Aashiqui 2 is a 2013 Bollywood romantic musical drama film directed by Mohit Suri. Starring Aditya Roy Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor in the lead roles, it was produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, and Mukesh Bhatt under the T-Series and Vishesh Films banners. Set in the early 2010s, Aashiqui 2 is a love story centring around the turbulent relationship between musicians Rahul and Arohi, a relationship which is affected by Rahul's issues with alcohol abuse and temperament.
The film is the sequel to the 1990 musical blockbuster Aashiqui, and initially caused concern in the Indian media that the film could not live up to the high standards and success of the original. It holds noted similarities to 1976 American musical film A Star Is Born. Production of Aashiqui 2 began in 2011, with the principal photography taking place in Cape Town, Goa and Mumbai on a budget of INR90 million (US$1.5 million). The film which premiered on 26 April 2013 received a positive to mixed critical reception and became a major commercial success at the box-office despite featuring newcomers, earning INR1.1 billion (US$18 million) worldwide.[1] It was declared as a blockbuster by Box Office India after its three-week box office run, and is ranked among one of the highest grossing Hindi film of 2013 and the highest grossing film ever produced by Vishesh Films. The soundtrack to the film became very popular after its release; the songs "Tum Hi Ho" and "Sunn Raha Hai" topped the charts across various platforms in India.
The film is currently being remade into Telugu as Nee Jathaga Nenundali, starring Sachiin J Joshi and Nazia Hussain. The Telugu version is being directed by Jaya Ravindra and produced by Bandla Ganesh.
Contents [hide]
1 Plot
2 Cast
3 Crew
4 Production
4.1 Development
4.2 Casting
4.3 Filming
5 Soundtrack
6 Marketing and release
7 Reception
8 Box office
9 Awards
10 References
11 External links
Plot[edit]
The film begins by showing a large crowd waiting for Rahul Jaykar (Aditya Roy Kapoor) – a successful pop singer whose career is waning because of his alcohol addiction – to perform at a stage show in Goa. After nearly completing a song, he is unexpectedly interrupted by Aryan (Salil Acharya) during his performance, Rahul fights him, stops his performance, and drives to a local bar. He meets Aarohi Keshav Shirke (Shraddha Kapoor), a Maharashtrian bar singer who idolizses Rahul. After noticing Aarohi looking at a photograph of Lata Mangeshkar in the bar, he assumes that she wants to become a singer. Impressed by her simplicity and voice, Rahul promises to transform her into a singing sensation, and asks her to never perform again in bars. Aarohi quits her job and returns to Mumbai with Rahul, who convinces record producer Saigal (Mahesh Thakur) to meet her. When Aarohi calls Rahul, he is attacked and injured by some unknown people, and is unable to receive her call. His friend and manager Vivek (Shaad Randhawa) says that news of Rahul's accident should not be leaked to the media, and instead publicises a false story that Rahul has left the country to participate in stage shows. When Aarohi attempts to contact Rahul again, Vivek ignores the calls. After two months of fruitlessly attempting to contact Rahul, a broken Aarohi is forced to sing in bars again because of her family problems.
After recovering from his injuries, Rahul vows to search for Aarohi. He learns that Aarohi is working in a bar again and that Vivek had ignored her calls without informing him. Rahul apologizes to Aarohi and sacks Vivek, and they meet with Saigal for the recording agreement. Rahul begins to train Aarohi, who signs a music contract to sing in films and becomes a successful playback singer. Her family and Rahul are happy. But one day, he goes to a bar and watches Aarohi winning the award but two men who is in the bar begin to gossip that Rahul is using her as a servant. Hearing this he relapses into alcohol addiction. Aarohi, who loves Rahul more than her career, comforts him and make love. Despite Aarohi's mother's disapproval, Aarohi moves in with Rahul and things go well until Rahul's addiction worsens, causing him to become aggressive and violent.
To help Rahul fight his alcoholism, Aarohi attempts to rehabilitate Rahul, sacrificing her singing career in doing so. After Saigal reminds them about their dream of Aarohi becoming a successful singer, Rahul orders her to focus on her work. During Aarohi's stage show, Rahul meets a journalist backstage, who accuses him of using Aarohi for pleasure and money. Furious, Rahul beats up the journalist and starts drinking. He ends up in jail, and Aarohi comes to bail him out. Rahul overhears Aarohi telling Saigal that she is going to sacrifice her career for him and is ready to give up her celebrity status because Rahul is more important to her. Rahul thinks that he has become a burden in her life, and that leaving her is his only option to save her. The next day he bids her farewell and commits suicide
Distraught by Rahul's death, Aarohi decides to quit her career but Vivek persuades her to stay. He reminds her that Rahul wanted her to become a successful singer and has given his life as he did not want to be a burden on her. Aarohi agrees, and resumes her career as a singer. Later, she signs her name as "Aarohi Rahul Jaykar" in a fan's handbook as a tribute to Rahul and her unsung desire to marry him. As rain starts falling, she watches the couple who took her autograph sharing a romantic moment under a jacket as she and Rahul had done when he was alive.
Cast[edit]
Aditya Roy Kapoor as Rahul Jaykar
Shraddha Kapoor as Aarohi Keshav Shirke
Shaad Randhawa as Vivek
Mahesh Thakur as Saigal Uncle
Shubhangi Latkar as Aarohi's Mother
Chitrak Bandhopadyay as Salim Bhai
Mahesh Bhatt as Rahul's Father (voice)
Salil Acharya as Aryan
Crew[edit]
Directed By: Mohit Suri
Produced By: Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, and Mukesh Bhatt
Presented By: Gulshan Kumar and Mahesh Bhatt
Story, Screenplay and Dialogue Written By: Shagufta Rafique
Original Song Music : Mithoon, Ankit Tiwari and Jeet Ganguly
Lyrics: Irshad Kamil, Sandeep Nath, Sanjay Masoom and Mithoon
Background Score : Raju Singh
Cinematography: Vishnu Rao
Production Design and Art Directed By: Rajat Poddar
Associate Producer : Sakshi Bhatt
Action Co originator: Abbas Ali Moghul
Choreographer:
Sound Designed and Audio Mixed By: Parikshit Lalwani and Kunal Mehta
Studio: Vishesh Films and T-Series
Distributor: T-Series and M M Filmz
Visual Effect: Prime Focus Ltd
Production[edit]
Development[edit]
In September 2011, the Indian media reported that Mahesh Bhatt and Bhushan Kumar were keen to remake the 1990 musical blockbuster Aashiqui.[3] Kumar approached Bhatt for a possible sequel, although it was Shagufta Rafique's melodramatic romantic script which persuaded him that the film had potential as a sequel and decided to proceed with the project.[4] Given Aashiqui 's status in Hindi cinematic history as one of the finest Indian musicals of all time, many expressed concerns towards the decision to remake the film, dubious that the producers could come up with a soundtrack on par with the quality of the 1990 film.[5] Bhatt stated that they completely resisted the temptation to use the soundtrack of the earlier film, and promised that Aashiqui 2 would revive the era of melodious film music, as Aashiqui had done 22 years ago.[6]
It was reported that Madhur Bhandarkar had been approached to direct the film, but later turned down the offer because of other working commitments.[7] It was confirmed in November 2011 that Vishal Mahadkar, director of Blood Money, was to direct the picture,[8] but the following month it was announced that Mohit Suri had replaced Mahadkar as director at the last minute. Bhatt confirmed the development, saying "Earlier we had finalised Vishal for the project. But now we have scrapped that idea and found a fresh one. we got Mohit to direct the film".[9] Several media outlets falsely reported that the film is a remake of the Vishesh films 1990 love triangle Awaargi. However, Mahesh Bhatt denied the rumours and said "Aashiqui 2 is not a remake of any of our films. It's an original script. A very contemporary love story dealing with mature emotions."[5]
Casting[edit]
Left:Aditya Roy Kapur. Right:Shraddha Kapoor
The film was earlier offered to Pakistani actor Imran Abbas Naqvi, however he refused due to his busy schedule.[10][10] The film's producers then launched a nationwide talent hunt to discover new faces for the film, initially refusing to employ established actors. However, the actors who came to audition were not promising enough for the roles, and the idea was scrapped.[11] Mahesh Bhatt said, "It was a disastrous talent hunt. We discovered that people lacked the courage to audition. Those who are amateurs went for audition...and people with certain talent were like why should we risk public rejection."[12] When Suri saw some pictures of Aditya Roy Kapoor and met him, he found Kapoor perfect for the role and cast him to play the male lead.[11] In June 2012, Shraddha Kapoor was signed to play the female lead.[6] Bhatt said, "Yes, Shraddha Kapoor is playing the lead with the two boys Aditya Roy Kapoor and Shaad Randhawa. We found her to be very talented. All three actors have extremely challenging dramatic roles"[6] When asked about replacing new actors with known ones, Suri said "People said I couldn't make a film with new actors and expect an audience to come in. But I was pretty sure I wanted Aditya and Shraddha to play my protagonists. My writer Shagufta Rafique and I saw them as the protagonists. See, Aditya and Shraddha may have had unsuccessful films before. But that never took away from their talent."[11]
Filming[edit]
Principal photography for the film began in October 2012 with film's lead cast.[13] The film was shot in Goa, Mumbai and Cape Town.[14] During the filming in South Africa, Shraddha Kapoor needed medical attention after kneeling on broken glass fragments during the scene in which she had to kneel on the floor and talk to her co-star Aditya Roy Kapoor.[15] Aditya Roy Kapoor also received burns to his hand during the filming of the scene in which they light some Chinese lanterns in Cape Town.[16]
Soundtrack[edit]
Aashiqui 2
cover featuring a couple under a jacket in a rain-drenched street with the streetlight casting a glow, with green themed colour in the background
Soundtrack cover
Soundtrack album by
Jeet Gannguli
Mithoon
Ankit Tiwari
Released 3 April 2013
Genre Soundtrack
Length 48:19
Label T-Series
Producer Mahesh Bhatt, Bhushan Kumar
Jeet Gannguli chronology
Raaz 3D
(2012) Aashiqui 2
(2013) Youngistaan
(2014)
Mithoon chronology
3G
(2013) Aashiqui 2
(2013) Yaariyan
(2014)
The 11 songs of the film soundtrack were mostly composed by Jeet Gannguli, although Mithoon and Ankit Tiwari composed two songs each (including both versions) as guest composers. Irshad Kamil wrote lyrics for most of songs on the album. Sandeep Nath wrote both versions of "Sunn Raha Hai", while Mithoon wrote "Tum Hi Ho". Arijit Singh sang six of the songs on the album.[17] The music became very popular after its release on 8 April 2013, with songs "Tum Hi Ho" and "Sunn Raha Hai" topping the charts across various platforms in India. Jeet Ganguly reused the tune from his own bengali composition "Mon Hariye Beghorey" for "Milne Hai Mujhse Aayi".[18]
Aashiqui 2's soundtrack received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised the songs "Tum Hi Ho" and both versions of "Sunn Raha Hai". The Times of India rated the album 5 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Aashiqui 2 tries, and succeeds to some extent in matching the repeat-values freshness and allure of the original. And while it is unfair to compare a sequel to the original, it needs to be said that each should be seen for its own merit."[19] Glamsham gave a rating of 4 stars out of 5 and said, "It is indeed an exhilarating experience listening to the songs of Aashiqui 2 and in this age of mundane and average/repetitive musical fares that are being churned out, the audio of Aashiqui 2 is surely a treat for all music buffs. 'Tum Hi Ho' and 'Sunn Raha Hai' (both versions) are our favourites, but "Chahun Main Ya Naa" and "Piya Aaye Na" end up as a close second. A chartbusting musical experience indeed.[20]
Koimoi rated the album 3 out of 5 and said, "Aashiqui 2 is an album that had set its heart in the right place and wanted to accomplish what Aashiqui did musically. It has the ingredients in place though at times one gets an impression that the recipe could have been a tad better. One waits to see if the soundtrack would indeed turn out to be memorable for a lifetime, more so since Bhatts had musically created a high standard with Aashiqui".[21] Planet Bollywood gave a rating of 6.5 out of 10 and praised the contributions of Ankit Tiwari and Mithoon shines with their single compositions, but believed that the remaining songs by Jeet Gannguli lacked freshness and were too repetitive apart from "Chahun Main Ya Na" and "Milne Hai Mujhse Aayi".[22]
A mashup was later released as a single on 12 June 2013.[23][24]
