Dil Chahta Hai (2001)

93% of users liked it
(19,824 ratings)

As Dil Chahta Hai opens, Siddarth, known as Sid (Akshaye Khanna) is racing to the hospital due to an unexplained emergency. There, he is reunited with his old friend, Sameer (Saif Ali Khan). Sameer calls the third member of the trio, Akash (Bombay superstar Aamir Khan from Lagaan), who tells him… More As Dil Chahta Hai opens, Siddarth, known as Sid (Akshaye Khanna) is racing to the hospital due to an unexplained emergency. There, he is reunited with his old friend, Sameer (Saif Ali Khan). Sameer calls the third member of the trio, Akash (Bombay superstar Aamir Khan from Lagaan), who tells him he's not going to join them at the hospital, due to an unresolved dispute between him and Sid. The film then flashes back to earlier, happier days, to show us what came between the three close friends. Sid was the studious, serious one, with a hidden artistic side, while Sameer foolishly let himself be ruled by the woman in his life. Akash could never limit himself to one woman. He was a playboy who claimed he didn't believe in love. Sameer found himself unexpectedly falling for Pooji (Sonali Kulkarni of Mission Kashmir), the young woman his parents have tried to arrange for him to marry. Akash's father grew concerned about his son's immaturity, and sent Akash to Australia to work for his company. There, he ran into Shalini (Preity Zinta, who also starred in Mission Kashmir), a girl who once rejected him in a Bombay nightclub. She's engaged to be married to Rohit (Ayub Khan), but as the two spend time together, Akash falls hard for Shalini. For his part, Sid met a beautiful divorcee, Tara (Dimple Kapadia), but his friends and family weren't ready to accept their relationship. Eventually, we work our way back to the present, and find out what's become of the three friends and their romantic entanglements. Dil Chahta Hai, a huge hit in India, marked the feature debut of writer-director Farhan Akhtar. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 3 hr. 3 min.
Directed By: Farhan Akhtar
Genres: Art House & International, Comedy

On DVD: Sep 25, 2001

Critic Reviews

Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
The voice that rings loudest and clearest is Farhan Akthar's, fearlessly answering the call to forward Bollywood cinema into a bright, hopeful future.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Sajin P

Heart-warmingly Funny, technically innovative, with great performances. A movie that revolutionised the way Bollywood FilmMakers think..
Kylie B

Considering that I've only ever seen two Bollywood movies, (one being this one, the other the newer version of Devdas) I can't really compere this effectively to others. However, as a film in its own right it's pretty damn good. A lot of Western viewers would probably… More
Considering that I've only ever seen two Bollywood movies, (one being this one, the other the newer version of Devdas) I can't really compere this effectively to others. However, as a film in its own right it's pretty damn good. A lot of Western viewers would probably be put off by the musical element and the language barrier/having to read subtitles, but if you suspend disbelief of people spontanously bursting into song and perservere with the subs you'll be suprised at how witty and relevant it is even to a Western audience. The nightclub dance routine is visually spectacular too.
Marion R

Too long, not really interesting. It had one or two good songs in it, but I felt that overall it wasn't focused.
Leo L

This movie is absolutely extraordinary! Aamir, Saif, and Akshaye are all remarkable in this movie, their characters reflect a greater bond that stands outside of just mere friendship, but that of brotherhood. This bond is strengthened and tested through all: love, youth, desires, and… More
This movie is absolutely extraordinary! Aamir, Saif, and Akshaye are all remarkable in this movie, their characters reflect a greater bond that stands outside of just mere friendship, but that of brotherhood. This bond is strengthened and tested through all: love, youth, desires, and family. The passage of time marks their friendship as they embrace new boundaries in their lives, together and apart. There is the music as well, it beautifully transitions the sequences of events. A favorite: The three go on a vacation, and drive to the coast. ("Dil Chahta Hai.."). Another would be with Sameer declaring his love for Puja, and they are in the theatre watching a movie. Great movie!!