Baazigar

The story

"Baazigar" opens as a slick, romantic potboiler and quietly turns into something far darker. Ajay Sharma is a well-mannered young man courting the daughters of wealthy businessman Madan Chopra (Dalip Tahil) - but his charm masks a childhood wound and a meticulously planned revenge. The film famously breaks a Bollywood rule within its first act, letting audiences watch its hero commit a shocking act that redefines everything that follows.

Directed by Abbas-Mustan, the film is a psychological thriller built on suspense rather than the usual song-and-dance formula alone. It is loosely based on the 1991 Hollywood film "A Kiss Before Dying", itself adapted from Ira Levin's 1953 novel of the same name. What separates "Baazigar" is its tone: a leading man whose smile is the most dangerous thing about him, wrapped in melody, melodrama and menace. The title itself - drawn from the line "Haar ke jeetne waale ko Baazigar kehte hain" (one who wins after losing is called a gambler) - became part of Hindi cinema's vocabulary.

Making of the film and the casting gamble

The role of Ajay - a hero who is also a murderer - was considered so risky that several established stars reportedly turned it down, wary of playing an out-and-out negative character. Names linked to the role in the declining include Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan and Anil Kapoor. Shah Rukh Khan, then still an emerging face fresh off television and a handful of films, actively pursued the part and persuaded the producers (the Jain brothers of Venus/Eros) to trust him with it.

That gamble reshaped his career and the film's makers alike. For directing duo Abbas-Mustan Burmawalla, "Baazigar" was a breakout that established their signature brand of glossy, twist-driven thrillers. The film also gave Shilpa Shetty her acting debut and marked the first-ever screen pairing of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol - a duo that would go on to become one of Hindi cinema's most beloved on-screen couples. It was released on 12 November 1993, timed to the Diwali festival.

Music

Anu Malik's soundtrack was central to the film's success and remains one of his most celebrated works. The album's chart-topping centrepiece, "Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein" (Kumar Sanu), became a defining 1990s hit, while the title track "Baazigar O Baazigar" (Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik) and the tender "Kitaben Bahut Si" and "Chhupana Bhi Nahin Aata" rounded out a hugely popular set.

The soundtrack was among the best-selling Hindi film albums of 1993, reported to have sold in the region of ten million units. At the 39th Filmfare Awards, Anu Malik won Best Music Director, and Kumar Sanu picked up the Best Male Playback Singer award for "Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein" - reportedly his fourth consecutive win in that category.

Box office and legacy

"Baazigar" was a strong commercial success. Made on a modest budget of roughly Rs 3 crore, it earned around Rs 15 crore net in India and is widely cited as the fourth highest-grossing Hindi film of 1993, behind "Aankhen", "Khal Nayak" and (also SRK's) "Darr". Coming the same year as "Darr", it cemented Shah Rukh Khan's reputation as the actor willing to play the charming villain when others would not.

Its most enduring legacy is what it did for its lead. Shah Rukh Khan won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor - a rare honour for a role in which the character is a killer - and the film is routinely credited as the anti-hero breakthrough that turned him into a major star. Over the years "Baazigar" has acquired genuine cult status for its suspense, its music and that audacious early twist, and it stands as a landmark in the careers of Khan, Kajol, Shilpa Shetty and Abbas-Mustan alike.

Key details