Earlier, the fathers played at weddings. Now their children play. When they were told they're part of the film and that they will be performing on camera for the song 'Chor bazaari', they got new uniforms stitched for the entire band at their own cost,' said Ali.

A part of Delhi in 1965 in Imtiaz Ali's new film had to be recreated in Mandawa, Rajasthan, and Patiala, Punjab. And the Jea Band contributed not only to the periodicity but the film's energy levels too during shooting.

'We shot with the Jea Band not only in Delhi but also in Patiala and Mandawa because the 1965 Chandni Chowk look does not exist in Delhi any longer.

'We took the Jea Band with us to Mandawa and Patiala. After shooting, they kept us entertained for hours with old film songs,' said the director.

Saif picked up many of his actress mother Sharmila Tagore's old hits from those evenings in Mandawa and Patiala with the band. But unfortunately Jea couldn't record in the soundtrack of 'Love Aaj Kal'.

'They couldn't keep rhythm with the recording mode. Their style of playing is very unstructured,' said Ali.

Old music is a looming leitmotif in the film. 'We chose 'Man dole tan dole' from 'Nagin' when the other choice was 'Jhumka gira re' from 'Mera Saaya'. We wanted a sound that could linger,' the director explained.