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{{about|the Hindi film|the Marathi film|Asambhav (2025 film)|the Marathi TV series|Asambhav (TV series)}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}

{{Infobox film
| name = Asambhav
| image = Asambhav.jpg
| caption = Poster
| native_name =
| director = [[Rajiv Rai]]
| producer = [[Gulshan Rai]]
| cinematography = Sukumar Jatania
| editing = Rajiv Rai<br/>Taranjeet Singh
| writer = Rajiv Rai<br/>Naeem Sha
| starring = [[Arjun Rampal]]<br/>[[Priyanka Chopra]]<br/>[[Naseeruddin Shah]]
| music = [[Viju Shah]]
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2004|7|23}}
| studio = [[Trimurti Films]]
| distributor = [[Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision]]
| runtime = 149 minutes<ref name=BBFC>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/asambhav-the-impossible-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zndi3nty|title=Asambhav - The Impossible|website=[[British Board of Film Classification]]|access-date=1 July 2024|archive-date=1 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240701103348/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/asambhav-the-impossible-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zndi3nty|url-status=live}}</ref>
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget = {{INR}}13 crore<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=444|title=Asambhav – Movie|publisher=[[Box Office India]]|access-date=20 September 2022|archive-date=20 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920225212/https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=444|url-status=live}}</ref>
| gross = {{INR}}5.16 crore<ref name="auto"/>
}}
'''''Asambhav''''' ({{translation|''The Impossible''}})<ref name=BBFC/> is a 2004 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[Action film|action]] [[thriller film]] directed by [[Rajiv Rai]] and produced by [[Gulshan Rai]] under the [[Trimurti Films]] banner. It stars [[Arjun Rampal]], [[Naseeruddin Shah]] and [[Priyanka Chopra]], along with [[Dipannita Sharma]], [[Tom Alter]], [[Milind Gunaji]], and [[Sharat Saxena]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/cast/7161/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208183809/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/cast/7161/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 February 2008|title=Asambhav: Complete Cast and Crew details|publisher=IndiaFm|date=23 July 2004|accessdate=7 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=rediff.com: Films to look out for in 2004! |url=https://m.rediff.com/movies/2004/jan/05sld8.htm |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> The film was shot entirely in Switzerland.

The film was released on 23 July 2004 and was a [[box-office bomb|box-office failure]], earning {{INR}}5.16 crore worldwide against a budget of {{INR}}13 crore.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://rediff.com/movies/2004/jul/27box.htm|title=Julie conquers the BO!|website=[[Rediff.com]]|access-date=27 July 2004|archive-date=10 October 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041010145820/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2004/jul/27box.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Plot==
Captain Aditya "Adit" Arya is a special agent of the [[Indian Army]]. The Indian president Veer Pratap Singh is kidnapped by Rafiq Mabroz in exchange for cash rewarded by renowned terrorists Youssan Baksh and General Ansari. Adit is sent undercover to rescue the president and his daughter, Kinjal.

The mission is coded "Asambhav." Adit poses as a journalist for [[Indiatimes]] and makes his way to Switzerland with the help of a [[Research & Analysis Wing|RAW]] agent called Atul Bhatnagar. On the flight, Adit meets Alisha. Alisha is a singer and has come to Switzerland to do a show with Sam Hans. Her friend Shilpa accompanies her. However, the people whom Alisha and Shilpa have come to Switzerland with are drug smugglers. Shilpa is murdered when she finds this out, and Alisha pretends she knows nothing but meets Adit for help. Adit and Alisha fall in love.

Adit links events from Shilpa's murder to the president's kidnapping and sees that Sam Hans, General Ansari, Youssan Baksh, and Rafiq Mabroz are involved together. Hans' friend Ranjit Parmar, of the Indian embassy, checks files of Switzerland and learns Rafiq Mabroz is a terrorist. He informs Hans, and Hans decides to fight [[Inter-Services Intelligence|ISI]]. However, he signs a deal with ISI by kidnapping the president from Youssan Baksh and returning the president to Baksh in exchange for an offer of 50 million pounds.

Parmar suspects someone at the Indian embassy is a traitor helping terrorists. He finds out that Ms. Brar is a traitor. He informs Ambassador G.L. Sarin and is knocked out by Mabroz. Parmar awakes to discover that Ms. Brar and Sarin are both traitors and associates of Mabroz. Mabroz kills Parmar, and Sarin leaves a suicide note beside Parmar. Capt. Arya and Bhatnagar find Parmar dead by the note, but Arya reveals that the ambassador is the traitor because of his head stamp on the suicide note. Arya tries to finish Sarin, but Brar calls the police to get Arya and the ambassadors arrested. Arya shows the police his army card while Sarin and Brar flee. Arya chases them, and Gazi tries to attack Arya. Arya runs after Gazi and is attacked by ISI agents and Youssan's men in a fort. They try to kill Arya, but Arya fires back and kills all of them, including Gazi.

Adit reaches Youssan's headquarters to free the president. He kills General Ansari and all of Youssan's men. Youssan takes the president and flees. Adit chases him. Sam has captured Alisha and Kinjal but is stopped by Ambassador Sarin, who has Hans' friend Brian as a captive. Hans gives money to free Brian, but Sarin kills Brian. Hans kills Mabroz's men. Ms. Brar and Volga chase Alisha and Kinjal near a helicopter but kill each other in the crossfire. Sarin tries to finish Hans, but Hans kills him to avenge the death of Brian.

Youssan tries to kill the president, but Adit kills Youssan and saves him. Mabroz tries to shoot Adit, but Adit kills him. In the end, Adit meets Sam, who confesses sins he committed but promises to improve; so they become friends after being arch-rivals throughout the Mission Asambhav. Adit goes back to India with his girlfriend Alisha, Kinjal, the president, and Atul Bhatnagar.

==Cast==

* [[Arjun Rampal]] as [[Captain]] Aadit Arya
* [[Priyanka Chopra]] as Alisha
* [[Naseeruddin Shah]] as Sameer "Sam" Hans
* [[Dipannita Sharma]] as Kinjal, the President's daughter
* [[Mohan Agashe]] as President Veer Pratap Singh
* [[Yashpal Sharma (actor)|Yashpal Sharma]] as Ranjit Parmar
* [[Sharat Saxena]] as G. L. Sarin
* [[Mukesh Rishi]] as Youssan Baksh
* [[Shawar Ali]] as Rafiq Mabroz
* [[Milind Gunaji]] as General Ansari, an ISI agent
* [[Tej Sapru]] as Hashmi
* [[Chetan Hansraj]] as Gazi
* [[Tom Alter]] as Brian
* [[Jameel Khan]] as Atul Bhatnagar
* [[Arif Zakaria]] as Dabral
* Tora Khasgir as Ms. Tanya Brar
* Chitrita Sharma as Shilpa
* Anupama Verma as Volga
* [[Mumaith Khan]] as a dancer in the song "Mashuqa Rubiya" (special appearance)

==Production==

===Development===
In 2001, Rai planned to shift to the action thriller genre after the failure of his romance film ''[[Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat]]''. In an interview with [[Filmfare|Filmfare Online]], Rai said, "I listened to several people's opinions. I made the film ('PIAM') not on intuition and belief but on marketing strategies and counsels from trade persons insisting that love stories were the trend of the day."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Rajiv-Rai-back-to-making-action-films/articleshow/15908684.cms|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103174414/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-07-14/news-interviews/27321161_1_action-films-rajiv-rai-love-stories|url-status=live|archive-date=3 January 2013|title=Rajiv Rai back to making action films|access-date=9 October 2012|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=14 July 2002}}</ref> Rai started his new project with a comeback to action genre and titled it ''Asambhav''.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Sarita Tanwar |title=Arjun's on a roll! |url=https://www.rediff.com/entertai/2001/aug/21arjun.htm |website=[[Rediff.com]] |access-date=20 May 2025 |date=August 21, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Rajiv-Rai-back-to-making-action-films/articleshow/15908684.cms|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103174414/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-07-14/news-interviews/27321161_1_action-films-rajiv-rai-love-stories|url-status=live|archive-date=3 January 2013|title=Asambhav -Rajiv Rai's new project|access-date=9 October 2012|date=24 May 2002|work=[[The Times of India]]|author=Dominic Ferrao}}</ref>

===Casting===
[[File:Asambhav Music Launch.jpg|thumb|Arjun Rampal, Rajiv Rai and Priyanka Chopra at ''Asambhav'' music launch (left to right)]]
Rai initially planned ''Asambhav'' as a three-hero film. Arjun Rampal, who made his acting debut with Rai's previous directorial venture ''Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat'', was initially signed as the first male lead. [[Anil Kapoor]] and [[Sunil Shetty]] were also rumored to be attached to the project but Rai eventually changed the script, making it a solo hero film with Rampal as the protagonist of the movie. [[Aishwarya Rai]] was signed as the heroine.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Ash-Arjun-Rampal-to-star-in-Asambhav/articleshow/30882279.cms|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103140941/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-12-10/news-interviews/27309695_1_arjun-rampal-rajiv-rai-pyar-ishq-aur-mohabbat|url-status=live|archive-date=3 January 2013|title=Ash, Arjun Rampal to star in Asambhav|access-date=9 October 2012|date=10 December 2002|work=[[The Times of India]]|author=Dominic Ferrao}}</ref> Rampal and Rai had acted in ''[[Dil Ka Rishta]]'' that released on 17 January 2003 and ''Asambhav'' marked their second pairing. However, Rai backed out in 2003, and [[Priyanka Chopra]] was cast in as the female lead.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Priyanka-Chopra-bags-Vikram-Bhatts-next-film/articleshow/44583767.cms|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103202548/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-04-26/news-interviews/27273999_1_vikram-bhatt-priyanka-chopra-film|url-status=live|archive-date=3 January 2013|title=Priyanka Chopra bags Vikram Bhatt's next film|access-date=9 October 2012|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=26 April 2003}}</ref>

[[Naseeruddin Shah]] was recruited to essay the role of the villain as he had worked with Rai as a hero in ''Tridev'' and as a villain in ''Mohra''. Shah had earned critical acclaim for his villainous performance in Rai's ''Mohra'' and had earned a nomination for [[Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role]] at the [[40th Filmfare Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com/articleshow/articleshow/368622.cms |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103094834/http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com/articleshow/articleshow/368622.cms |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |title=The Nominations – 1994 |publisher=[[Filmfare Awards]] |accessdate=13 October 2012 }}</ref> Noticing on Shah's previous success in a negative role, Rai cast him as the villain in his latest action thriller.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glamsham.com/movies/interviews/nasir.asp|title=Interview with Naseeruddin Shah|accessdate=13 October 2012|year=2004|author=Purva Desai|publisher=Glamsham|archive-date=22 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122232505/http://www.glamsham.com/movies/interviews/nasir.asp|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glamsham.com/movies/interviews/naseer1.asp|title=Interview with Naseeruddin Shah|accessdate=13 October 2012|year=2004|author=Viral Bhayani|publisher=Glamsham|archive-date=22 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122232214/http://www.glamsham.com/movies/interviews/naseer1.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> The total cast was of 55 artists including model turned actress [[Dipannita Sharma]], [[Tom Alter]] and [[Sharat Saxena]] among others.<ref name="Asambhav Filming"/>

During the music launch, Rajiv Rai was interviewed on casting models in important roles. He said, "I wanted a very western look to the film; I wanted it to look stylish. I have roped in many models because I wanted my film to look fresh and stylish. Models have a lot of exposure, and they are very confident in front of the camera. There are a lot of fresh faces coming into acting. I wanted fresh faces for my film. The modeling industry can act. It's not fair to pinpoint. Arjun (Rampal) himself was a model."<ref name="Asambhav Music Launch">{{cite web|url=http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/04/may/25asambhav.asp|title=Music Launch of 'Asambhav'|publisher=Glamsham|author=Purva Desai|date=25 May 2004|accessdate=13 October 2012|archive-date=16 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316195255/http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/04/may/25asambhav.asp|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Filming===
After the casting was finalised, Rajiv Rai flew to Switzerland, and the film was shot in [[Ticino]]. He began filming in June 2003 with a schedule of 57 days. It was filmed in a multi-camera setup. While most scenes were shot with four cameras, the action sequences consisted of seven camera units. It was the first Indian action film to feature no stunts. The action sequences were digitally shot. ''Asambhav'' was the first Indian film to be graded digitally on Luster.<ref name="Asambhav Filming">{{cite web|url=http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/04/jul/14asambhav.asp|title=A Tryst with the Impossible – Asambhav|accessdate=13 October 2012|date=14 July 2004|author=Raj Lalwani|publisher=Glamsham|archive-date=16 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316210756/http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/04/jul/14asambhav.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> Filming was completed in September 2003. It was the first Indian movie to be shot in that location, in the longest filming schedule of any Indian film unit in Switzerland. ''Asambhav'' was digitised, and no duplicates were used in its development.<ref name="Asambhav Music Launch"/>

===Post-production===
''Asambhav'' was launched in March 2004. The soundtrack was composed by [[Viju Shah]] and it was launched in [[Mumbai]] on 26 May 2004.<ref name="Asambhav Music Launch"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/films/bollywood/2004/07/pop_up_gallery_asambhav_music_release.shtml|title=Asambhav music release|date=April 2005|access-date=9 October 2012|publisher=[[BBC]]|archive-date=13 September 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040913223919/http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/films/bollywood/2004/07/pop_up_gallery_asambhav_music_release.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Release==
''Asambhav'' was released on 23 July 2004. First 15 minutes of the film aired on [[Star Gold]] a day prior to film's release.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/july/july135.htm|title=After 'Garv', Star Gold lines up 'Asambhav's' sneak peek|date=21 July 2004|website=Indian Television Dot Com|access-date=18 February 2021|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126032949/http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/july/july135.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Critical response===
{{Film and game ratings
| rev1 = [[Bollywood Hungama]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|1|5}}<ref name="India FM Review">{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/criticreview/id/538846|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028140757/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/criticreview/id/538846|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 October 2012|author=Taran Adarsh|author-link=Taran Adarsh|website=[[Bollywood Hungama]]|date=23 July 2004|accessdate=7 October 2012|title=Asambhav Movie Review}}</ref>
}}

''Asambhav'' received mixed to positive reviews from critics upon release. Ronjita Kulkarni of [[Rediff]] wrote, "''Asambhav'', starring [[Arjun Rampal]] and [[Priyanka Chopra]], is a good film. It packs in the done-to-death Pak-bashing content, and reduces Pakistanis and Afghans to caricatures."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2004/jul/23asambhav.htm|title='Asambhav': Impossible to take in!|publisher=[[Rediff]]|date=23 July 2004|accessdate=7 October 2012|author=Ronjita Kulkarni|archive-date=17 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317160638/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2004/jul/23asambhav.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Taran Adarsh]] of [[Bollywood Hungama]] gave a rating of 1 out of 5 stars and wrote, "On the whole, ASAMBHAV is a weak film in all respects. At the box-office, its chances of hit movie ''asambhav'' [impossible]."<ref name="India FM Review"/>

Subhash K. Jha of [[Indo-Asian News Service|IANS]] wrote "Asambhav is arguably the only mainstream film ever with no mother-figure on the hectic horizon. But the absence of melodrama cannot in itself be a virtue unless it is compounded by a moist quality in the overall design of storytelling."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jha |first1=Subhash K. |authorlink1=Subhash K. Jha |title=Asambhav Movie Review |url=http://www.glamsham.com/movies/reviews/asambhav.asp |website=glamsham |accessdate=2020-01-25 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040810091232/http://www.glamsham.com/movies/reviews/asambhav.asp |archivedate=2004-08-10 |url-status=unfit}}</ref>

===Box office===

====India====
It collected {{Indian Rupees}}80,632,076 rupees in the opening weekend from all over the country. The earning in the following week was it {{Indian Rupees}}100,507,694 in the second week and {{Indian Rupees}}220,731,569 in the third week. It grossed a total of {{Indian Rupees}}500,113,339.<ref name="Bollywood Hungama - Box Office"/> [[Rediff.com]] called it an "average grosser".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2004/jul/27box.htm|title=Movies: Bollywood box-office report|publisher=[[Rediff]]|accessdate=9 October 2012|date=27 July 2004|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924142734/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2004/jul/27box.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

====International====
The film collected US$19,504 in the United States. In the United Kingdom, the film hit fifteen screens in the first weekend of 23 July and collected [[Pound (currency)|£]]16,894. In the second weekend of 30 July, the screens were reduced to fourteen. ''Asambhav'' collected £2,142 and grossed a total of £30,311 in the first two weekends.<ref name="Bollywood Hungama - Box Office">{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/boxoffice/id/538846|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028144220/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/boxoffice/id/538846|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 October 2012|title=Asambhav (2004) – Box Office Earnings|website=[[Bollywood Hungama]]|accessdate=13 October 2012}}</ref>

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name = Asambhav
| type = soundtrack
| artist = [[Viju Shah]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 22 May 2004
| recorded = 2003
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length =
| label = [[Tips Industries Limited|Tips]]
| director = [[Rajiv Rai]]
| producer = [[Gulshan Rai]]
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}

The soundtrack of ''Asambhav'' was recorded in 2003. It was composed by [[Viju Shah]]. It was released by the [[Tips Industries Limited|Tips Music Films]] label on 22 May 2004. The lyrics were written by [[Sameer (lyricist)|Sameer]], and [[Remo D'Souza]] was the choreographer of the music sequences. The soundtrack was released on 22 May 2004.

The soundtrack consisted of eleven tracks, including five songs, five instrumental versions and a special 'Asambhav Theme'. The director [[Rajiv Rai]] and the supporting actor [[Naseeruddin Shah]] also sang in the movie. They performed the song 'Raatein Badi Hain'.

{{Track listing|headline=Asambhav: Track listing|extra1 = [[Hema Sardesai]], [[Naseeruddin Shah]], [[Rajiv Rai]] & Nayan Rathod|extra2 = [[Udit Narayan]] & Kavita Krishnamurthy|extra3 = [[Anuradha Sriram]]|extra4 = [[KK (singer)|KK]]|extra5 = [[Sunidhi Chauhan]]|extra6 = [[Instrumental]]|extra7 = |extra8 = |extra9 = |extra10 = |extra11 = |extra_column = Singer(s) |length1 = 6:18|length2 = 6:08|length3 = 7:26|length4 = 7:44|length5 = 6:15|length6 = 7:02|length7 = 6:18|length8 = 4:49|length9 = 7:12|length10 = 7:46|length11 = 6:12|title1 = Raatein Badi Hain|title2 = Teri Dekh Dekh Ladkaiyan|title3 = Mashuqa Rubi|title4 = Main Sada Hoon|title5 = Koi Aayega|title6 = Asambhav Theme|title7 = Raatein Badi Hain (Instrumental)|title8 = Teri Dekh Dekh Ladkaiyan (Instrumental)|title9 = Mashuqa Rubi (Instrumental)|title10 = Main Sada Hoon (Instrumental) |title11 = Koi Aayega (Instrumental)}}

==Awards and nominations==
*[[Zee Cine Awards]]
**Zee Cine Award for Best Song Recording–Tanay Gajjar (nominated){{cn|date=April 2026}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{cite web|url=http://asambhav.com/ |title=Official Website |accessdate=2012-10-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206105405/http://asambhav.com/ |archivedate=6 February 2005 |df=dmy }}
* {{IMDb title|id=0368580|title=Asambhav}}

{{Rajiv Rai}}

[[Category:2004 films]]
[[Category:2004 action thriller films]]
[[Category:2000s spy thriller films]]
[[Category:2004 Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Indian action thriller films]]
[[Category:Films about intelligence agencies]]
[[Category:Indian spy thriller films]]
[[Category:India–Pakistan relations in popular culture]]
[[Category:Trimurti Films films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Viju Shah]]
[[Category:Films shot in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Military of Pakistan in films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Rajiv Rai]]
[[Category:Films set in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Foreign films set in the United States]]
[[Category:Kashmir conflict in films]]
[[Category:Films about the Research & Analysis Wing]]
[[Category:Indian Army in films]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of politicians]]
[[Category:Films distributed by Eros International]]

Asambhav - Revision history

ZVPZulma5461169 at 06:43, 3 May 2026