Lagaan had just released a few days before and we were still in awe of Aamir khan and the movie. But then, Aamir khan would not let us breathe. He came up with "Dil Chaahta Hain" in the same year with a completely different and alien set up for Bollywood. In a matter of just a few days, with Lagaan and Dil Chaahta Hai, Aamir khan alone changed the entire Bollywood in the manner of how movies would be made in the near future.
Dil Chaahta hain is a story of male bonding directed by debutante director Farhan Akhtar. Three friends, played by Aamir khan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna. The story starts with absolutely realistic scenes between these three urban youth, their mischief, their ploys of getting into love, their failures. Till that time, friendship on Indian screen was very melodramatic. It actually looked out of place. For example, friends singing "Yeh dosti ham nahee chorenge" type. Dil Chaahta Hai took a refreshing look at friendship and male bonding. The characters were real, the situations were real and the youth absolutely fell in love with it.
Aamir khan as Akash amazingly jumped into this character, which was so vastly different from the rustic Bhuvan in Lagaan. Akash, who does not believe in the concept of love, his mischief with his two friends, their journey and his realisation of true love are all brilliantly potrayed by Aamir khan. Saif Ali khan as the one who carries his heart on his sleeve also delivered his finest performance till date with the movie. In fact , it was Dil Chaahta Hai that made everyone take a notice of Saif who till that time had done absolutely horrendous commercial movies. Akshay Khanna was this amazingly subtle and calm guy, who falls in love with a woman much elder to him. This was again a bold characterisation for a mainstream Bollywood movie.
Dil Chaahta Hai was lapped up by the youth, especially the urban youth. This was the movie that began the trend or "Multiplex movies". Movies which could cater to a niche audience. However, let me tell you that I watched Dil Chaahta Hai in a single screen and still found people connecting to it strongly. It was a risky movie as it had no regular commercial trappings of a regular Bollywood movie of that times. There was no heavy, ear splitting back ground score, there were no sitars ringing in the background at the emotional scenes. Dil Chaahta Hai made Bollywood finally make a movie that was true to friendship. A very realistic take on friends.
The music of Dil Chaahta too was youthful and memorable. Right from the first song "Koi kahe" till the heart breaking classic "Tanhai", it had a very varied music album. Dil Chaahta Hai songs still play out in parties or amongst group of friends.
Dil Chaahta Hai was a hit at the box office, however the kind of cult following this movie enjoys till date is humongous. In fact, this is the first movie anyone would name if you talk of male bonding or buddy movies in Indian cinema. It became an inspiration for movies like "Zindagi na Milegi Dobara" and so many movies which were to follow. You simply cannot measure the kind of admiration and love Aamir khan got for this movie after Lagaan. He had changed the whole game for Bollywood.
With Dil Chaahta Hai and Lagaan, in 2001 summer, Aamir khan absolutely upped the ante and made Bollywood realise that it was time to compete with the world stage. We were absolutely capable of delivering sensible cinema, cinema that was realistic and also entertaining. In the times when Sunny Deol was still breaking hand pumps and ShahRukh Khan still playing Raj and Rahul in every other movie, Salman Khan still throwing his shirt away even when not required, it was the majestic Aamir khan who showed the way for Bollywood. As a true pioneer, he was the torch bearer for modern Bollywood. The rest just followed. In fact, still following him.
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