He penned some memorable songs such as the famous nazm Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo[2] and Tasveer teri dil mera behela nah sakegi.
The latter made the singer Talat Mahmood famous in India back in 1944 and was instrumental in introducing him to the Calcutta film industry.
[3] A little known fact about Hashmi is that he wrote the famous 'Na tum mere na dil mera', that was sung by Kamla Jharia, among many others.
The family lived next door to the veteran stage director Agha Hashar Kashmiri who regularly attended the literary gatherings at his father's home.
"[9] He wrote his very first full songs that Talat Mahmood sang in 1941 (Sab din ek samaan nahin tha) and the runaway hit Tasveer teri dil mera behla na sakay gi with music composed by Kamal Dasgupta.