Urmila Matondkar marks 25 years of 'Aa Hi Jaiye' from Lajja
Synopsis
Twenty-five years after 'Aa Hi Jaiye' first played on screen, Urmila Matondkar's Instagram tribute to the song — and to the fans who kept it alive — has reignited nostalgia for Rajkumar Santoshi's ambitious 2001 ensemble drama 'Lajja'. The silver jubilee moment shows how early 2000s Bollywood numbers are finding a second life through fan reels and social media tributes.
Key Takeaways
Urmila Matondkar marked the 25th anniversary of 'Aa Hi Jaiye' from 'Lajja' with an Instagram post on 2 September .
She shared a video of herself in a shimmery pink outfit with the song playing in the background. 'Lajja' ( 2001 ) was directed and produced by Rajkumar Santoshi , starring Madhuri Dixit , Manisha Koirala , Rekha , and Mahima Chaudhry .
Urmila appeared in the song as a special appearance and was not part of the film's core cast.
The film's story follows four women — all named after versions of Sita — each confronting patriarchy and injustice.
Actress Urmila Matondkar marked the 25th anniversary of her iconic song 'Aa Hi Jaiye' from the 2001 Hindi drama 'Lajja' with a heartfelt post on Instagram, thanking fans for their enduring love for the track. The actress shared a short video of herself dressed in a shimmery pink outfit, with the song playing in the background.
Urmila's Message to Fans
In her Instagram post, Urmila dedicated the milestone to her followers, writing: '25 years of this song!!! And this post is humbly dedicated to ALL OF YOU!!! Who made it what it is n made it Rock beyond my imagination after a silvery jubilee since it's release What I've absolutely loved watching in the last few days is all the posts dedicated to this song n to me by all you beautiful ladies (and some guys too).'
She closed the post on an uplifting note, urging her 'Insta Family' to keep dancing through life: 'What's important is keep dancing through life..no matter what!! All my love and immense gratitude to all of you!! Keep Shining n Dancing!! THERE IS A DIVA IN ALL OF YOU.'
About Urmila's Role in Lajja
Urmila appeared in 'Aa Hi Jaiye' as a special appearance and was not part of the core cast of 'Lajja'. The song has nonetheless become one of the most recalled numbers from the film, continuing to inspire fan tributes and dance covers more than two decades after its release.
About the Film Lajja
'Lajja' was produced and directed by filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi. The film features Manisha Koirala, Madhuri Dixit, Rekha, and Mahima Chaudhry as the four lead protagonists, with Anil Kapoor, Ajay Devgn, Jackie Shroff, and Danny Dengzongpa in supporting roles.
The drama follows four women — Vaidehi, Maithili, Janki, and Ramdulari — each named after versions of Sita, and each fighting patriarchy, abuse, and social injustice in her own way. Notably, the film remains one of the more thematically ambitious ensemble productions of early 2000s Hindi cinema.
Why the Song Still Resonates
The renewed wave of fan posts around 'Aa Hi Jaiye' reflects a broader trend of nostalgia-driven social media engagement with early 2000s Bollywood music. Urmila said she was moved by the volume and warmth of the tributes she received in the days leading up to the anniversary. This is the silver jubilee of both the song and the film, which released in 2001.
As fan-made reels and tribute videos continue to circulate, the anniversary underscores how certain performances from that era have found renewed relevance with younger audiences on short-video platforms.
Point of View
Even in a special-appearance capacity, can outlast the film itself in cultural memory. 'Lajja' was a bold but commercially uneven film; the fact that its most-recalled moment belongs to someone not in the main cast says something about the power of a well-choreographed number in the early 2000s. The wave of fan tributes also reflects a broader pattern: short-video platforms are rehabilitating early 2000s Bollywood in ways that theatrical re-releases never could.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Aa Hi Jaiye' and which film is it from?
'Aa Hi Jaiye' is a song from the 2001 Hindi drama 'Lajja', directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. Urmila Matondkar appeared in the song as a special appearance, and it has remained one of the most popular numbers from the film.
Why is Urmila Matondkar celebrating 25 years of the song?
2026 marks the silver jubilee of 'Lajja' and its songs, including 'Aa Hi Jaiye', which released in 2001. Urmila shared an Instagram post thanking fans for keeping the track alive through tributes and dance videos over the decades.
Was Urmila Matondkar part of the main cast of 'Lajja'?
No, Urmila Matondkar was not part of the core cast of 'Lajja'. She appeared only in the song 'Aa Hi Jaiye' as a special appearance. The film's lead cast included Madhuri Dixit, Manisha Koirala, Rekha, and Mahima Chaudhry.
What is the storyline of 'Lajja'?
'Lajja' follows four women — Vaidehi, Maithili, Janki, and Ramdulari — each named after a version of Sita, and each confronting patriarchy, abuse, and social injustice. The film was produced and directed by Rajkumar Santoshi.
Who are the other actors in 'Lajja'?
Besides the four lead actresses, 'Lajja' features Anil Kapoor, Ajay Devgn, Jackie Shroff, and Danny Dengzongpa in supporting roles. The film was a large-scale ensemble production for its time.
