Mein. He has also written lyrics for A.R. Rahman's non-film album Maa Tujhe Salaam as well as Mani Ratnam's Yuva.[4]

Mehboob collaborated with Ismail Darbar on Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 1999 film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, and on Shakti - The Power in 2002. He has also written the lyrics for Kamaal Khan's Hindi pop album "Kal Raat" (2003) and KK's albums - Pal and Humsafar.[5]

Filmography[edit | edit source]

Awards[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. [1]
  2. "My First Break - Mehboob".
  3. The man who almost gave verse to Devdas
  4. "9XM SoundcastE: Episode 106 With Mehboob Kotwal | SpotboyE". www.spotboye.com. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  5. ""People who listen to Hindi film music are craving for good poetry" – Mehboob". Planet Bollywood. 18 July 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2022.

External links[edit | edit source]