Baghban

Infobox_Film
name = Baghban


imdb_id = 0337578
writer =
starring = Amitabh Bachchan,
Hema Malini,
Salman Khan,
Mahima Chaudhry,
Aman Verma,
Rimi Sen,
Samir Soni
director = Ravi Chopra
producer = B. R. Chopra
distributor = B. R. Films
released = October 3, 2003
runtime =
language = Hindi
music = Uttam Singh
Aadesh Shrivastava
awards =
budget =

"Baghban" (Devnagari: बाग़बान, in English: "Gardener") is a 2003 Hindi film directed by Ravi Chopra. Although uncredited, the movie is a remake of a National award winning Kannada movie School Master. This movie is also the remake of the Marathi movie Tu Thitha Me, meaning I am where you are.

Plot

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 Chaudhary) (both in special appearances). Alok was an orphan and Raj had provided him with money and education. Now a successful man, Alok worships Raj because of all his help.

Raj has a flourishing job as an ICICI employee, but once he retires, he and Pooja decide to live with their kids to get their love. However their kids don't want them as they think looking after their parents will be a hassle. This is where the story takes a sharp turn; the children decide to split the parents up and for 6 months they will live with two of the four sons and for the next 6 months they will live with their third and fourth sons. The story shows how the aged parents endure this separation as well as horrible treatment from their children after all they have done for them in the past. Saddened by the treatment he has received from his children and their families, Malhotra publishes a book called "Baghban" for which he wins a cash award and gains popularity. It is now that the children come back to their parents, asking for their forgiveness, when they really want their money. But Raj ignores them and lives with Pooja, Alok and Arpita, while disowning the rest of his sons.

The film also stars Paresh Rawal and Lillette Dubey in supporting roles.

Cast

* Amitabh Bachchan ... Raj Malhotra
* Hema Malini ... Pooja Malhotra
* Salman Khan ... Alok Raj
* Mahima Chaudhry ... Arpita Raj
* Aman Verma ... Ajay Malhotra
* Samir Soni ... Sanjay Malhotra
* Saahil Chadda ... Rohit Malhotra
* Nasir Khan ... Karan Malhotra
* Divya Dutta ... Reena Malhotra
* Suman Ranganathan ... Kiran Malhotra
* Rimi Sen ... Payal Malhotra
* Paresh Rawal ... Hemant Patel
* Lilette Dubey ... Shanti Patel

Development

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

Mohnish Behl was offered Aman Verma's role but 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 in 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 their last worked together in "Nastik" in 1983.

Amitabh Bachchan sang three songs himself.

Reception

Baghban was premiered at the Leeds International Film Festival in Leeds, England. It was well received and went on to become one of Chopra's biggest recent hits.

External links

*imdb title|id=0337578|title=Baghban