Three inseparable childhood friends are just out of college. Nothing comes between them - until they each fall in love, and their wildly different approaches to relationships creates tension... Read allThree inseparable childhood friends are just out of college. Nothing comes between them - until they each fall in love, and their wildly different approaches to relationships creates tension.Three inseparable childhood friends are just out of college. Nothing comes between them - until they each fall in love, and their wildly different approaches to relationships creates tension.
- Awards
- 28 wins & 40 nominations total
- Shalini
- (as Preity Zinta)
Featured reviews
They don't make films like this in the West - and more's the pity but hence the freshness. The three lead actors are gorgeous - so it hardly matters that they must be the oldest students in town. The cinematography is beautiful - especially in the Australian sequences. The song and dance routines are as welcome as they are surprising.
As with all Hindi films, it is pure melodrama of course. The ability to suspend one's disbelief is a necessity. But that aside, it has all the attributes of a good old fashioned Hollywood romance. Boy meets girl, boy loses girl... etc., times three.
The core theme of friendship is a delight - as are the subtle homo-erotic overtones of Akash and Sid's relationship. Intended or not, I wouldn't have minded if they'd ended up together - but this is Bollywood remember!
All in all, fantastic fun which I plan to watch again and again. Highly recommended.
Where as Yaadein is probably one of the worst things to come out of a camera, DCH is one the best. It's just one of those films you'll find hard not to like, basically because it's exactly how the medium of Indian films should be used.
Rather than just cut and paste a song into the film, the filmmakers have done very well to make each song feel wanted, visually interesting, and they never drag. The result is a near 3hr film that just flies by. Comedy, Drama, Great Songs, love stories that work, and some truly excellent casting. Everyone carries the film, and the 3 guys, Safi, Akshay and Aamir are too good together!
Hopefully this film is a wake up call to the rest of Bollywood, who seem to be obsessed with unoriginality. Technically DCH can easily stand up against anything from the West. Editing, Directing, Cinematography, lighting, set design -- everything just works so well.
Sometimes Bollywood can produce some truly great films, and this is most definately one of them!! You must watch it.
Another thing that you might notice while watching the film is that there is not much of a plot. It just... floats along. But that's what makes it great; you never know where the next scene might lead you. What ties the story together is the bond of friendship shared by the three main leads. All the performances were terrific, especially Aamir Khan, who is probably the most respected actor of his generation.
Ultimately, what's great about the film is that it connects to the youth. The depiction of youth is so dead-on and realistic that you would be disgusted at the way youth is treated in other Bollywood films, where every college student aside from the hero/heroine are party-going idiots or jittery nerds! In DCH, however, the people talk like how they're supposed to talk, and nothing seems unrealistic about their personality. While watching the film, it becomes quite evident that Farhan Akhtar belongs to a breed of young, talented directors. What they lack in experience, they make up with an ambitious vision and raw talent.
If you haven't seen the film yet, go watch it. You'll be surprised at how much hope is still left in Bollywood.
Aamir Khan, though initially seems to be miscast in the role of the completely cynical womaniser Akash, demonstrates a very fine versatility in this role and successfully shows the gradual growth in his character with depth and humour. Saif Ali Khan, in his best performance up until that point, is just brilliant as the insecure and very kindhearted Sameer. He displays confusion and fear with great conviction and a fantastic pinch of comedy. Akshaye Khanna is outstanding in this wonderful dramatic role of a serious and sensitive guy who falls for a woman much ahead of his age. Preity Zinta is marvelous as Shalini and skillfully sensitises her character. She plays the part with grace and restraint, and her inner feelings are perfectly understood thanks to her expressive eyes. Dimple Kapadia adds another accomplished performance to her vast repertoire. Sonali Kulkarni's real talent is unfortunately wasted, though she does try to do the best of what she is given.
Overall, Dil Chahta Hai is a remarkable picture about life, and it should provide a great deal of quality entertainment to each and every viewer, whoever and wherever he is. A great film which is according to me the best Hindi film of 2001.
Did you know
- TriviaAamir Khan's ex wife Kiran Rao plays Deepa's friend in the scene when Khan's character hides behind the plant.
- GoofsWhen the guys are talking on the fortress ruins in Goa Sid refers to a ship that he is watching about to go over the horizon. The clip clearly shows a ship which is moving toward them, not away.
- Quotes
Siddharth Sinha: Deepa, why do you like Akash so much?
Deepa: What do you mean?
Siddharth Sinha: [after a brief pause] Sometimes I think why we like someone. Why do you like him?
Deepa: I don't know. I just do.
Siddharth Sinha: Despite knowing that Akash...
Deepa: ... doesn't love me? Yes, even then.
Siddharth Sinha: Deepa, you're beautiful, intelligent. You can get so many guys.
Deepa: [saying in between] If I'm so beautiful then why can't I get Akash?
Siddharth Sinha: I don't know. Yes, I know that if you're in any trouble, then Akash can do all he can for you. But Deepa, you should not hope for such things which...
[Sid stops and takes some sand]
Siddharth Sinha: Now you see this sand? The more you try to hold it tightly, the more it slip through your fingers.
Deepa: [understanding Sid] Thanks, Sid.
- Crazy creditsThe closing credits roll while the last scene featuring the cast eating still continues.
- ConnectionsFeatured in 47th Filmfare Awards (2002)
- SoundtracksDil Chahta Hai
Music by Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani & Loy Mendonsa
Lyrics by Javed Akhtar
Performed by Shankar Mahadevan
- How long is Dil Chahta Hai?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- ₹140,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $316,221
- Runtime
- 3h 3m(183 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1