Dil Chahta Hai - 2001

Dil Chahta Hai is a legendary Bollywood film that debuted in 2001  and is noted for its innovative narrative, likeable characters, and influence on the Indian cinema industry. 

It is a well-known Indian Hindi-language film that Farhan Akhtar directed and penned the screenplay for this coming-of-age drama. The film stars Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Preity Zinta, and Dimple Kapadia in an ensemble cast.

Dil Chahta Hai first aired on August 10, 2001. The picture did well at the box office, earning 397.2 million (US$5.0 million) after its theatrical run. It was a huge commercial success in cities but a flop in rural regions; its failure in rural areas was linked to the upper-class, city-oriented lifestyle it promoted. When it was released, it gained great critical acclaim for its unique storyline, direction, soundtrack, cinematography, costumes, and cast performances. Several commentators remarked that movie broke new ground by depicting modern Indian youth in a realistic manner.

Dil Chahta Hai was inspired by Akhtar's diary entries from his journeys to Mumbai and New York City, as well as a story written by a friend of his, Kassim Jagmagia, who went on to become a creative partner at Excel Entertainment. He began writing the screenplay in 1998 but finished it when main photography began two years later. The film was made on a $80 million (US$1.0 million) budget, and it was shot in both India and Australia. It was one of the first films to be shot in sync sound, with sound recording handled by Nakul Kamte and H. Sridhar. The soundtrack and background score were composed by the duo Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, with lyrics written by Akhtar's father, Javed Akhtar.

Table Of Content

• Details

• Story

• Release

• Reviews

• Rating

• Casting

• Crew

• Character Analysis

• Songs

• Behind the scenes

• Box Office Collection

• Awards

• Interesting Facts

• How to Book a Personalised Celebrity Message from a celebrity similar to celebrities from ‘Dil Chahta hai’ on Tring?

Details

Story 

Play

Dil Chahta Hai is about three close friends, Akash (Aamir Khan), Sameer (Saif Ali Khan), and Siddharth (Akshaye Khanna). The film delves into their personal adventures of love, friendship, and self-discovery.

The plot opens with three buddies living carefree lives in Mumbai. Akash, a carefree playboy, rejects serious relationships in favor of having a good time. Sameer, a hopeless romantic, readily falls in love yet suffers heartbreak. Siddharth, an artist, is wiser and more mature, yet his love life is complex.

As the story progresses, the friends endure a variety of personal issues. Akash falls in love with Shalini (Preity Zinta), a girl who is already engaged to someone else, and battles with his feelings. Sameer has several failed relationships and realizes his true love is somewhere else. Siddharth, on the other hand, has a deep bond with Tara (Dimple Kapadia), an older divorcee, which leads to a complicated emotional connection.

The film explores issues such as friendship, love, and devotion, as well as the problems that develop as people manage their relationships. It depicts the ups and downs, misunderstandings, and reconciliations that occur among friends. 

Dil Chahta Hai is noted for its realistic representation of urban youth, appealing music, and imaginative storytelling. It gained critical accolades for its innovative and contemporary approach, well-developed characters, and memorable dialogues. The picture was a commercial success and developed a cult following over time.

Release

Dil Chahta Hai was one of the year's most anticipated Indian films, thanks to its narrative of youth, which was rarely explored in Indian cinema. The one-minute trailer was shown on television and in movie theatres across India to generate fan interest and media coverage.

 Prior to its theatrical debut, a special screening was hosted at the home of Indian Home Minister L. K. Advani in Delhi. The film was released in theatres on August 10, 2001, competing with Deepak Shivdasani's romantic drama Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke, which also starred Zinta. Dil Chahta Hai was afterward screened at various film festivals, including India's 33rd International Film Festival, Palm Springs' 14th International Film Festival, and Austin's 11th Film Festival.

Reviews

Dil Chahta Hai earned great critical acclaim upon its initial release, with praise for its unique storyline, soundtrack, Farhan's direction, cinematography, costuming, and cast performances. Several critics have commented on the film's realistic depiction of current Indian youth.

Critics praised Farhan Akhtar's assured debut and ability to depict the spirit of friendship and the complexity of relationships. The film was praised for its unique approach on love, friendship, and coming of age, departing from the standard Bollywood template. The audience was moved by the representation of the three principal characters and their different paths.

The performances in Dil Chahta Hai  received widespread praise. Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Akshaye Khanna were praised for their realistic and nuanced representations of their characters. Their on-screen connection and camaraderie were praised. Preity Zinta and Dimple Kapadia garnered excellent feedback for their performances as well.

Dil Chahta Hai garnered great feedback for its unique and relatable tale, exceptional acting, memorable dialogue, and moving music. It is regarded as a cult classic and is widely regarded as a game-changer in Indian film, changing the depiction of youth and friendship on the big screen.

Rating

Based on user ratings, the film has an IMDb rating of 8.1/10.

The film received 4.5/5 stars from The Times of India, a famous Indian newspaper, denoting a highly positive assessment. Rediff.com, an Indian online journal, gave Dil Chahta Hai  four out of five stars, praising its realistic depiction of friendship and urban youth.

Casting

• Aamir Khan as Akash Malhotra

• Saif Ali Khan as Sameer Mulchandani

• Sonali Kulkarni as Pooja

• Rajat Kapoor as Mahesh, Shalini's maternal uncle

• Akshaye Khanna as Siddharth "Sid" Sinha

• Preity Zinta as Shalini

• Dimple Kapadia as Tara Jaiswal

• Ayub Khan as Rohit

• Suchitra Pillai as Priya

• Suhasini Mulay as Sid's mother

• Yusuf Hussein as Naresh, Pooja's father

• Ahmed Khan (actor) as A. K. Malhotra, Akash's father

Crew

• Director: Farhan Akhtar

• Producer: Ritesh Sidhwani

• Writer: Farhan Akhtar

• Cinematographer: Ravi K. Chandran

• Music Director: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy

• Editor: A. Sreekar Prasad

• Production Design: Suzanne Caplan Merwanji

• Costume Design: Arjun Bhasin

• Choreographer: Vaibhavi Merchant

• Sound Design: Baylon Fonseca

Character Analysis

Akash Malhotra (played by Aamir Khan)

Akash is presented as a careless, reckless man who rejects love and long-term partnerships. He is a self-assured and humorous character who frequently adds humour to the plot. Akash embodies the daring and free-spirited side of youth. He goes through personal growth and learns the importance of love and friendship throughout the film.

Sameer Mulchandani (played by Saif Ali Khan)

Sameer is a romantic at heart, frequently falling in love yet experiencing heartbreak in his relationships. He is described as a passionate and sensitive individual who wears his heart on his sleeve. Sameer gives the group a sense of innocence and vulnerability. His journey entails discovering true love and making mature decisions in relationships.

Siddharth (played by Saif Ali Khan)

Siddharth is the trio's most mature and serious member. He hails from a rich household and enjoys art. Sid is portrayed as reflective, compassionate, and contemplative. He must balance the expectations of his family while pursuing his artistic goals. Sid depicts the tension between personal goals and cultural expectations.

Shalini (played by Preity Zinta)

Shalini is a kind and independent woman who becomes Akash's main love interest. Her presence challenges Akash's preconceptions about love and relationships, and she is shown as compassionate and supportive. Shalini represents a more practical and grounded approach to love.

Songs

Behind the scenes

Play

• Weather issues arose during filming in Sydney, Australia. The crew had to contend with unpredictability in the weather, such as strong winds and rain, which sometimes disrupted the shooting schedule and necessitated changes.

• Musical interludes provided moments of delight and entertainment during the session. During breaks, the actors and crew would periodically break into impromptu dance sessions or sing-alongs, creating a vibrant and joyful atmosphere on set.

• The actors and crew had the opportunity to work in aesthetically magnificent surroundings while filming in Mumbai and Sydney. The beautiful scenery and urban backdrops added to the pleasure of capturing the heart of the story.

Box Office Collection

Dil Chahta Hai was a moderate box office success, doing well in metropolitan areas but failing in rural ones. Analysts ascribed the film's commercial success in rural areas to the city-oriented lifestyle represented in the film. The picture, however, ran for more than 50 weeks, making it a golden jubilee film.

 In India, it was launched on 210 screens and grossed $9 million (US$110,000) on its first day. It made $27.7 million (US$350,000) at the end of its first weekend and $57.3 million (US$720,000) by the end of its first week. The film grossed 332.8 million rupees (US$4.2 million) in India, making it the fifth-highest-grossing Indian film that year.

Dil Chahta Hai was a commercial success overseas, grossing $210,000 in North America and $100,000 in Atlantic countries in its debut weekend. After ending its foreign theatrical run, the film garnered 16.5 million (US$210,000) and grossed 64.4 million (US$810,000), making it the seventh-highest-grossing Indian film of the year. According to Box Office India, it grossed 397.2 million (US$5.0 million) worldwide.

Awards

Interesting Facts

• The styling and fashion decisions in the film, especially Aamir Khan's spiky hairdo and goatee, had a considerable influence on fashion trends at the time. The relaxed and contemporary look became popular among Indian youngsters.

• The dialogue in the film was not scripted word for word. Farhan Akhtar pushed the actors to improvise and bring their own naturalness to the phrases, which gave the performances a more authentic feel.

• Preity Zinta, who played Shalini in the film, auditioned for the role while still in college. Her performance wowed the producers, and she was cast in the part.

• While writing the script, Farhan Akhtar drew inspiration from real-life occurrences and his personal experiences. The friendships and interactions he witnessed informed the film's characters and their dynamics.

How to Book a Personalised Celebrity Message from a celebrity similar to celebrities from ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ on Tring?

Movies are something that everybody loves and watching you’re favorite star on screen is a treat. But what if you get a chance to get a personalised celebrity shoutout from your favorite Movie? 

Yes, it's absolutely possible! You wanna know how? 

Book a personalised video message from your favorite celebrity like Sonali Kulkarni, Daisy Shah, Nidhi Bhanushali, Omi Vaidya , Shankar Mahadevan, shaan, Suchitra Pillai  and many more. 

All the best experiences, moments and amazing wishes/ gifts  in one FREE Celebrity Video!

It takes just 3 steps to share the best wishes with your favorite one. Surprise your loved ones now!

1. Click here to fill out the form above.

2. Click on Claim Your Rewards 

3. Select your favourite celebrity.

Your Personalised Celebrity Shoutout Video/Message will be delivered on your mail/Whatsapp which takes care of the happiness of your loved one as well as your pocket! 

Ready to make memories? Book your wish now!