Reminiscing the magic of Hum Aapke Hain Koun: A nostalgic trip back to the making of India's highest-grosser ever
We list out some exciting trivia about the making of Bollywood's OG big-fat wedding film
Hum Aapke Hain Koun (HAHK), which got a release in August 1994, is a reworked, ‘modern’ version of Rajshri Production’s own 1982 blockbuster, Nadiya Ke Paar
In this special photo feature, we take you on the time machine to the dewy-eyed melodrama of the 90s.
Director/writer Sooraj Barjatya devoted 2 years to write the film's scripy. He spent the first five months trying to write another Maine Pyar Kiya, but then started over again.
HAHK was the first Hindi film to gross over INR 1 billion.
Aamir Khan was originally given the role of Prem, but he didn't find the script appealing. Salman Khan, who was going through a bad career phase, was then signed.
Filmmaker Karan Johar named it as the one film that changed his life. He said, I realized Indian cinema is about values, tradition, subtlety, romance. There is so much soul in it.'
Painter (Late) M. F. Husain was reported to have seen the film 85 times.
Lata Mangeshkar, who sang more than 10 songs, had long retired from accepting awards, but the craze for 'Didi Tera Devar Deewana' was such that she received the Filmfare Special Award that year.
The film was released in the new ‘Ultra Stereo Optical Sound’ for a better audio-visual experience. The makers refused to let the theatres, which did not have the systems in place, to screen the film.
Due to demand for the film after release, many other theaters upgraded in order to get the film. As a result ticket prices were raised, and more people, who were lost in TV, came back to the theaters.
The music parts during the song 'Joote Do Paise Lo' are the instrumentals of 'Kabootar Ja Ja' & 'Aja Sham Hone Ayi'. Both these songs are from Sooraj Barjatiya's previous film Maine Pyar Kiya.
Adjusted for inflation, this is one of the highest grossing Bollywood movie of all time, with collections upto 134 Cr, which today would equal to approximately 700 crore.
The film was dubbed into Telugu as Premalayam.
According to a recent report in Livemint, HAHK is the most successful Hindi film on Indian television ever. Its popularity can be gauged by the fact that it's available on all popular streaming sites.
The track 'Didi Tera Devar Deewana' is said to be inspired by Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's song 'Saare Nabian'.
Before Madhuri, Sooraj Bartajya was about to sign Nikki Aneja, but the latter coudn't do the film for unknown reasons.
The song 'Dhiktana(Part 1}' was sampled in the song 'We Got More' by Luniz ft. Shock G. The song was featured in the Hollywood film Don't Be A Menace in South Central While Drinking Your Orange Juice
Anupam Kher was suffering from facial paralysis at that time and shot the drunken act of Sholay to cover up for his sickness.
'Jute Lo Paise Do' song set the trend of hiding bridegroom's shoes in wedding in Nepal . There were no such tradition before that.
Rajesh Khanna was initially offered Alok Nath's role, but he declined it.
Barjayta's grandfather and the company founder Tarachand Barjatya, loved the song 'Dhiktana' so much that the film was nearly given that title.
From conception to finished product, the film, which was shot in Ooty, took four years to be completed.
Madhuri Dixit was paid a salary of Rs. 27,540,000 for playing the role of Nisha, a fee higher than that of Salman Khan.
The bright purple jaded satin saree with a backless khidki-blouse that Madhuri Dixit draped in 'Didi Tera Dewar Deewana' was reported to have cost Rs. 1.5 million (US$23,000).
This film, in addition to the following year's Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, contributed to an increase in Indian cinema attendance of 40% in just two years.
After the film, Redo (the Indian Spitz dog who played 'Tuffy') was reportedly adopted by actress Madhuri Dixit.
The film made a lasting impact on wedding celebrations in India, which often include songs and games from the film.
