The Pakistani attraction in Sanjay Gupta’s under-production Shootout at Wadala is that Faisal Kapadia and Bilal Maqsood of Strings are composing music for the film.

Sanjay and Strings have a longstanding association and have worked together on the film Zinda for the song Yeh Hai Meri Kahani and Har Saans, while for Shootout at Lokhandwala the band composed Aakhri Alvida.

More on Shootout at Wadala is that John Abraham has a Ganpat act in the drama/thriller that is inspired by real incidents way back in the 1980s.

Reportedly, while in India, Strings also attended a special show of Delhi Belly arranged especially for the Faisal and Bilal by Imran Khan. A section of the Indian press has reported that Amir Khan’s nephew is allegedly “a huge fan of theirs.” It is also alleged that post-wedding, Imran’s wife Avantika had asked Strings to perform for her husband as “a surprise gift.”

Images on Sunday spoke exclusively to Strings on their return from India. Here’s what the boys had to say about their India yatra.

Q. Who approached you with the offer to compose music for Shootout at Wadala.

“Sanjay Gupta called. He’s directing a movie after six years. His last film as a director was Zinda. In this movie he is going a step beyond by giving us the complete project. There are other musicians involved, too. For example Mika, who did Gunput Daroo La in Shootout at Lokhandwala (produced by Sanjay Gupta) and he’ll be doing a Gunput-type song which will be composed by him. Unlike Shootout at Lokhandwala, there is a strong love story which will be running through all the blood and gore, so there is a bigger scope for music. Currently we are working on four songs.”

Q. We hear that Shootout at Wadala is inspired by real incidents in the ’80s?

“Yes, it’s a true story but slightly modified for cinema. It’s about Mumbai’s first-ever recorded encounter.”

Q. According to section of the Indian press ‘there has been a lull as far as Pakistani artists composing for an Indian film are concerned, the makers of Shootout At Wadala have taken an exception’. Comment. “That’s true because if we see Rahat (Fateh Ali Khan), Atif (Aslam) and Shafqat (Amanat Ali) are all singing for Bollywood but they are not the composers. We always wanted to come on board as composers. We did this with Lokhandwala, Zinda and now Shootout at Wadala.”

Q. How much of the music is complete? When will it and the film be released?

“We are in the process of composing all the songs. Of course we won’t be singing all the compositions. Once they are complete, we’ll choose the singers accordingly. The film will be released in the fourth quarter of 2012.”

Q. Are you working on a new album as well simultaneously? Where will it be released from?

“Although we have a lot of brand new songs, an album in these times does not seem like a good idea. We plan to release these songs as singles, one at a time, just like we released Ab Khud Kuch Karna Paray Ga and Mein Tou Dekhoonga. Digital medium has become very strong hence we don’t see the need of a releasing company anymore.”

Q. What do you think of Ali Zafar in Mere Brother Ki Dulhan and him as a music director for London, Paris, New York? “Ali is just too good. We are sure that MBKD is just the start for him.”

Q. Any other developments which would interest Strings’ fans? “Yes, we are also composing a qawwali for Shootout at Wadala and are really excited about it. Just want to do something really exciting and different.” — T.R.