Agneepath

CBZ

Agneepath_poster

Agneepath (English: The Path of Fire) is a 2012 Indian action drama film produced by Hiroo Yash Johar and Karan Johar under the banner of Dharma Productions. It is a retelling of the 1990 film of the same name and was directed by Johar’s former assistant Karan Malhotra. The screenplay was written by Malhotra along with Ila Dutta Bedi. Johar pays tribute to his father, Yash Johar, the producer of the original, through the film. The music of the film was composed by Ajay-Atul, with lyrics written by Amitabh Bhattacharya. Though publicised as a remake, the film borrows only the basic plot of the original, while making the characters and incidents completely different. The film’s title was taken from a poem of the same name by Harivansh Rai Bachchan, which forms a thematic link through the film, both literally and metaphorically.

Hrithik Roshan plays the lead role of Vijay Deenanath Chauhan and Sanjay Dutt plays the role of the antagonist Kancha Cheena, originally played by Amitabh Bachchan and Danny Denzongpa respectively, with Rishi Kapoor portraying the newly introduced character of Rauf Lala. The supporting cast include Om Puri as Commissioner Gaitonde, Priyanka Chopra as Kaali Gawde and Zarina Wahab as Suhasini Chauhan, with Katrina Kaif featuring in an item number. The film follows the struggle of a common man, Vijay Chauhan, as he seeks revenge from Kancha Cheena, for wrongly framing and murdering his father in the island village of Mandwa. In the process he befriends an underworld drug lord Rauf Lala and falls in love with a loquacious girl, Kaali Gawde.

Principal photography of Agneepath took place in Diu and Mumbai, with several accidents taking place on the sets. After several issues such as plagiarism charges and release-date postponement, Agneepath released on 26 January 2012 in 2650 screens worldwide, coinciding with the Republic Day celebrations. Made on a budget of INR600 million (US$9.5 million), the film broke the highest opening day collections record in India and became a major critical and commercial success with a worldwide gross of INR1.93 billion (US$31 million). It has since emerged as one of the highest grossing films of all time in Bollywood. The following year Agneepath received five nominations at the annual Filmfare Awards ceremony, and won five IIFA Awards and four Zee Cine Awards.

Cast

  • Hrithik Roshan as Vijay Deenanath Chauhan a.k.a Vijju. He is a man seeking revenge for the murder of his father.
  • Rishi Kapoor as Rauf Lala, an underworld lord. He runs a meat business and simultaneously deals in drugs and prostitution.
  • Sanjay Dutt as Kancha Cheena. An unscrupulous man, often mocked for his ugly looks; he runs Mandwa as a concentration camp and exploits the villagers in order to deal in cheap cocaine.
  • Om Puri as Commissioner Gaitonde. He is a brutally honest cop who develops a close bond with Vijay.
  • Priyanka Chopra as Kaali Gawde, a loquacious girl. She loves Vijay and provides moral support in his quest for revenge.
  • Zarina Wahab as Suhasini Chauhan, Vijay’s mother. She tries hard to dissuade Vijay against choosing a path of violence.
  • Chetan Pandit as Master Deenanath Chauhan, Vijay’s father. A morally upright man, he is wrongly framed for the rape and murder of a young girl and is subsequently killed by Kancha.
  • Sachin Khedekar as Mr. Borkar. He is the Home Secretary of Maharashtra and an aide of Kancha.
  • Rajesh Tandon as Mazhar Lala, Rauf Lala’s elder son. He is suspicious of Vijay’s loyalties.
  • Deven Bhojani as Azhar Lala, a mentally challenged younger son of Rauf Lala.
  • Rajesh Vivek as Mr. Bakshi, a police inspector who doubles as Kancha’s informer.
  • Banwarilal Taneja as Kancha’s father.
  • Ravi Jhankal as Shantaram, Kancha’s aid who conspires with Vijay.
  • Kanika Tiwari as Shiksha Deenanath Chauhan, Vijay’s sister. She lives with her mother and is unaware of Vijay’s existence.
  • Pankaj Tripathi as Surya.
  • Brijendra Kala as Muneem.
  • Katrina Kaif as “Chikni Chameli” (special appearance).
  • Madhurjeet Sarghi as Lachhi, Kaali’s mother.
  • Arish Bhiwandiwala as the younger Vijay Chauhan.