Hera Pheri (film)
| Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Priyadarshan |
|---|---|
| Produced by | A. G. Nadiadwala |
| Story by | Based on the Malayalam film Ramji Rao Speaking |
| Starring | Akshay Kumar Suniel Shetty Paresh Rawal Tabu |
| Music by | Anu Malik |
| Cinematography | Jeeva |
| Edited by | N. Gopalakrishnan |
| Production company | A. G. Films |
| Distributed by | Eros International |
| Release date | Error: Invalid time. |
| Running time | 143 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Budget | ₹7 crore (approx.) |
| Box office | ₹18 crore (approx.) |
Hera Pheri is a 2000 Indian Hindi-language comedy-drama film directed by Priyadarshan and produced by A. G. Nadiadwala. The film stars Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal in lead roles, with Tabu in a pivotal role. It is a remake of the 1989 Malayalam film Ramji Rao Speaking. Over the years, Hera Pheri has achieved cult status, especially for its dialogues, comic timing, and the iconic character of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, played by Paresh Rawal.
Plot
Raju (Akshay Kumar), a cunning but broke young man, Shyam (Suniel Shetty), a struggling job seeker, and Baburao Ganpatrao Apte (Paresh Rawal), a kind-hearted but eccentric garage owner, live together in a small house. Their lives take a drastic turn when they mistakenly receive a ransom call intended for a wealthy businessman. The trio decides to pose as intermediaries to earn quick money but soon find themselves entangled in a web of crime, confusion, and comedy. Through a series of hilarious mishaps and misunderstandings, they ultimately manage to rescue the kidnapped girl and expose the real culprits.
Cast
- Akshay Kumar as Raju
- Suniel Shetty as Ghanshyam "Shyam"
- Paresh Rawal as Baburao Ganpatrao Apte (Babu Bhaiya)
- Tabu as Anuradha Shivshankar Panikar (Anu)
- Gulshan Grover as Kabira
- Om Puri as Khadak Singh
- Kulbhushan Kharbanda as Devi Prasad
- Asrani, Mushtaq Khan, Kashmira Shah, and others in supporting roles
Production
- Directed by Priyadarshan, the film was adapted from the Malayalam hit Ramji Rao Speaking.
- Filming took place in Mumbai and surrounding areas.
- The film’s dialogues, written by Neeraj Vora, were later credited as one of the main reasons for its cult following.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by Anu Malik, with lyrics by Sameer. Songs like *"Main Ladki Po Po Po"* and *"Tun Tunak Tun"* (remix) gained popularity at the time of release.
Release
Hera Pheri was released on 31 March 2000.
Marketing
The film was marketed as a light-hearted comedy, but over time, its humor and characters gave it a strong cultural presence, making it one of the most celebrated comedies in Bollywood.
Reception
Critical response
The film received mixed reviews at release but was later hailed as a classic of Indian comedy cinema. Paresh Rawal’s performance as Babu Bhaiya was particularly praised and became iconic.
Box office
Made on a modest budget of around ₹7 crore, the film grossed approximately ₹18 crore. While only a moderate success initially, its popularity grew massively through TV reruns and home video, cementing it as a cult favorite.