Despite being in the industry for several decades, Wadali Brothers, the now-discontinued musical duo, barely recorded any Hindi film songs. While many singers aspire to do playback, Lakhwinder Wadali, son of singer Puranchand Wadali, who is now a part of the music group, says his father never enjoyed recording songs for films in the studio.

“Papa ji doesn’t usually record in the studio. He is a simple man and glamour doesn’t appeal to him. While he is hesitant to record tracks, it’s very easy for him to sing live,” says Lakhwinder, who is “doing a song with (composer duo) Salim-Sulaiman” and hopes that his dad starts singing for movies too.

Wadali Brothers’ handful of film outings include songs such as Darda Marya and Waris Shah Nu from Pinjar (2003), and Rangrez from Tanu Weds Manu (2011). “The songs that they sang were all recorded live,” says Lakhwinder, adding that his father turned down many Bollywood projects.

“He was offered to sing for Veer-Zaara (2004), the part where both the lead actors (Shah Rukh Khan and Preity G Zinta) met after many years (referring to the number Tere Liye, sung by singer Roopkumar Rathod in the film). He refused that project and many others because he didn’t want to record the tracks,” says Lakhwinder.

The singer adds, “Even the song Bhar Do Jholi Meri from Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) was offered to him, but he didn’t do it. The makers even waited for a few months, but he did not accept the offer.”