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{{short description|1993 film directed by Abbas-Mustan}}
{{For|the tribe|Bazigar}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Baazigar
| image = Baazigar_1993.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Abbas-Mustan]]
| producer = [[Ganesh Jain]] [[Champak Jain]]
| writer = [[Robin Bhatt]] [[Akash Khurana]] [[Javed Siddiqui]]
| starring = [[Shah Rukh Khan]] [[Kajol]] [[Shilpa Shetty]] [[Rakhee Gulzar]] [[Dalip Tahil]] [[Siddharth Ray]] [[Johnny Lever]]
| music = '''Songs:''' [[Anu Malik]]
| cinematography = Thomas A. Xavier
| editing = Hussain M. Burmawala
| studio = [[Venus Records & Tapes|Venus Movies]]
| distributor = [[Eros International]]
| released = {{film date|df=yes|1993|11|12|[[India]]}}
| runtime = 182 minutes
| country = [[India]]
| language = Hindi
| budget = {{INR}}4 crore
| gross = {{INR}}320 crore
}}

'''''Baazigar''''' ({{Translation|Gambler}}) is a 1993 Indian [[romantic thriller]] film directed by [[Abbas–Mustan]] and produced by [[Venus Records & Tapes|Venus Movies]]. It stars [[Shah Rukh Khan]] and [[Kajol]] in lead roles while [[Raakhee]], [[Shilpa Shetty]], [[Dalip Tahil]], [[Siddharth Ray]], and [[Johnny Lever]] appear in supporting roles, with the soundtrack composed by [[Anu Malik]]. The film is about a young man seeking to avenge the fall of his family. The story is loosely based on [[Ira Levin]]'s 1953 novel ''[[A Kiss Before Dying (novel)|A Kiss Before Dying]]'' and its 1991 film adaptation of the [[A Kiss Before Dying (1991 film)|same name]].<ref>{{cite book|author=M.K. Raghavendra|author-link=M.K. Raghavendra|title=Seduced by the Familiar: Narration and Meaning in Indian Popular Cinema|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kiwpDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT258|date=15 December 2014|publisher=OUP India|isbn=978-0-19-908798-3|page=258}}</ref> This was Khan's [[breakthrough role]] as the sole lead (his first as an [[anti-hero]]), along with being his eighth film out of eighty throughout his 30-year career, Kajol's first commercial success and Shetty's film debut.<ref>{{Cite web | title = From 'Baazigar' to 'Dilwale' - A look at SRK and Kajol's on-screen magic | work = The Express Tribune | date = 13 June 2015 | access-date = 2016-07-23 | url = http://tribune.com.pk/story/902961/from-baazigar-to-dilwale-srk-and-kajol-create-magic-on-screen/ }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Taliculam|first=Sharmila|date=4 April 1997|title=Rediff On The Net, Movies: An interview with Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty|url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/apr/04shilpa.htm|access-date=2016-07-23|work=Rediff.com}}</ref>

''Baazigar'' was released on 12 November 1993, coinciding with [[Diwali]].<ref name="fp">{{Cite web | title = Baazigar to Krrish 3: Diwali hits, misses and clashes from Bollywood |work = Firstpost | date = 22 October 2014 | access-date = 2016-07-23 | url = http://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/diwali-bollywood-releases-1744351.html}}</ref> Made on a budget of {{INR}}40 million, the film was declared a success at the box office with a worldwide gross of {{INR}}320 million.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Fan trailer tonight: 5 times Shah Rukh Khan wowed us with his 'dark side' | work = Daily News & Analysis | date = 29 February 2016 | access-date = 2016-07-23 | url = http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-fan-trailer-5-times-shah-rukh-khan-wowed-us-with-his-dark-side-2183908 | language = en }}</ref> Apart from emerging as a major financial success, the film has become a [[cult film]] over years due to its suspense, screenplay, story, music and performances of the cast.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Katiyar|first1=Arun|title=What the stars don't foretell|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/hindi-film-industry-big-budgets-superstars-no-longer-guarantee-film-performance-at-box-office/1/295381.html|website=India Today|access-date=23 July 2016|date=30 April 1994}}</ref> It was the first collaboration between Khan and Kajol, who went on to become one of India's most beloved on-screen couples. It helped establish Khan, Kajol, Shetty and Malik in Hindi films and the soundtrack has sold over 10{{nbsp}}million units.<ref name="indiatoday"/>

At the [[39th Filmfare Awards]], the film earned 10 nominations and won 4 awards including [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] for Khan and [[Filmfare Award for Best Music Director|Best Music Director]] for Malik.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Shah Rukh Khan Filmfare Awards 1992 - 2009 | work = YouTube | date = 30 May 2009 | access-date = 2016-07-23 | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM_0MOl7bNM}}</ref> A [[Telugu film|Telugu]] remake, ''Vetagadu'', was released in 1995,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/interview_tammareddy.html|title=Telugu Cinema Etc - Idlebrain.com|website=www.idlebrain.com}}</ref> before a [[Tamil film|Tamil]] remake, ''[[Samrat (1997 film)|Samrat]]'', was released in 1997 and a [[Kannada film|Kannada]] remake, ''[[Nagarahavu (2002 film)|Nagarahavu]]'', was released in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/nagarahavu-naagarahaavu-aka-shivanagam-movie-review-live-audience-response-699468|title=Nagarahavu aka Shivanagam movie review: Live audience response|first=Prakash|last=Upadhyaya|date=14 October 2016|website=www.ibtimes.co.in}}</ref>

==Plot==
Ajay Sharma is a young boy who grows up to seek revenge for his father's death caused by Madan Chopra, a rich businessman. Chopra has two daughters; the elder is Seema, and the younger is Priya. Ajay begins a secret relationship with Seema. Chopra takes part in his last car race in [[Madras]], only to learn that another participant, Vicky Malhotra, who Ajay assumes the role as, let him win on purpose to meet him. Chopra is impressed with 'Vicky', and Priya falls in love with him. This way, Ajay manages to date both Seema and Priya using different identities.

Later, Ajay convinces Seema to commit suicide with him, when her father arranges her marriage with someone else. They write and sign suicide notes, but he then lies that he was simply testing her and rips up his note while keeping hers. They make plans to get married at the registrar's office the next day. However, while waiting for the office to open, Ajay takes Seema to the roof of the building and pushes her off, murdering her. He then discreetly mails her suicide note to her home. Chopra hastily orders the case closed to prevent further embarrassment should the suicide note be discovered. Suspecting that her sister didn't commit suicide, Priya secretly continues the investigation with the help of police inspector Karan Saxena, an old friend from college.

Ravi, a college friend of Seema who had a crush on her, tells Priya that he has a photo of Seema and Ajay together at a birthday party back at his hostel. Before Priya can reach Ravi to see the photo, Ajay finds out about this and murders Ravi. In their struggle, Ajay forces him to sign a suicide note, which makes it appear as though Ravi is Seema's murderer. Thus, the investigation is halted a second time. Meanwhile, Ajay, posing as 'Vicky', slowly wins Chopra's confidence. Chopra decides to get 'Vicky' and Priya engaged.

It is revealed through a flashback that Chopra had been a project manager in the company run by Ajay's late father Mr. Sharma, but when Sharma discovered that he was embezzling money, he had Chopra imprisoned for three years. After Madan completed his jail term, he asked for forgiveness, and Sharma's wife persuaded her husband to re-employ him. However, unbeknownst to anyone, Chopra had returned to exact revenge. One day, Sharma had to go on a business trip, so he handed the power of attorney to Chopra, who used the opportunity to become the company's owner. Sharma learned of this after returning, but it was too late. His family was ejected from their palatial home after Chopra took a loan on Sharma's name. Ajay witnessed Chopra eve-teasing his mother when she came to ask for their home back, and she subsequently cursed him to tragedy and helplessness later on in life. Heartbroken, Ajay vowed to make Chopra pay, and his only mission in life now is the downfall of Chopra.

Back in the present, Seema's friend Anjali meets Priya and Ajay at a jewellery shop. She also discovers a photo of Seema and Ajay at her birthday party. 'Vicky' and Priya get engaged that evening. Anjali phones the Chopra residence during Ajay's engagement party to warn them that Ajay and 'Vicky' look the same, to which Babulal, head servant of the Chopra household, answers. As Babulal tries to inform Priya about this, Ajay intercepts the phone call, arrives at Anjali's place, and kills her, stuffing her body in a suitcase and throwing it in a river.

History repeats itself with Chopra handing over the power of attorney to 'Vicky' when he has to go on a business trip. However, a man and his dog find Anjali's body soon after on a beach, and when Priya and Inspector Karan hear about this, they realize that the murderer is still alive. Ajay decides to hasten his plans on realizing that Priya and Karan are hellbent on finding the killer, and that he has fallen in love with Priya. His plans hit a glitch when he and Priya run into the real Vicky Malhotra, Ajay's friend, whose identity he had taken, which makes Priya suspicious. After Chopra returns from his business trip, he is shocked to find that the company is run by the Sharma group. Ajay reveals the truth of his desire to seek revenge and kicks Chopra out.

Priya learns of Ajay's true identity from his friend, Vicky and rushes to Ajay's home in Panvel. She is shocked to see a marriage locket with photos of him with her sister. Ajay comes home, where she confronts him with his misdeeds. He then tells her his story and also tells her that due to the poverty her father forced his family into, his father died of a heart attack, and his younger sister died of illness. His mother went into a state of shock as a result of the loss of her husband and daughter, and in her mental instability, she is unable to recognize Ajay as her son. Priya realizes that it is her father who is at fault as Ajay introduces her to his mother. Chopra arrives at his home, shoots Ajay in the arm, and has his goons beat him up.

Soon his mother comes back to her senses, and when trying to intervene, Chopra injures her, angering Ajay. He fights the goons viciously and is about to kill Chopra when he is persuaded by police inspector Karan to have mercy for his mother's sake. Chopra takes the opportunity to stab him with a rod and laughs maniacally. Ajay laughs back and impales Chopra with the same rod, killing him. He tells his mother that he has regained everything and collapses in her arms. Priya, Inspector Karan, and his mother watch despondently as Ajay succumbs to his injuries, finally at peace.

==Cast==
*[[Shah Rukh Khan]] as Ajay Sharma / fake Vicky Malhotra
*[[Kajol]] as Priya Chopra, Seema's younger sister and fake Vicky's fiance'.
*[[Shilpa Shetty]] as Seema Chopra, Priya's elder sister.
*[[Rakhee Gulzar]] as Shobha Sharma, Ajay's mother.
*[[Dalip Tahil]] as Madan Chopra, Priya's and Seema's father.
*[[Siddharth Ray]] as Inspector Karan
*[[Johnny Lever]] as Babulal Head Servant
*[[Anant Mahadevan]] as Vishwanath Sharma, Ajay's father.
*[[Prithvi Zutshi]] as Suresh Desai
*[[Resham Tipnis]] as Anjali Sinha
*[[Daboo Malik]] as Ravi Shukla
*[[Dinesh Hingoo]] as Seth Bajodia
*Manmauji as Taalia
*[[Adi Irani]] as real Vicky Malhotra
*Sharad Sankla as Charlie
*[[Raju Srivastav]] as Charlie's friend.
*[[Harpal Singh]] as Cook Motu
*Amrut Patel as Seema's driver
*[[Anu Malik]] as himself the musician and host at the engagement. (special appearance)
*[[Vinod Rathod]] as himself the singer at the engagement. (special appearance)
*[[Sumeet Pathak]] as Young Ajay Sharma

==Production==
The film's premise is a subversion of a concept loosely inspired by a Hollywood film, ''[[A Kiss Before Dying (1991 film)|A Kiss Before Dying]]'' (1991), which itself was based on a novel of [[A Kiss Before Dying (novel)|the same name]]. While it borrows the basic premise, ''Baazigar'' tells a different, subversive story. While [[Matt Dillon]]'s character in ''A Kiss Before Dying'' is a [[villain]] who murders for money, ''Baazigar'' subverts this, with [[Shah Rukh Khan|Shahrukh Khan]]'s character instead being a sympathetic [[anti-hero]] seeking vengeance for the brutal injustices done to his family.<ref name="timesofindia">{{Cite web | title = Baazigar: The rise and fall of Shah Rukh, Kajol and Shilpa Shetty | last = Iyer | first = Meena | work = The Times of India | date = 14 July 2014 | access-date = 2016-07-23 | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Baazigar-The-rise-and-fall-of-Shah-Rukh-Kajol-and-Shilpa-Shetty/articleshow/38407403.cms}}</ref>

Several A-list Bollywood stars were approached for the lead role, but they turned it down, due to the character being a murderous, negative anti-hero. [[Anil Kapoor]] was the first choice to play the leading role. He however turned it down due to unavailability for the dates assigned. Then [[Salman Khan]] was approached, but he was removed, with his father [[Salim Khan]] saying Salman was not ready for such a gamble. [[Akshay Kumar]] was the next choice, but he too rejected the offer, as it went against his "heroic" on-screen image. Shahrukh eventually convinced producer Ratan Jain and Ganesh Jain that only he could pull off the role; Jain liked his confidence, and cast him in the role. However, his casting was criticized by trade pundits who incorrectly predicted that "a boy with cute dimples" would never be accepted as an anti-hero.<ref name="timesofindia"/> Initially, [[Sridevi]] was supposed to play both female roles (as twin sisters) as did [[Sean Young]] in the original film, but the director realized that due of her popularity, the audience would not sympathize with the hero, if he kills the character played by Sridevi, hence they decided to cast different actresses.<ref name="sridevi">{{Cite web | title = Roles Rejected by Sridevi | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Baazigar-The-rise-and-fall-of-Shah-Rukh-Kajol-and-Shilpa-Shetty/articleshow/38407403.cms}}</ref>

==Music==
The music was composed by [[Anu Malik]] and won him the [[Filmfare Award for Best Music Director]].<ref name="IT">{{Cite web | title = I dont want other music directors to catch up with me: Anu Malik | work = India Today | date = 15 November 1994 | access-date = 2016-07-23 | url = http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/i-am-an-inspired-director-anu-malik/1/294398.html | language = en-us}}</ref> The song "Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein" earned singer [[Kumar Sanu]] his fourth consecutive [[Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer]] after ''[[Aashiqui]]'', ''[[Saajan]]'' and ''[[Deewana (1992 film)|Deewana]]''.<ref name="BS">{{Cite web | title = Melody will return to Bollywood songs: Kumar Sanu | author = Press Trust of India | work = Business Standard | date = 13 August 2012 | access-date = 2016-07-23 | url = http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/melody-will-return-to-bollywood-songs-kumar-sanu-112081300350_1.html }}</ref> Other singers featured in the album are [[Asha Bhosle]], [[Pankaj Udhas]], [[Alka Yagnik]], [[Vinod Rathod]] and Sonali Vajpai. Lyrics by Gauhar Kanpuri.{{cn|date=November 2021}} The soundtrack was released by [[Venus Records & Tapes|Venus Music]].<ref>{{Cite web | title = Anu Malik and Shah Rukh Khan: Sharing more than birthdays | last = Vijayakar | first = Rajiv | work = Bollywoodhungama.com | date = 4 November 2015 | access-date = 2016-07-23 | url = http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/features/type/view/id/9224/ }}</ref> Dr. Alban's song "It's My Life" was also featured.

A soundtrack was also released in Marathi. The film's [[soundtrack album]] sold 10{{nbsp}}million units,<ref name="indiatoday">{{cite news |title=Bollywood hinges on Hindi film music industry, fans soak up wacky new sounds |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19941115-bollywood-hinges-on-hindi-film-music-industry-fans-soak-up-wacky-new-sounds-809899-1994-10-31 |access-date=17 July 2013 |work=[[India Today]] |date=31 October 1994}}</ref> making it the best-selling [[Bollywood soundtrack]] album of 1993.<ref>{{cite web |title=Music Hits 1990-1999 (Figures in Units) |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=284&catName=MTk5MC0xOTk5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205042906/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=284&catName=MTk5MC0xOTk5 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 February 2010 |website=[[Box Office India]] |access-date=5 February 2010}}</ref> The soundtrack "Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein" samples the African hit "Yeke Yeke" and others.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/carbon-copy-baazigar-shah-rukh-khan-guaglione|title=How A 1956 Italian Song Became A Shah Rukh Khan Song In 1993}}</ref>

{{Infobox album
| name = Baazigar
| type = soundtrack
| artist = [[Anu Malik]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 1993
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack]]
| length =
| label = [[Venus Records & Tapes|Venus Music]]
| producer =
| prev_title = [[Phool Aur Angaar]]
| prev_year = 1993
| next_title = [[The Gentleman (1994 film)|The Gentleman]]
| next_year = 1994
}}

===Track listing===
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| extra_column2 = Lyricist(s)
| title1 = Baazigar O Baazigar
| lyricist1 = Nawab Arzoo
| extra1 = [[Kumar Sanu]], [[Alka Yagnik]]
| length1 = 07:31
|
| title2 = Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein
| lyricist2 = [[Dev Kohli]]
| extra2 = Kumar Sanu, [[Anu Malik]]
| length2 = 07:53
|
| title3 = Kitabein Bahut Si
| lyricist3 = Zafar Gorakhpuri
| extra3 = [[Asha Bhosle]], [[Vinod Rathod]]
| length3 = 06:28
|
| title4 = Chhupana Bhi Nahi Aata
| lyricist4 = Rani Malik
| extra4 = Vinod Rathod
| length4 = 07:01
|
| title5 = Chhupana Bhi Nahi Aata
| note5 = Not in Film
| lyricist5 = Rani Malik
| extra5 = [[Pankaj Udhas]]
| length5 = 05:31
|
| title6 = Samajh Kar Chand Jis Ko
| note6 = Not in Film
| lyricist6 = Zameer Kazmi
| extra6 = Vinod Rathod, Alka Yagnik
| length6 = 08:53
|
| title7 = Aye Mere Humsafar
| lyricist7 = Gauhar Kanpuri
| extra7 = Vinod Rathod, Alka Yagnik
| length7 = 07:29
|
| title8 = Tere Chehre Pe
| note8 = Not in Film
| lyricist8 = Rani Malik
| extra8 = Kumar Sanu, Sonali Vajpai
| length8 = 07:09
|
|total_length = 57:51
}}

==Box office==
''Baazigar'' was a commercial success and the fourth highest-grossing Indian film of 1993, behind another Shah Rukh Khan film, ''[[Darr]]''.<ref name=boi>{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=199&catName= |title=Box Office 1993 |publisher=Boxofficeindia.com |access-date=2 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814154929/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=199&catName=|archive-date=14 August 2013}}</ref> ''Baazigar''{{'}}s collections in India were {{INR|15 [[crore]]}} net and {{INR|32 crore}} gross,<ref name=boi/> equivalent to {{INRConvert|{{#expr:32*(1914360020/107375000) round 0}}|c}} adjusted for inflation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Darr - Movie (1993 inflation rate) |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=3320 |website=[[Box Office India]] |access-date=2 December 2018}}</ref>

==Accolades==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
! Award
! Category
! Recipients and Nominees
! Results
|-
|rowspan="10"|[[39th Filmfare Awards]]
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
|[[Shah Rukh Khan]]
|rowspan="4" {{won}}
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Music Director|Best Music Director]]
|[[Anu Malik]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer|Best Male Playback Singer]]
|[[Kumar Sanu]] for "Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein"
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]]
|[[Robin Bhatt]], [[Javed Siddiqui]], [[Akash Khurana]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Shilpa Shetty]]
|rowspan="6" {{nom}}
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut|Best Female Debut]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role|Best Comedian]]
|[[Johnny Lever]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist|Best Lyricist]]
|Dev Kholi for "Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein"
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer|Best Male Playback Singer]]
|[[Kumar Sanu]] for "Baazigar, O Baazigar"
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer|Best Female Playback Singer]]
|[[Alka Yagnik]] for "Baazigar, O Baazigar"
|}

==Influence==
The later American films ''[[Almost Famous]]'' (2000) and ''[[Baywatch (film)|Baywatch]]'' (2017) had strikingly similar posters to ''Baazigar''. The posters of the two films feature [[Kate Hudson]] and [[Priyanka Chopra]], respectively, wearing sunglasses that reflect other cast members, similar to the sunglasses Shah Rukh Khan wears on the poster for ''Baazigar''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Did Baywatch copy the poster featuring Priyanka Chopra from Shah Rukh Khan's Baazigar and Kate Hudson's Almost Famous?|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/baywatch-copy-poster-featuring-priyanka-chopra-shah-rukh-khans-baazigar-kate-hudsons-almost-famous/|work=[[Bollywood Hungama]]|date=20 April 2017}}</ref>

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

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}

* {{IMDb title|id=0106333}}
{{Abbas-Mustan}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Films scored by Anu Malik]]
[[Category:1993 films]]
[[Category:1993 crime thriller films]]
[[Category:1990s romantic thriller films]]
[[Category:1990s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Abbas–Mustan]]
[[Category:Films set in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Films based on thriller novels]]
[[Category:Films based on American novels]]
[[Category:Indian crime thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian films about revenge]]
[[Category:Hindi films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Films based on works by Ira Levin]]
[[Category:Films shot in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Robin Bhatt]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Akash Khurana]]
[[Category:Films about identity theft]]
[[Category:Indian romantic thriller films]]

Baazigar - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 18:41, 13 August 2023