 Chandra started his career with Gulzar in 1971, and later also worked as an editor with him.Influenced by Gulzar's "Mere Apne" (1971) and bringing in his experiences growing up in Mumbai, Chandra wrote a story of four frustrated unemployed men who roam the streets of Mumbai.He even based the character Ravindra upon the role played by Vinod Khanna in the original.