[1][2] Anjaan had got his first break with the 1953 Premnath production Prisoner of Golconda where he wrote "Lehar Yeh Dole Koyal Bole" and "Shaheedon Amar Hai Tumhari Kahani".

He also wrote hits for Bachchan with other composers like Rajesh Roshan (Do Aur Do Paanch, Yaarana), Bappi Lahiri (Namak Halaal, Sharaabi) and R. D. Burman (Mahaan).

His liaison with Prakash Mehra also yielded hits like Zindagi Ek Juaa, Dalaal and other films like Jwalamukhi, Ghunghroo, Mohabbat Ke Dushman, Muqaddar Ka Faisla, Imaandaar, Chameli Ki Shaadi and Himalay Se Ooncha.

His work with others was almost schizophrenically different, with songs like R. D. Burman's "Yeh Faasle Yeh Duriyan" (Zameen Aasman), "Laagi Lag Jaaye Logon" (Poonam / Anu Malik), "Ganga Mein Dooba" (Apne Rang Hazaar), ‘Meri Saanson Ko Jo’, "Na Jaane Kaise" and "Woh Woh Na Rahe" (Badaltey Rishtey, "Hamrahi Mere Humrahi" (Do Dilon Ki Daastaan), ‘Yashoda Ka Nandlala (Sanjog), ‘Sadiyan Beet Gayi’ (Triveni) and the beautiful songs of Eeshwar (all these films were with Laxmikant–Pyarelal showing a poetic vein).

The song "Gourki Patarki Re" became a rage and set the stage for many more films with a resurgent Chitragupta and laying the foundation for the personal - and later - professional liaison between their respective sons Sameer and Anand–Milind.

A few months before his death on 13 September 1997, his only book of poems, Ganga Tath Ka Banjara (A Gypsy from the Shores of the Ganges) was released at the hands of Amitabh Bachchan.