Baazigar

It stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in lead roles, while Siddharth, Shilpa Shetty (in her film debut), Dalip Tahil, and Johnny Lever appear in supporting roles, with Raakhee in a special appearance. Its soundtrack was composed by Anu Malik. An unofficial remake of the 1991 Hollywood film A Kiss Before Dying (directed by James Dearden, starring Matt Dillon and Sean Young), the film is about a young man seeking to avenge the fall of his family.

Baazigar was Khan’s breakthrough role as the sole lead (his first as an anti-hero), along with being his eighth film out of eighty throughout his 30-year career, Kajol’s first commercial success and Shetty’s film debut.

Baazigar was released on 12 November 1993, coinciding with the festival of Diwali. Made on a budget of ₹40 million, the film was declared a blockbuster at the box office with a worldwide gross of ₹320 million. Apart from emerging as a major financial success, the film has become a cult film over the years due to its suspense, story, screenplay, soundtrack and performances of the cast. It was the first collaboration between Khan and Kajol, who went on to become one of India’s most iconic on-screen couples. It helped establish Khan, Kajol, Shetty and Malik in Hindi films, and the soundtrack sold over 10 million units, thus becoming the highest-selling album of the year.

At the 39th Filmfare Awards, Baazigar received 10 nominations, including Best Film, Best Supporting Actress and Best Female Debut (both for Shetty), and won 4 awards, including Best Actor (Khan) and Best Music Director (Malik).

Chopra competes in an auto race in Madras only to discover that another competitor, Vicky Malhotra, let him win on purpose so that he could meet him. Vicky impresses Chopra, and Priya develops feelings for him.

Seema’s boyfriend Ajay convinces her to commit suicide with him, as her father is forcing her to marry someone else. She agrees, writing and signing a suicide note. Ajay tells her that he was merely testing her love for him and, proposing marriage, asks her to elope with him. Next day, while waiting for the marriage registrar’s office to open, Ajay pushes Seema off the roof of the building, murdering her. He then discreetly mails her suicide note to her house. Chopra hastily orders the case closed to prevent further embarrassment should the suicide note be discovered. Suspecting that her sister didn’t commit suicide, Priya secretly continues the investigation with the help of police inspector Karan Saxena, an old friend from college.

Ravi, a college friend of Seema who had a crush on her, tells Priya that he has a photo of Seema and Ajay together at a birthday party back at his hostel. Before Priya can reach Ravi to see the photo, Ajay finds out about this and murders Ravi. In their struggle, Ajay forces him to sign a suicide note, which makes it appear as though Ravi is Seema’s murderer. Chopra decides to get Vicky and Priya engaged. Ajay is revealed to be posing as “Vicky” to slowly win Chopra’s confidence.

It is revealed through a flashback that Chopra had been a project manager in the company run by Ajay’s late father Mr. Sharma, but when Sharma discovered that he was embezzling money, he had Chopra imprisoned for three years. After Madan completed his jail term, he asked for forgiveness, and Sharma’s wife persuaded her husband to re-employ him. However, Chopra had returned to exact revenge. One day, Sharma had to go on a business trip, so he handed the power of attorney to Chopra, who used the opportunity to become the company’s owner. Sharma learned of this after returning back. His family was ejected from their home after Chopra took a loan on Sharma’s name. Ajay witnessed Chopra molesting his mother when she came to ask for their home back. Heartbroken, Ajay vowed to make Chopra pay.

Back in the present, Seema’s friend Anjali meets Priya and Ajay at a jewellery shop. She also discovers a photo of Seema and Ajay at her birthday party. ‘Vicky’ and Priya get engaged that evening. Anjali phones the Chopra residence during Ajay’s engagement party to warn them that Ajay and ‘Vicky’ look the same. Ajay intercepts the phone call, arrives at Anjali’s place, and kills her.

Chopra hands over the power of attorney to ‘Vicky’ when he has to go on a business trip. Priya runs into the real Vicky Malhotra, Ajay’s friend, whose identity he had taken, which makes Priya suspicious. After Chopra returns from his business trip, he is shocked to find that the company is run by the Sharma group. Ajay reveals the truth of his desire to seek revenge and kicks Chopra out.

Priya learns of Ajay’s true identity from his friend, Vicky and rushes to Ajay’s home in Panvel. She is shocked to see a locket with photos of him and her sister together. Ajay arrives and she confronts him. He then tells her how his father died of a heart attack, and his younger sister died of illness. His mother went into a state of shock as a result of the loss of her husband and daughter. She is unable to recognize Ajay as her son. Chopra arrives at his home, shoots Ajay in the arm, and has his goons beat him up.

Chopra injures his mother, angering Ajay. He fights the goons viciously. He is about to kill Chopra but Chopra takes the opportunity to impale him with a rod. Ajay also impales Chopra fatally with the same rod, and they both fall off the wall. He tells his mother that he has regained everything and collapses in her arms. Priya, Inspector Karan, and his mother watch as Ajay succumbs to his injuries, dying in peace in his mother’s arms.