Mohabbatein
File:Mohabbatein.jpg
Directed by	Aditya Chopra
Produced by	Yash Chopra
Written by	Aditya Chopra
Starring	Amitabh Bachchan Shahrukh Khan Aishwariya Rai Uday Chopra Jugal Hansraj Jimmy Shergill Shamita Shetty Kim Sharma Preeti Jhangiani
Music by	Jatin-Lalit
Cinematography	Manmohan Singh
Editing by	V.V. Karnik Singh Taranjeet
Distributed by	Yash Raj Films
Release date(s)	27 October 2000
Running time	216 mins
Country	India
Language	Hindi
Budget	18.1 crore (US$3.61 million)[1]
Box office	74.11 crore (US$14.78 million)[2]

Mohabbatein (Hindi: मोहब्बतें, translation: Love Stories), is a 2000 Indian Bollywood musical romantic film directed by Aditya Chopra. The movie stars Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan in pivotal roles, along with six young debutantes. Aishwarya Rai appeared in flashbacks as Khan's lover. The movie was filmed at Oxford, England and Longleat. This is Aditya Chopra's second directorial venture after Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995). The film went on to do well both critically and commercially. Mohabbatein is most notable for it being the first time that veteran actors Shahrukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan appeared on screen together. It became the second highest grossing film of the year and was thus declared a superhit.^[3] Additionally it won two Filmfare Awards, given to Bachchan and Khan for their roles.^[4]

Plot[link]

Gurukul is a university run by the stubborn Narayn Shankar (Amitabh Bachchan). Narayan wants the best out of his students so places an emphasis on honour, tradition and discipline. He has run the university for 25 years and forbids any kind of romance — anybody he catches falling in love will be expelled. The focus is on three boys: Sameer (Jugal Hansraj), Vicky (Uday Chopra) and Karan (Jimmy Shergill) who are all in love with three women. Sameer is in love with his childhood friend Sanjana (Kim Sharma). Vicky falls for a girl from the university next door named Ishika (Shamita Shetty). Karan becomes smitten by a girl he sees at the train station named Kiran (Preeti Jhangiani). However, the three boys realise that there is no point in attempting to get their love interests.

Raj Aryan (Shahrukh Khan) joins Gurukul as a music teacher. He is a strong believer of love — when he learns the three boys are in love, he encourages them to follow their hearts. He also slowly starts introducing changes to Gurukul much to the disgust of Narayan, who does not like changes. The boys soon end up disappointed when trying to get their love interests. Sameer learns Sanjana has a boyfriend. Vicky only makes Ishika dislike him when trying to woo her. Karan learns that Kiran is married to a pilot who is assumed dead. Raj tells the boys not to be disappointed. He believes they are lucky because Raj's love Megha (Aishwarya Rai) is dead. He says he continues to love her in the same way and believes the boys should also do the same. Raj often imagines that Megha is by his side.

Soon, Raj throws a party in Gurukul and invites the girls' school from next door — part of his plan to spread love throughout Gurukul. Narayan Shankar is furious and decides to sack Raj immediately. Raj reveals that he is Raj Aryan Malhotra. Raj was a student at Gurukul years ago and was expelled because he loved Megha, who was Narayan's only daughter. When Raj was expelled, Megha committed suicide. Raj believed that this incident would make Narayan change for the better; it only made him more stubborn. Raj promises that, before he leaves Gurukul, he will fill it with so much love that even Narayan himself will not be able to remove it. A battle now begins between love (Raj) and fear (Narayan). Narayan decides that he will keep Raj at Gurukal as a challenge.

Sameer, Vicky, and Karan soon win over the girls they love — Raj is winning the battle for the moment. Narayan does not give up so easily; when he sees the rules of Gurukul are being broken, he tightens them. The three boys continue to break the rules, which encourages the other students to do the same. Narayan decides to expel the three. Raj tries to reason with Narayan — he tells him that what the three boys did was caused by him so they should not be expelled for it. Raj also says that he feels Narayan lost the battle, because his daughter left him and now Raj (who considered Narayan an elder) is leaving him. Raj's words make Narayan realise his mistake. He publicly apologises to the students and steps down as the principal, allowing Raj to take over. Raj turns Gurukul into a love-filled university. In the end Raj, Narayan and an image of Megha walk happily towards the gates of Gurukul.

Cast[link]

• Amitabh Bachchan as Narayan Shankar
• Shahrukh Khan as Raj Aryan Malhotra
• Aishwarya Rai as Megha Shankar
• Uday Chopra as Vikram Oberoi/Kapoor
• Jimmy Shergill as Karan Chaudhry
• Jugal Hansraj as Sameer Sharma
• Shamita Shetty as Ishika Dhanrajgir
• Kim Sharma as Sanjana
• Preeti Jhangiani as Kiran
• Amrish Puri as Maj. Gen. Khanna, Kiran's father in law
• Shefali Shah as Nandini, Kiran's sister in law
• Saurabh Shukla as Sanjana's father
• Anupam Kher as Kake
• Archana Puran Singh as Preeto
• Helen as Miss Monica

Production[link]

Before the production of the film, Amitabh Bachchan was attempting a revival of his career but it was of little success. Also, he was in financial trouble with the bankruptcy of his production company, ABCL, which was hurting his image. These troubles left him almost penniless, and it was at this time that he contacted his friend and director/producer Yash Chopra, who told him of an upcoming production that he could be in.^[5] With Mohabbatein, he was finally able to shed his "hero" image and to play older, more mature roles.^[5] This was the first film in which Shahrukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan appeared together. This created a strong buzz for the film as it brought two huge stars of different generations together.

Filming took place in India and in England,^[6] where fictitious Gurukul University was at Longleat. It was rumored that Sridevi was approached to be a love interest to Narayan Shankar, but she turned down the role.^[7] Midway through the filming of the song "Aankhein Khuli", Jugal Hansraj fractured his foot, which required him to wear a cast for the rest of the filming of the song. Aishwarya Rai was slated to only make a guest appearance, but her presence generated so much interest that her role was promoted to that of a regular character.^[8]

Music[link]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Planet Bollywood	[9]

The music of Mohabbatein was composed by Jatin Lalit while lyrics were penned by Anand Bakshi. The album was very well received by the audience. It was the best selling Bollywood soundtrack of the 2000s.^[10]

Music was used extensively throughout the film and features leitmotifs that relate to each of the main characters (each couple having unique theme music).

Avinash Ramchandani of Planet Bollywood gave the album 9.5 stars stating, "Mohabbatein is an outstanding album with several new singers making a splendid debut, as well as a commendable job by Jatin-Lalit, and brilliant lyrics by Anand Bakshi".^[9]

The songs included on the official soundtrack:

Awards[link]

• Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor (Shahrukh Khan)
• Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor (Amitabh Bachchan)
• IIFA Awards - Best Costume Design (Karan Johar)
• IIFA Awards - Best Story (Aditya Chopra)
• Screen Award - Best Lyrics (Anand Bakshi)
• Sansui Viewer Choice Movie Awards - Best Actor (Shahrukh Khan)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Mohabbatein at the Internet Movie Database

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