Hera Pheri (2000 film)

Hera Pheri
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPriyadarshan
Written byNeeraj Vora (screenplay and dialogues)
Anand Vardhan (adapted story)
Based onRamji Rao Speaking by Siddique-Lal
Produced byA. G. Nadiadwala
Starring
CinematographyJeeva
Edited byN. Gopalakrishnan
Music bySongs:
Anu Malik
Guest Composers:
Lalit Sen
Bally Sagoo
Background Score:
Surinder Sodhi
Production
company
A. G. Films (P) Ltd.
Release date
  • 31 March 2000 (2000-03-31)
Running time
138 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget₹7.5 crore[2]
Box office₹21.4 crore[3]

Hera Pheri (transl. Foul Play) is a 2000 Indian Hindi-language comedy film directed by Priyadarshan and written by Neeraj Vora, starring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Tabu, Om Puri and Gulshan Grover.[4] The film is a remake of 1989 Malayalam film Ramji Rao Speaking which itself was inspired by the 1971 American TV movie See The Man Run.[5][6][7] It is the first instalment of the Hera Pheri franchise. The plot revolves around two tenants, Raju and Shyam, and their landlord, Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, who are in desperate need of money. They chance upon a ransom call through a cross-connection and hatch a plan to claim the ransom for themselves.

The film was released on 31 March 2000. It opened to mixed reviews, some of whom applauded the performances of Kumar and Rawal particularly. The film is considered Kumar's foray into the comedy genre.[8] However, the film achieved moderate success, grossing ₹21.4 crore at the box office against a budget of ₹7.5 crore. It spawned a sequel, Phir Hera Pheri, released in 2006.

Over the years, the film has evolved into a cult classic,[9][10][8] and is widely regarded as one of the best Indian comedy films ever made.[11] The film is noted for its authenticity and depiction of economic problem of lower middle class families in India, situational comedy, dialogues, performances of the lead trio Kumar, Rawal and Shetty. It was voted the best Bollywood comedy film of all time in an online poll conducted by The Indian Express in 2014.[12] It was remade in Telugu as Dhanalakshmi, I Love You in 2002 by Siva Nageswara Rao.

  1. ^ "HERA PHERI | British Board of Film Classification". bbfc.co.uk.
  2. ^ "Hera Pheri – Movie – Box Office India". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 21 July 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  3. ^ https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=714
  4. ^ Jain, Mimmy (3 April 2000). "Three for a laugh". Express India. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  5. ^ "Priyardarshan on 20 years of 'Hera Pheri': Humour can never die - Times of India". The Times of India.
  6. ^ "Humour can never die: Priyadarshan on 20 years of Hera Pheri | Celebrities News – India TV". 31 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Varun Dhawan declined to play Raju in Hera Pheri 3". Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  8. ^ a b "20 years of Hera Pheri: Revisiting Priyadarshan's classic comedy film and what makes it such a cult favourite". Firstpost. 31 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Akshay Kumar: A Khiladi For All Seasons". HuffPost. 30 January 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  10. ^ Vijayakar, Rajiv (21 May 2010). "Cult, Comic & Classic". Screen India. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  11. ^ "Abhi, Sanju, Nana in Hera Pheri 3". The Times of India. 19 August 2010. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  12. ^ "Surfers pick 'Hera Pheri', 'Andaz Apna Apna' as top Hindi comedy films of all time in Indian Express online poll". The Indian Express. 19 June 2014. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.