Baghban (Hindi: बाग़बान, English: Gardener) is a 2003 Bollywood drama film directed by Ravi Chopra, featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini in lead roles. Aman Verma, Samir Soni, Saahil Chadha anad Nasir Kazi portray their four sons. Salman Khan, Mahima Chaudhry, Paresh Rawal, Rimi Sen and Lilette Dubey are featured in supporting roles. It released to cinemas on 3 October 2003, and was critically acclaimed, turning out to be successful at box office.

Plot[link]

The movie tells the story of Raj Malhotra (Amitabh Bachchan), his wife Pooja (Hema Malini) and their four sons Ajay (Aman Verma), Sanjay (Samir Soni), Rohit (Saahil Chadda), and Karan (Nasir Khan). Raj and Pooja have provided their children with everything they wanted, often at the cost of Raj and Pooja's own requirements. The Malhotras also have an adopted son Alok (Salman Khan), who is in love with Arpita (Mahima Chaudhry) (both in special appearances). Alok was an orphan and Raj had provided him with money and education, bringing him up as his own son. Now a successful man, Alok worships Raj because of all his help and thinks him as his own father which he never had.

Raj has a flourishing job but, once he retires, he is no longer able to support himself and has to vacate the house he and Pooja have shared for years. They decide to live with their kids to get their love and affection. However, their kids do not want them, as they think looking after their parents will be a hassle. The children decide to split the parents up, each parent going to live with one of the sons for the next 6 months. The story shows how the aged parents endure this separation as well as horrible treatment from their children after all they have sacrificed for them during their lifetime. Saddened by the treatment he has received from his children and their families, Raj writes down all his feelings regarding how he fulfilled all his children's dreams and in return how they treat him, as well as his love for his wife, and how much pain their separation has caused, his writing eventually becoming a novel.

While changing their trains after 6 months, Raj and Pooja spend some time together in Mumbai, when they suddenly meet Alok, who takes them to his home and gives them the importance and care which their real sons did not give them. Raj then finds out that his writing has become a published book named Baghban. This book becomes a big hit, selling the first copies immediately. Raj, as a result, gains the money he needs to support himself and Pooja in their old age. It is now that their four sons come back to their parents, asking for their forgiveness. However, they hold an ulterior motive: to get a hold of their parents' money. Raj is honored for his work, and the four sons attend with their wives. When they ask Raj to forgive them, he refuses and instead disowns them. Not even Pooja will forgive her children for the pain they have put them through.

Raj stays with Pooja in their home, near Alok and Arpita, and enjoy the company of their grandchildren, Rahul and Payal, while disowning their sons and daughter-in-laws.

Cast[link]

• Amitabh Bachchan as Raj Malhotra
• Hema Malini as Pooja Malhotra
• Aman Verma as Ajay Malhotra (Raj's first son)
• Samir Soni as Sanjay Malhotra (Raj's second son)
• Saahil Chadha as Rohit Malhotra (Raj's third son)
• Nasir Kazi as Karan Malhotra (Raj's fourth son)
• Suman Ranganathan as Kiran Malhotra (Ajay's wife)
• Rimi Sen as Payal Malhotra (Ajay's daughter)
• Divya Dutta as Reena Malhotra (Sanjay's wife)
• Master Yash Pathak as Rahul Malhotra (Sanjay's son)
• Arzoo Govitrikar as Priya Malhotra (Rohit's wife)
• Salman Khan as Alok Raj Malhotra (Raj and Pooja's adopted son)
• Mahima Chaudhry as Arpita Raj (Alok's wife)
• Paresh Rawal as Hemant Patel
• Lilette Dubey as Shanti Patel
• Sharat Saxena as Ram Avtaar
• Mohan Joshi as Khuber Desai, Hotel Owner
• Nakul Vaid as Rahul
• Avtar Gill as Rawat, ICICI Bank Manager
• Asrani as Bedi
• Shashi Kiran as Pritam
• Gajendra Chauhan as a Car salesman
• Sanjeeda Sheikh as Nilli

Production[link]

B. R. Chopra initially wanted to remake this movie in Hindi thirty years ago. He wanted Dilip Kumar and Raakhee to play the lead roles.

Mohnish Behl was offered Aman Verma's role; he did not accept it because he did not want to be portrayed as the father of a 15-year-old girl. Juhi Chawla was selected for the role of Salman Khan's wife but could not accept because of her pregnancy. Shahrukh Khan was offered the role played by Salman Khan. Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini were paired opposite each other after 20 years since they last worked together in Nastik in 1983.

Amitabh Bachchan sung four songs himself.

Reception[link]

Baghban was premiered at the Leeds International Film Festival in Leeds, England. It was critically acclaimed and went on to become one of Chopra's biggest hits. The film received an award at the EMVIE 2004 for best media innovation, cinema for the in-film placement of the ICICI group done by Group M.^[1]

Soundtrack[link]

The music is composed by Aadesh Shrivastav and Uttam Singh. Lyrics are penned by Sameer and Hasan Kamaal.

Track listing[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Baghban at the Internet Movie Database

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