'Bhansali and I are friends, but there are still ego issues'

Music composer Ismail Darbar says he shares a friendly relation with his former collaborator Sanjay Leela Bhansali, but could not work with the National Award- winning filmmaker in the long run due to ego issues.

Darbar has given memorable music for Bhansali's "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" in 1999, for which he won his first National Award.

They again reteamed to deliver superhit album "Devdas" in 2002.

It was during the filming of "Devdas" that creative differences cropped up between the two. The duo recently buried hatchet to become friends again.

"We are good friends and we both love and respect each other. But again...'ek mayan mein do talware nahi reh sakti' (two of a trade can never agree). Today somewhere the ego has come in between us. So, these things are drifting us apart," Darbar told PTI when asked about teaming up with Bhansali again for work.

"It is our loss ... we are not getting any benefit.

We have become friends today, but there is ego in us."

Though the duo has not worked together since 2002 (in 'Devdas'), the 53-year-old composer has been following Bhansali's work as music composer.

"I have loved 'Laal Ishq' (song from 'Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela') and 'Aayat' from 'Bajirao Mastani'."

Darbar's work will be next seen in Sanjay Dutt's comeback film "Bhoomi" in which he has scored the background score.

"I share a good equation with producer Sandeep Singh. I saw the film and I liked it and out of excitement I told him I will do background score for the film. Even Omung Kumar (director) and Bhushan Kumar (producer) too loved the idea," he says.

"Bhoomi" is scheduled to release in September.

-PTI