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Hasee Toh Phasee
2014 film by Vinil Mathew From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Hasee Toh Phasee (transl. If she smiles, she is trapped) is a 2014 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy-drama film directed by Vinil Mathew in his directorial debut and produced by Karan Johar, Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, and Vikas Bahl under Dharma Productions and Phantom Films. It stars Sidharth Malhotra and Parineeti Chopra, with supporting performances from Adah Sharma, Manoj Joshi, Sharat Saxena, and Neena Kulkarni.[4][5] The narrative follows Nikhil, a struggling businessman engaged to actress Karishma, whose life is upended when he reconnects with her estranged, eccentric sister Meeta, leading to an unexpected emotional journey.
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The film marked Chopra’s first venture outside Yash Raj Films[6] and Malhotra’s return to Dharma Productions after his debut.[7] Principal photography took place in Mumbai, with music composed by Vishal–Shekhar and lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya and Kumaar.
Released theatrically on 7 February 2014, Hasee Toh Phasee received positive reviews for its screenplay, humor, soundtrack, and cast performances, particularly Chopra’s. It grossed ₹63.38 crore (US$7.6 million) worldwide, emerging as a moderate commercial success. At the 60th Filmfare Awards, the film earned three nominations, including Best Lyricist (Bhattacharya for "Zehnaseeb") and Best Male Playback Singer (Shekhar Ravjiani for "Zehnaseeb").[8]
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Plot
Nikhil Bhardwaj, a struggling entrepreneur, is engaged to Karishma Solanki, an actress. Seeking financial backing for a business deal, he approaches her father, Devesh, but is dismissed. Days before the wedding, Nikhil encounters Karishma’s estranged younger sister, Meeta, a brilliant yet eccentric chemical engineer who had disappeared seven years earlier after stealing money from their father for a research project.
Concerned that Meeta's return might disrupt the wedding, Karishma asks Nikhil to keep her away from the family. As Nikhil spends time with Meeta, they form a bond. He learns she is in financial trouble, having taken a large loan in China by forging her father's signature. Meeta intends to steal from her father again but ultimately confesses, and he forgives her.
On the wedding day, Meeta disappears for China, but Karishma, realizing Nikhil's true feelings, calls off the ceremony. Nikhil finds Meeta at the same place where they had first met and confesses his love. The film ends with the couple preparing to fly to Germany together.
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Cast
- Sidharth Malhotra as Nikhil Bharadwaj
- Namit Shah as young Nikhil
- Parineeti Chopra as Dr. Meeta Solanki
- Anshikaa Shrivastava as Young Meeta
- Adah Sharma as Karishma Solanki
- Manoj Joshi as Devesh Solanki, Meeta and Karishma's father
- Sharat Saxena as S. B. Bharadwaj, Nikhil's father
- Neena Kulkarni as Mrs. Bharadwaj, Nikhil's mother
- Sameer Sharma as Abhay Bharadwaj, Nikhil's brother
- Anil Mange as Abhinandan
- Sameer Khakhar as Alpesh Solanki, Meeta's uncle
- Sunil Upadhyay as Salim
- Garvita Sadhwani as Amrita
- Gulzar Dastur as Nikhil's aunt
- Lily Patel as Baa, Meeta's grandmother
- Akash Dabas as Nikhil's friend
- Jaymeet Sinha as Ruhaan
- Tinnu Anand as Mukesh Adnani (special appearance)
- Bobby Darling in a special appearance in song "Drama Queen"
- Karan Johar in a special appearance
- Vikas Bahl in a special appearance
- Madhu Mantena in a special appearance
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Production
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Development
Hasee Toh Phasee was directed by debutant Vinil Mathew and produced jointly by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions and Phantom Films. Initially titled Hasta La Vista Su Badam Pista, the title was later changed to Hasee Toh Phasee.[9][10] The film was conceived as a romantic comedy that combined quirky characters with emotional depth. Anurag Kashyap noted that the script required fresh faces with nuanced performances, which influenced the casting process.[11][12]
Mathew described the film as character-driven, set over the course of seven days, and noted that the lead characters’ emotional arcs were central to the narrative. He collaborated closely with writer Harshavardhan Kulkarni, who revealed that the character of Meeta was partially inspired by his friend’s intelligent but socially awkward sibling.[13]
Casting
Sidharth Malhotra was cast as Nikhil, a conservative and earnest businessman. According to Malhotra, the character differed from conventional Bollywood heroes, focusing more on internal growth than external heroics.[14] Parineeti Chopra was cast as Meeta, an eccentric scientist with unconventional behaviour.[10] Chopra described the role as one of her most demanding, as it broke the typical mould of a Bollywood heroine.[15] Mathew stated that Chopra was always his preferred choice, while Johar suggested Malhotra for the male lead.[10]
Adah Sharma played Karishma, Meeta's sister and Nikhil’s fiancée.[16] The supporting cast included Manoj Joshi as Meeta’s father, Sharat Saxena and Neena Kulkarni as Nikhil’s parents, and several others in key roles.[17][18] Karan Johar, Vikas Bahl, and Madhu Mantena made cameo appearances in the film.[19][20]
Filming
Principal photography began on 18 April 2013 in Mumbai, with locations including Lokhandwala and Marine Drive.[21][22][23] The cast underwent two months of rehearsals prior to the shoot.[13] During filming, Chopra sustained minor injuries,[24] and Malhotra wrapped up his portions in September 2013.[25]
Post-production
The film's marketing included an interactive online campaign inviting fans to make Chopra laugh under Malhotra’s virtual guidance, aligning with the film’s light-hearted tone.[26][27]
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Soundtrack
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Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy were initially signed as composers for the film, but eventually opted out.[28] The final soundtrack was composed by Vishal–Shekhar, with lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya, except for "Ishq Bulaava", which was penned by Kumaar. The album features six original tracks and one remix.
The first single, "Drama Queen", sung by Shreya Ghoshal and Vishal Dadlani, was released on 23 December 2013, followed by "Zehnaseeb", sung by Chinmayi Sripaada along with Shekhar Ravjiani, on 3 January 2014.[29] The complete album was released on 6 January 2014. A remix of "Drama Queen" was later uploaded separately on Dharma Productions' YouTube channel.[30]
The film also features a Gujarati rap written and composed by Khamosh Shah, which was included in the film but not in the official soundtrack album. The "Punjabi Wedding Song" was choreographed by Karishma Chavan.
Critical reception
The soundtrack received mixed-to-positive reviews. Joginder Tuteja of Rediff.com called "Ishq Bulaava" the standout love song and praised Vishal–Shekhar for delivering beyond expectations with a mix of fun and soulful tracks.[31] Seema Sinha of Times of India described the album as "refreshing," with a blend of upbeat numbers and romantic ballads.[32] NDTV noted the music was "youthful, peppy, entertaining and enthralling," while Bollywood Hungama praised "Manchala" and "Zehnaseeb" but criticized the mixing and over-orchestration.[33][34]
Charts and ranks
"Zehnaseeb" emerged as the most popular track from the album. It was ranked fifth in The Times of India's "Bollywood Music Report Jan–Sept 2014"[35] and tenth in Radio Mirchi's "Top 20 songs of 2014".[36]
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Release
The first look and poster of Hasee Toh Phasee were released in December 2013, followed by the theatrical trailer later that month.[37][38] The film was released theatrically on 7 February 2014.[39] It was subsequently made available for streaming on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.[40][41]
Reception
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Box office
According to Box Office India, Hasee Toh Phasee had a moderate opening in urban centres across India.[42] It grossed approximately ₹40 million (US$470,000) on its opening day and showed a 35 percent increase on its second day, collecting ₹55 million (US$650,000).[43] Its opening weekend collections were estimated between ₹170 million and ₹185 million (US$2.0–2.2 million),[44] with a first-week total of approximately ₹275 million (US$3.3 million).[45]
In its second week, despite a reduction in screen count due to the release of Gunday, the film collected ₹47.5 million (US$560,000), bringing its ten-day total to around ₹320 million (US$3.8 million).[46] Overseas, Hasee Toh Phasee earned approximately US$1.03 million (₹64.1 million) in its opening weekend, performing well in markets such as North America and the United Kingdom.[47]
Critical reception
Hasee Toh Phasee received generally positive reviews from critics, with particular praise directed towards the performances of Parineeti Chopra and Sidharth Malhotra, as well as the film's direction, writing, and unconventional narrative tone.[48] Meena Iyer of The Times of India awarded the film 3.5 out of 5 stars, describing it as "a romantic comedy that mirrors the quirks in human nature subtly" and commending its balance of humour and emotion.[49] Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama, also rating it 3.5 out of 5, wrote that the film "dares to be distinctive" and is "a quirky love tale involving two individuals, shades different from the mundane stuff on matters of the heart."[50]
In her review for Rediff.com, Sukanya Verma gave the film 3.5 stars, stating, "Hasee Toh Phasee is that rare film that allows you to know the two people you're investing in... Parineeti sinks her teeth into this misunderstood kook without a trace of self-consciousness."[51] Mohar Basu of Koimoi rated the film 3 out of 5, praising the lead pair's chemistry and writing that it was "pleasantly surprising and utterly baffling in equal amounts."[52] India Today similarly gave it 3 out of 5, calling it "a refreshing, much-needed entry in the contemporary romcom genre" and highlighting the "unseen pairing with great chemistry."[53] Tushar Joshi of Daily News and Analysis also gave the film 3 out of 5, noting that "the odd pairing works only because these two actors take an effort to play their characters with utmost sincerity."[54][55]
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Accolades
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Legacy
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Hasee Toh Phasee remains one of the most popular romantic dramas in Hindi cinema. It was named as one of the Bollywood's top romantic films by Rediff.com and Film Companion.[68][69] Hasee Toh Phasee is cited as a milestone in Chopra and Malhotra's career. While, it was Malhotra's first solo success, it was Chopra's fourth consecutive success.[70][71] Their performance in the film, has been noted as one of their most notable works.[72][73]
Vibha Maru from The Indian Express noted, "What makes Hasee Toh Phasee unique is the character arc of its two leads. Each moment is made touching, especially when paired with Vishal–Shekhar’s timeless music."[74] Chopra's character Meeta has been noted for being a different female lead in Bollywood with Chopra adding, "Hasee Toh Phasee is a very special film in my filmography. Meeta’s character is very close to my heart as I got to play the role of a quirky scientist in the film! She was the dark horse in her family and she is extremely sharp and has many ideas happening in her head all the time. I feel Meeta, in a way, broke the stereotype of how a heroine should be or look on-screen."[75] Rediff.com, Pinkvilla, Film Companion and Cosmopolitan have named Meeta among the strongest and inspirational female characters of Bollywood.[76][77][78][79]
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See also
Notes
References
External links
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