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Aksar
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| Aksar | |
|---|---|
![]() Film poster | |
| Directed by | Anant Mahadevan |
| Written by | Anant Mahadevan Abbas Hierapurwala (dialogue) |
| Produced by | Narendra Bajaj Shyam Bajaj |
| Starring | Emraan Hashmi Udita Goswami Dino Morea |
| Cinematography | K. Rajkumar |
| Edited by | Sanjib Dutta |
| Music by | Himesh Reshammiya |
Production company | Siddhi Vinayak Creations |
| Distributed by | Siddhi Vinayak Creations Venus Worldwide Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 132 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
Aksar (transl. Often) is a 2006 Indian Hindi-language erotic thriller film directed by Anant Mahadevan and produced by Narendra and Shyam Bajaj under the banner of Siddhi Vinayak Creations. The film stars Dino Morea, Emraan Hashmi and Udita Goswami. It features the song "Jhalak Dikhlaja" sung by Himesh Reshammiya, who also composed a remix for the film's promotion. Released on 3 February 2006, the film was a box-office success.[1]
A spiritual sequel titled Aksar 2 was released on 17 November 2017.
Plot
[edit]Ricky, a playboy, is a leading fashion photographer who wears his heart on his sleeve. One day, he receives a call from Sheena, who asks him to meet her. Once there, the two argue about Sheena's friend Nisha, who was left heartbroken and contemplating suicide after being dumped by Ricky.
Three years later, Ricky is about to hold a photography exhibition when an unknown investor walks in and buys all the pieces before they can be displayed. The billionaire investor, Rajveer (Raj), says that the sale will be completed with one condition: Ricky must seduce and sleep with Raj's wife Sheena. Ricky is perplexed, and Raj explains that he wants to leave Sheena without having to give her half of his wealth, which can only be achieved if she chooses to divorce him.
After some setbacks, Sheena and Ricky begin a relationship according to plan. Raj catches Ricky and Sheena in bed; however, Sheena is unfazed. She refuses to divorce Raj and tells him she is intent on continuing with her relationship with Ricky while still being married.
Realising that Sheena wouldn't divorce him, Raj asks Ricky to return to India. Ricky refuses since he is enjoying a luxurious life with Sheena, and Raj is stunned again. Nisha attends a party in Raj's mansion and afterward claims that she was raped by Ricky. The next morning, Sheena confronts Ricky and, in a fit of rage, murders him with a sword.
A police investigation begins, and Sheena is the prime suspect. As she is being arrested, Raj confesses to the murder. When Sheena meets him in jail, he transfers all his property to her after discussing the incident. The police search the couple's house and take a few items as evidence. A hidden camera is discovered in Raj's stress ball, and Sheena's crime is discovered in its footage. She is arrested, and she transfers Raj's property back to him. It is revealed that these events were carefully planned by Raj, who is actually in love with Nisha.
In the end, Raj gives Nisha the property papers as a token of his love. As the bewildered policeman stares at Raj and Nisha in the car, Raj throws the stress ball at him and casually says,"Aisa to aksar hota hai" (This happens often).
Cast
[edit]- Dino Morea as Rajveer Singh (Raj)
- Emraan Hashmi as Ricky
- Udita Goswami as Sheena Roy / Sheena Rajveer Singh
- Tara Sharma as Nisha
- Suresh Menon as Benz
- Rajat Bedi as Chief Investigating Officer Bakshi
- Himesh Reshammiya as Himself (special appearance)
- Tulsi Kumar as Herself (special appearance)
Soundtrack
[edit]| Aksar | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | 21 December 2005 | |||
| Recorded | 2005 | |||
| Venue | Mumbai | |||
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack | |||
| Length | 37:40 | |||
| Label | T-Series | |||
| Producer | Himesh Reshammiya | |||
| Himesh Reshammiya chronology | ||||
| ||||
All tracks in the soundtrack were composed by Himesh Reshammiya with lyrics penned by Sameer. The song "Jhalak Dikhlaja" was released in three versions. According to the Indian trade website Box Office India, with around 15,00,000 units sold, this film's soundtrack album was the year's eighth highest-selling.[2] A critic from Rediff.com wrote that "The soundtrack of Aksar is catchy and guaranteed to score".[3]
Track list
[edit]The soundtrack contains five original songs, three remixes and one instrumental song.
| Track # | Song | Singer(s) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Jhalak Dikhlaja" | Himesh Reshammiya | 05:17 |
| 2 | "Lagi Lagi" | Himesh Reshammiya and Sunidhi Chauhan | 05:33 |
| 3 | "Loot Jayenge" | Kunal Ganjawala, Sunidhi Chauhan and Jayesh Gandhi | 06:02 |
| 4 | "Mohabbat Ke" | Himesh Reshammiya and Tulsi Kumar | 05:01 |
| 5 | "Soniye" | KK and Sunidhi Chauhan | 04:56 |
| 6 | "Jhalak Dikhlaja (Remix)" | Himesh Reshammiya | 05:01 |
| 7 | "Soniye (Remix)" | KK and Sunidhi Chauhan | 04:16 |
| 8 | "Theme Of Aksar" | Instrumental | 02:34 |
| 9 | "Mohabbat Ke (Remix)" | Himesh Reshammiya and Tulsi Kumar | 05:20 |
Jhalak Dikhlaja
[edit]"Jhalak Dikhlaja" was composed and sung by Himesh Reshammiya, which was a part of Aksar. The lyrics were written by Sameer. Jhalak Dikhlaja is a lovesick admirer's request to his lady love to give him a glance of her features. The song has been remade in the 2019 movie The Body with Emraan Hashmi back to dance the song and Reshammiya to sing it again.[4]
Controversy
[edit]The song was banned in a village called Bhalej in Anand district of Gujarat by locals who claimed that the song summoned snakes and ghosts. Apparently, people who sang the song said they were possessed by spirits and started behaving in a strange way. They reasoned that one of the lines "Ek Baar Aaja Aaja Aaja Aaja Aaaja" (literally "Come Come Come Come Come Just For Once") invited snakes and ghosts. Also this led to a rumour that if this song was played late at night, especially the above line, it would summon the snakes and ghosts.[5][6][7]
Reception
[edit]Film critic Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama wrote that "On the whole, AKSAR has hit music as its trump card, but a difficult-to-absorb theme and lackluster screenplay will only go against it".[8] A critic from The Times of India wrote that "The film slips because of its pace: too repetitive, too slow to qualify for a thriller. And also because of Udita Goswami: too hysterical, too loud, too much of vase throwing and cleavage showing and too little of emoting".[9] A critic from Outlook wrote that "The film calls for a severe suspension of disbelief from whosoever dares to watch it".[10] A critic from Hindustan Times wrote that "The film looks like something that sneaked out of French noir. With masala smattered all over of course".[11][12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Aksar - Movie". Box Office India.
- ^ "Music Hits 2000–2009 (Figures in Units)". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 15 February 2008.
- ^ Verma, Sukanya (17 January 2006). "Aksar's music: Have hit, will recycle". Rediff.com.
- ^ "'The Body' song 'Jhalak Dikhla Jaa Reloaded': Emraan Hashmi's recreated track has same charm with a Rishi Kapoor twist". DNA. 27 November 2019.
- ^ "Himesh's song invites ghosts in Guj". Ibnlive.in.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ "Himeshs Jhalak Dikhlaja track inviting ghosts literally | Bollywood News | Hindi Movies News | Celebrity News". Bollywood Hungama. 1 June 2006. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ "Hindustan Times - Archive News". hindustantimes.
- ^ Adarsh, Taran (3 February 2006). "Aksar Movie Review". Bollywood Hungama.
- ^ "AKSAR MOVIE REVIEW". The Times of India. 3 February 2006.
- ^ "Aksar". Outlook.
- ^ Chakravorty, Vinayak (4 February 2006). "Aksar smells like another rehash". Hindustan Times.
- ^ Verma, Sukanya (3 February 2006). "Aksar: What were they thinking?". Rediff.com.
External links
[edit]- Aksar at IMDb
- "Jhalak dikhla ja... and so appears the 'bhoot'" Archived 25 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- Bajaj Platina TV ad
Aksar
View on GrokipediaProduction
Development
Aksar was announced under the production banner of Siddhi Vinayak Movies by producers Narendra Bajaj and Shyam Bajaj.[8] The project marked the directorial debut of Anant Mahadevan in the thriller genre, with the screenplay co-written by Mahadevan and dialogue by Abbaas Hierapurwala.[5] Pre-production began in mid-2005, as evidenced by early media reports discussing casting details by September of that year.[9] The film's creative foundation drew inspiration from erotic thriller tropes prevalent in Bollywood and Hollywood, centering on blackmail and love triangles as key plot devices to drive suspense and interpersonal conflict.[2] This approach aimed to blend sensuality with mystery, reflecting influences from films like A Perfect Murder (1998). The estimated budget was approximately ₹4.50 crore, with a focus on urban Mumbai settings to enhance the modern thriller atmosphere and significant investment in music integration for commercial appeal.[7] A major pre-production emphasis was placed on casting Emraan Hashmi, leveraging his rising popularity as the "serial kisser" from hits like Murder (2004) and Aashiq Banaya Aapne (2005) to attract audiences to the erotic elements.[9] Himesh Reshammiya was brought on for the soundtrack to amplify the film's seductive tone.[5]Casting
Emraan Hashmi was cast in the lead role of Ricky Sharma, a fashion photographer entangled in a dangerous love triangle, leveraging his rising popularity in romantic thrillers following the success of Murder (2004), which established him as a go-to actor for bold, sensual characters. Director Ananth Mahadevan noted in a 2024 interview that Hashmi's decision to take on the part was bold, as many in the industry viewed it as a "loser role" due to its unconventional positioning against a more heroic antagonist, yet Hashmi saw potential in the character's complexity and audience appeal.[10] Udita Goswami was selected as Sheena Roy, the seductive wife at the story's center, building on her recent performance in Zeher (2005), where she had already shared screen space with Hashmi and demonstrated strong on-screen chemistry in intimate thriller scenarios. Goswami chose the project for its engaging script and the experienced direction of Mahadevan, marking a continuation of her collaboration with Hashmi after Zeher; she described their dynamic during filming as lighthearted and "funny," often breaking into laughter during close scenes, which contrasted with the public's perception of their pairing as intensely "hot." Initially, Celina Jaitly had been signed for the role and even shot one day, but she exited due to scheduling conflicts with Zinda and Jawani Diwani, paving the way for Goswami, whom Mahadevan praised as a fitting replacement for her acting prowess.[11][12] Dino Morea was chosen to portray the antagonistic husband Rajveer Singh, representing a deliberate shift from his earlier heroic roles in films like Raaz (2002), where he played the romantic lead. Mahadevan selected Morea for his commanding personality and ability to convincingly embody a sophisticated, vengeful tycoon, noting that he could "carry off a suit with panache" while bringing intensity to the negative character; interestingly, Hashmi had initially expressed interest in Morea's role but ultimately opted for the safer, more audience-friendly part of Ricky.[12] Supporting roles were filled by Tara Sharma as Nisha, a friend adding emotional depth to the interpersonal dynamics, and Rajat Bedi as the investigating officer Steve Bakshi, whose detective work drives the thriller's investigative elements; these additions were aimed at enhancing the ensemble's balance between romance and suspense without overshadowing the leads.[12] On the crew side, Mahadevan, a veteran actor-turned-director, took a hands-on approach to ensure the thriller tone, conducting sessions with the cast to refine their portrayals, while cinematography was handled by Rajkumar K. to capture the film's moody, intimate visuals, and editing by Sanjib Dutta contributed to its taut pacing.[5]Filming
Principal photography for Aksar commenced in late 2005 and wrapped up in early 2006, spanning 35 shooting days over a four-month period.[13] Director Anant Mahadevan noted the efficient schedule, stating, "Aksar took just 35 days stretched over a period of four months, that’s it."[13] The production utilized London's urban landscapes for exterior sequences to infuse an international element into the thriller narrative. Key filming sites included Piccadilly Circus for arrival and song scenes, Tower Bridge for driving and romantic moments, Leicester Square and Swiss Court for a photo shoot, Shad Thames for confrontations, and additional spots such as Butlers Wharf, Potters Fields Park, Albert Embankment, Charing Cross, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Lafone Street, Southwark Bridge, Millennium Bridge, Royal Exchange, and the Bank of England.[14][15] One notable challenge arose with a kissing scene, which the team worried might come across as sleazy; however, the Central Board of Film Certification approved it, deeming the execution aesthetic.[13] Mahadevan emphasized the film's identity as a "pure emotional thriller," with Himesh Reshammiya's score tailored to support the suspense rather than dominate as in his prior works.[13] Post-production, including the integration of Reshammiya's music into the thriller framework, was finalized in time for the film's theatrical release on 3 February 2006.[13]Cast
Lead roles
Emraan Hashmi portrays Ricky Sharma, a charismatic yet notorious playboy and leading fashion photographer central to the film's seduction scheme and ensuing love triangle. Known for his womanizing ways and impulsive nature, Ricky is initially drawn into the plot as an opportunist seeking financial gain, but his arc evolves into one of genuine emotional attachment, transforming him from a carefree philanderer into a figure deeply involved in the story's romantic and thriller elements.[4][16] Udita Goswami plays Sheena, the neglected wife of Rajveer who becomes the emotional pivot of the narrative, driving conflicts through her evolving relationship with Ricky. Initially harboring resentment toward Ricky due to his past betrayal of her close friend Nisha, Sheena's character embodies fiery independence and sensuality, progressing from a position of marital dissatisfaction to one of assertive confrontation that underscores themes of empowerment and desire.[4][17][16] Dino Morea embodies Rajveer Singh, the affluent and calculating husband whose orchestration of a blackmail plot positions him as the manipulative antagonist at the heart of the murder twist. As a suave businessman with concealed intentions linked to Nisha's history in the interpersonal dynamics, Rajveer's arc reveals layers of deception and ulterior motives, contrasting sharply with the more vulnerable leads and heightening the thriller's tension.[4][16][17]Supporting roles
Tara Sharma portrayed Nisha, Rajveer's love interest and Sheena's close friend, whose heartbreak from being dumped by Ricky provides a personal motive for Rajveer's scheme to orchestrate a divorce and ultimately delivers emotional resolution through their union at the film's conclusion.[4][16][18] Rajat Bedi played Chief Investigating Officer Steve Bakshi, the detective leading the murder probe, who introduces procedural suspense and amplifies narrative twists via his relentless inquiry while keeping the focus on the central characters.[5][19] Supporting the story's lighter moments and background dynamics are minor roles such as Benz (Suresh Menon), alongside ensemble actors populating the party sequences and office environments to enhance the thriller's atmosphere.[4][5] Nisha's subplot humanizes Rajveer by revealing his deeper affections beyond the intrigue, while Bakshi's investigation builds procedural layers that heighten suspenseful revelations without dominating the lead-driven plot.[4][18]Soundtrack
Track listing
The soundtrack album for Aksar, composed entirely by Himesh Reshammiya with lyrics penned by Sameer, was released on 21 December 2005 by T-Series.[20] It features a total of 12 tracks, including five original songs, their remixes, an unplugged version, and a theme track, blending romantic duets, upbeat item numbers, and rhythmic elements to suit the film's thriller narrative and pacing.[21] The playback singers include Himesh Reshammiya, Sunidhi Chauhan, KK, Kunal Ganjawala, Jayesh Gandhi, and Tulsi Kumar.[22] Key tracks such as "Jhalak Dikhlaja" and "Soniye" highlight the album's seductive and melodic style.| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jhalak Dikhlaja | Himesh Reshammiya | 5:14 |
| 2 | Lagi Lagi | Himesh Reshammiya, Sunidhi Chauhan | 5:33 |
| 3 | Soniye | KK, Sunidhi Chauhan | 4:56 |
| 4 | Jhalak Dikhlaja (Remix) | Himesh Reshammiya | 5:10 |
| 5 | Mohabbat Ke | Himesh Reshammiya, Tulsi Kumar | 5:18 |
| 6 | Loot Jayenge (Remix) | Kunal Ganjawala, Jayesh Gandhi | 5:18 |
| 7 | Soniye (Remix) | KK, Sunidhi Chauhan | 4:16 |
| 8 | Loot Jayenge | Kunal Ganjawala, Jayesh Gandhi | 6:02 |
| 9 | Mohabbat Ke (Remix) | Himesh Reshammiya, Tulsi Kumar | 5:18 |
| 10 | Theme of Aksar | Himesh Reshammiya (instrumental) | 2:34 |
| 11 | Lagi Lagi (Remix) | Himesh Reshammiya, Sunidhi Chauhan | 3:41 |
| 12 | Jhalak Dikhlaja (Unplugged) | Himesh Reshammiya | 4:32 |

