What did Aamir Khan consume for the drunken scene? Why does Pardesi Pardesi play at the end of V For Vendetta? Here’s some super-cool trivia about Dharmesh Darshan’s 1996 blockbuster…

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Revisiting Raja Hindustani: 25 lesser-known facts about the 90s blockbuster

Shilajit Mitra

Updated:18th Nov, 2021 at 3:44 PM

Raja Hindustani tells the story of a cab driver who falls in love with a rich heir

The film’s plot was inspired by Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), about a Kashmiri boatman who falls for a wealthy girl

Aamir Khan was reluctant to do the film but was convinced of its commercial potential by director Dharmesh Darshan

Dharmesh, son of film producer Darshan Sabharwal, had previously directed the film Lootere (1993)

Aishwarya Rai, Juhi Chawla and Pooja Bhatt were offered the role of Aarti. It finally went to Karisma Kapoor.

Karisma and Aamir had previously collaborated on Andaz Apna Apna (1994).

Despite their blockbuster pairing in Raja Hindustani, Aamir and Karisma would not reunite for another film

The film made waves for its extended kissing scene, among the longest on Indian screen

In a recent interview, Karisma revealed that they went through “gruelling circumstances'' to shoot the kiss.

Because of the chilly weather in Ooty, Aamir would “shiver away” for the three days it took to film it, Karisma said

The theme from the kissing scene was again used in Tum Dil Ki Dhadkan in Dhadkan (2000), also directed by Darshan.

The fictional town of Palenkhet was a portmanteau of Palampur and Ranikhet

Kunal Keemu plays Raja’s young sidekick Rajnikant

The film’s soundtrack, composed by Nadeem–Shravan and penned by Sameer, became the best-selling album of 1996

The tracks Pardesi Pardesi, Kitna Pyara Tujhe Rab Ne and Aaye Ho Meri Zindagi Mein were all chartbusters

Kitna Pyara Tujhe Rab Ne was translated from the Punjabi song Kinna Sohna Tenu Rab Ne Banaya by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Pratibha Sinha has a special appearance as the dancer in Pardesi Pardesi. She quit acting in 2000.

Pardesi Pardesi was sampled for the song BKAB, which plays in the closing credits of V For Vendetta

Raja Hindustani won five Filmfare awards, including Aamir’s first for Best Actor

The film was the fourth highest-grossing film of 1990s, after Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

The first cut of the film was reportedly 4 hours and 25 minutes. It was edited down to under 3 hours.

For the drunken scene, Aamir, a teetotaller, drank a whole bottle of vodka

The film was remade in Kannada as Naanu Naane, starring Upendra and Sakshi Shivanand

The figure of the blithe, carefree taxi driver in Hindi film can be traced from Dev Anand’s Taxi Driver to the recent Khaali Peeli

Made on a budget of ₹57.5 million, the film went on to gross ₹763.4 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year.

It also became the fourth highest-grossing film in India of the 1990s behind Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.