Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha

About the film

Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha (transl. Love Was Bound to Happen) is a 1998 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film directed by Anees Bazmee, starring Ajay Devgn and Kajol. The film is an unofficial remake of the 1995 film French Kiss, starring Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline. At the 44th Filmfare Awards, Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha received 5 nominations, including Best Film and Best Supporting Actor (Puri), and won Best Female Playback Singer (Jaspinder Narula for "Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha").

Moreover, Kajol also received a Best Actress nomination at the ceremony for her performance in the film, but instead won the award for her performance in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. The film was remade in Kannada as Preetisle Beku (2003).

Plot

Sanjana, an exceptionally clumsy woman, lives in Paris. She works for Harish Patel. She is about to marry her love, Rahul. Rahul is about to go to India on a business trip and Sanjana insists on going with him, even though she has an intense fear of flying. When the plane is ready to take off, Sanjana's fear gets the best of her and she creates havoc on the plane, managing to get herself off the aircraft safely. A few days later, during a phone call to Sanjana, a tipsy Rahul blurts out that he has fallen in love with a woman named Nisha Jaitley and is breaking up with Sanjana.

Sanjana decides to fly to India and get Rahul back, whatever the cost. As the plane to India is about to take off, a passenger named Shekhar Suryavanshi sits next to her. He realizes that Sanjana is scared of flying, so he diverts her attention by provoking her. During the flight, Sanjana accidentally spills a drink on Shekhar and realizes that he is hiding something. Shekhar goes to the toilet, and while inside he pulls a plant wrapped in cloth out of his pocket. He unwraps the cloth covering the plant, revealing a diamond necklace that he had stolen from Paris. After returning to his seat, he puts the necklace in one of Sanjana's bags in order to sneak it through customs. After a chaotic flight, the plane lands in India.

Sanjana's bags are stolen at the hotel reception, and Shekhar decides to stay with her as a way of staying close to the necklace. Meanwhile, Police Inspector Khan is after Shekhar for stealing the necklace. After recovering the bags, Shekhar and Sanjana end up in Shekhar's native village, where they participate in the festivities surrounding the engagement of Shekhar's younger sister, Chutki. Shekhar, meanwhile, is falling in love with Sanjana but does not tell her. During a conversation with Shekhar's family, Sanjana finds out that Shekhar wanted to earn money for the surgery of his nephew, who needs a heart transplant. She tells him that she has had the diamond necklace all along, while Shekhar promises to help Sanjana get Rahul back.

Music

The soundtrack was released by Baba Music and with around 3.2 million units sold, it was the fourth highest-selling album of 1998 after Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (also by Jatin–Lalit), Dil Se.. and Soldier. It received nominations at the Filmfare, Star Screen and Zee Cine Awards for Best Music Direction by Jatin–Lalit. "Jab Kisiki Taraf Dil" became the most popular and iconic song from the album.

A guitar riff from Bryan Adams' "Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?" was sampled in the title track.

Reception

Anupama Chopra of India Today criticised the script, writing, "Bazmee, who has written some of David Dhawan's most successful films, including Aankhen, creates some effective comedy and a credible tension between the lovers but he tries to cover too many bases."

The film was the third highest grosser of 1998.

Key details