1/23/23, 1:48 PM Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani - Wikipedia

Contents
move to sidebar hide

(Top)
1Plot

2Cast

3Music

3.1Track listing

4Box office

4.1India
4.2Overseas

5Awards
6See also

7References

8External links

Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani

Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (transl. Yet, The Heart is Indian)
is a 2000 Indian Hindi-language satirical film[3] released by
Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani
Dreamz Unlimited (now Red Chillies Entertainment). The
producers derived the title from lines of the song "Mera Joota Hai
Japani" from Shree 420 (1955). Aziz Mirza directed Shah Rukh
Khan and Juhi Chawla, focusing on the TV media wars. Ajay
Bakshi and Ria Banerjee are two television reporters for rival
news channels who try to save the life of a man who has been
fixed by politicians for the death of his brother, from a death
sentence. The film marked the first attempted by Khan, Chawla,
and Mirza under their new production company Dreamz
Unlimited, now Red Chillies Entertainment. This film won the
IIFA Award for Best Special Effects.

Plot

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phir_Bhi_Dil_Hai_Hindustani 1/5
1/23/23, 1:48 PM Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani - Wikipedia

Ajay Bakshi (Shah Rukh Khan) is a successful loudmouthed

reporter, working for a reputed news channel. The rival news
channel ropes in Ria Banerjee (Juhi Chawla) to bring him down.
Ria is the antithesis of Ajay and uses her intelligence, charm and
wits to get her work done.

Pappu Junior alias Choti (Johnny Lever) is a don who is to be

ousted from his own gang, owing to his inability to make it big in
the crime world. Ajay approaches Choti with an offer: arrange a
fake attack on minister Ramakant Dua's (Shakti Kapoor) brother-
in-law Madanlal Gupta (Mahavir Shah), on national TV. Choti will
earn respect & Ajay's channel will gain ratings. Little does Ajay
know that the plan is going to turn too real.

Ramakant Dua's brother-in-law is gunned down by an assailant

named Mohan Joshi (Paresh Rawal). Minister Ramakant takes
advantage of his brother-in-law's death to gain votes and
sympathy; he also instigates a pogrom to ensure his position in Directed by Aziz Mirza
the government. Ajay and Ria start getting along as they work
Written by Sanjay Chhel
together to cover the city riots. Mohan is arrested and to avoid
public unrest, the Police Commissioner declares that Mohan is a (story idea &
foreign terrorist. Mohan escapes jail and hides in Ajay and Ria's dialogues)
car. Screenplay by Raaj Kumar
Dahima
When Mohan accosts them, Ajay accuses him of being a terrorist.
Manoj Lalwani
Mohan yells that he is not and tells the two his story: Mohan had a
happy family with a wife (Neena Kulkarni) and daughter. One Produced by Shah Rukh
day, his daughter went for an interview and Ramakant's brother- Khan
in-law raped and beat her. She died from the trauma and as no Juhi Chawla
lawyer was willing to fight the case due to the perpetrator's Aziz Mirza
political power, Mohan was left helpless, running from door to
Starring Shah Rukh
door for justice. Hence hopeless, he took the law into his own
hands and killed the rapist. Khan
Juhi Chawla
Ajay and Ria decide to help Mohan, who sees them as his own Paresh Rawal
kids and helps them realize their love for each other. Ajay hands Johnny Lever
over the videotape of Mohan's confession to his boss and uncle Dilip Joshi
Kaka (Satish Shah). Unfortunately, the minister has joined hands
Cinematography Santosh Sivan
with rival minister Mushran (Govind Namdeo) as he fears that
their secrets might come out if Mohan's truth is revealed. Ajay's Edited by Chandan Arora
boss forms an alliance with Ria's boss Chinoy (Dalip Tahil). The Music by Jatin–Lalit
ministers and channel heads come together and trick Ajay and Ria
Production Dreamz
into giving them the tape.
company Unlimited
When Mohan is arrested and sentenced to be publicly hanged, Distributed by Eros
Ajay and Ria realize they were tricked. They work together with International
Choti to get the tape back. Ajay succeeds in broadcasting Mohan's
confession just an hour before Mohan's execution and tearfully Release date 21 January 2000
requests the nation to stop this injustice. Running time 166 minutes
Country India

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phir_Bhi_Dil_Hai_Hindustani 2/5
1/23/23, 1:48 PM Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani - Wikipedia

The ministers and policemen try to prevent the protesters from Language Hindi
entering the prison ground but the ACP joins Ajay and Ria, thus
Budget ₹ 13 crore[1]
neutralizing the police barricades. In a blatant mockery and
critique of media's selfish obsession with ratings and views, Box office ₹ 25.46 crore[2]
Mohan is made to wear a shirt sporting logos of sponsors and
companies. Seconds before the execution, Ajay saves Mohan and the protesters beat up the politicians
and chase them out, ensuring their careers are over.

Mohan's execution is called off and the film ends happily as Ria proposes to Ajay, who accepts.

Cast
Shah Rukh Khan as Ajay Bakshi
Juhi Chawla as Ria Banerjee
Paresh Rawal as Mohan Joshi
Johnny Lever as Choti / Pappu Junior
Atul Parchure as Shahid Akram
Sanjay Mishra as Bomb Defuser
Sharat Saxena as Pappu's boss
Aanjjan Srivastav as Police Commissioner
Neena Kulkarni as Laxmi Joshi, Mohan's wife.
Dalip Tahil as Chinoy
Satish Shah as Kaka
Govind Namdeo as Chief Minister Mushran
Shakti Kapoor as Minister Ramakant Dua
Mahavir Shah as Ramakant's brother-in-law Madanlal Gupta
Bharti Achrekar as Mrs. Neha Banerjee, Ria's mother.
Smita Jaykar as Mrs. Sudeepa Bakshi, Ajay's mother.
Vishwajeet Pradhan as Head Police Inspector
Dilip Joshi as Sapney (Choti's aide)
Mona Ambegaonkar as Shalini Bahl (Cameo)
Hyder Ali as Mr. Rohan Bakshi, Ajay's father.
Syed Badr-ul Hasan Khan Bahadur
Dimple Inamdar

Music
The music was composed by Jatin–Lalit who also composed Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani
the background score assisted by brother-in-law Aadesh Studio album by Jatin–Lalit
Shrivastava. All lyrics were written by Javed Akhtar. The
music of the film was appreciated. Manish Dhamija of Planet Released 26 November 1999[4]
Bollywood gave 8.5 stars stating, "Overall, the album is a Genre Feature film soundtrack
pleasant surprise from Jatin-Lalit".[5] The soundtrack and the Length 33:26
song "Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani" in particular, with its
concept of "Love our country", was well-received and praised Label Sony Music
Producer Jatin–Lalit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phir_Bhi_Dil_Hai_Hindustani 3/5
1/23/23, 1:48 PM Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani - Wikipedia

for its patriotism. Author M. J. Akbar highlighted the "very Jatin–Lalit chronology
heavy winking" by Khan during his performance of the song,
Mohabbatein Phir Bhi Dil Raja Ko Rani
accompanying the evocative lyrics.[6]
(2000) Hai Se Pyar Ho
Hindustani Gaya
Track listing (1999) (2000)
No. Title Singer(s) Length External audio
1. "Phir Bhi Dil Hai Udit Narayan 04:01
Audio Jukebox (https://www.youtube.
Hindustani"
com/watch?v=gH-oK9xM3qU) on
2. "I'm the Best" Abhijeet 04:19
YouTube
(Male Version) Bhattacharya
3. "I'm the Best" Jaspinder 04:19
(Female Version) Narula
4. "Banke Tera Jogi" Sonu Nigam, 04:43 Professional ratings
Alka Yagnik Review scores
5. "Vande Mataram" Shankar 04:39
Mahadevan, Source Rating
Ehsaan Noorani Planet Bollywood [5]
6. "Kuch To Bata" Abhijeet 04:32
Bhattacharya,
Alka Yagnik
7. "Aur Kya" Abhijeet 05:04
Bhattacharya,
Alka Yagnik
8. "Aao Na Aao Na" Jatin Pandit 01:53

Box office
Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani grossed ₹18.20 crore (US$2.3 million) in India and $1.67 million (₹7.26
crore) in other countries, for a worldwide total of ₹25.46 crore (US$3.2 million), against its ₹13 crore
(US$1.6  million) budget. It had a worldwide opening weekend of ₹7.45 crore (US$930,000), and
grossed ₹12.50 crore (US$1.6  million) in its first week.[2] It is the 13th-highest-grossing Bollywood
film of 2000 worldwide.[7]

On Up Close & Personal with PZ, Shah Rukh Khan said that the film "was the biggest failure for Juhi
[Chawla], Aziz [Mirza], and him".

India

It opened on Friday, 21 January 2000, across 240 screens, and earned ₹91 lakh (US$110,000) nett on
its opening day. It grossed ₹2.74 crore (US$340,000) nett in its opening weekend, and had a first
week of ₹5.08 crore (US$640,000) nett. The film earned a total of ₹10.74 crore (US$1.3 million) nett,
and was declared "Flop" by Box Office India.[2]

Overseas

It had an opening weekend of $650,000 (₹2.82 crore) and went on to gross $900,000 (₹3.91 crore) in
its first week. The film earned a total of $1.67 million (₹7.26 crore) at the end of its theatrical run.[2]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phir_Bhi_Dil_Hai_Hindustani 4/5
1/23/23, 1:48 PM Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani - Wikipedia

'Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani' worldwide collections

breakdown
Territory wise Collections break-
Territory
up

Nett Gross:
₹10.74 crore (US$1.3 million)

Distributor share:
India
₹5.57 crore (US$700,000)
Total Gross:
₹18.20 crore (US$2.3 million)

International
(Outside $1.67 million (₹7.26 crore)
India)

Worldwide ₹25.46 crore (US$3.2 million)

Awards
Awards Category Recipients and Nominees Results
Best Special Effects Dreamz Unlimited Won
International Indian Film Academy Awards
Best Comedian Nominated
Filmfare Awards Best Comedian Johnny Lever Nominated

Screen Awards Best Comedian Nominated

See also
India portal

Film portal

Bollywood portal

Mera Joota Hai Japani

References
1. "Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani Budget" (http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Movies/movie_detail/phir_bhi_
dil_hai_hindustani#.Vb3EeNyqqkp). Box Office India. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
2. "Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani Box office" (http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Movies/movie_detail/phir_b
hi_dil_hai_hindustani#.Vb3EeNyqqkp). Box Office India. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
3. "20 years ago, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani had warned us about Fake News – and called for a
Revolution" (https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/bollywood-features/20-years-ago-phir-bhi-dil-h
ai-hindustani-had-warned-us-about-fake-news-and-called-for-a-revolution/). Film Companion. 21
January 2020.
4. "Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)" (https://itunes.apple.com/in/albu
m/phir-bhi-dil-hai-hindustani-original-motion-picture/302381521). iTunes Store.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phir_Bhi_Dil_Hai_Hindustani 5/5