Hera Pheri (2000 film)
Hera Pheri
Directed by Priyadarshan
Produced by A.G. Nadiadwala
Written by Neeraj Vora (screenplay), Siddique-Lal (story idea)
Starring Akshay Kumar
Sunil Shetty
Paresh Rawal
Tabu
Music by Anu Malik & Bally Sagoo
Cinematography Jeeva
Editing by N. Gopalakrishnan
Release date(s) March 31, 2000
Country India
Language Hindi
Followed by Phir Hera Pheri
Hera Pheri
Directed by Priyadarshan
Produced by A.G. Nadiadwala
Written by Neeraj Vora (screenplay), Siddique-Lal (story idea)
Starring Akshay Kumar
Sunil Shetty
Paresh Rawal
Tabu
Music by Anu Malik & Bally Sagoo
Cinematography Jeeva
Editing by N. Gopalakrishnan
Release date(s) March 31, 2000
Country India
Language Hindi
Followed by Phir Hera Pheri
Hera Pheri (Hindi: हेरा फेरी) (Monkey Business) is a 2000 Hindi cult comedy film directed by Priyadarshan. The film stars Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Sunil Shetty and Tabu. The film is a remake of Siddique-Lal's Ramji Rao Speaking (1989), which is an Indian film in the Malayalam language. The sequel to the film, Phir Hera Pheri is now released. Hera Pheri 4 will succeed Phir Hera Pheri, and is in pre-production.
Cast
* Akshay Kumar ... Raju
* Sunil Shetty ... Ghanshyam (Shyam)
* Paresh Rawal ... Baburao Ganpatrao Apte
* Tabu ... Anuradha Shivshankar Panikar
* Gulshan Grover ... Kabira
* Kulbhushan Kharbanda ... Devi Prasad
* Om Puri ... Kharak Singh
* Dinesh Hingoo ... Chaman Jhinga
* Namrata Shirodkar ... Ms. Chinga(Special Appearance) in Song
* Mukesh Khanna ... Police Commissioner Prakash
* Razak Khan ... Kabira's Gang Member
* Kashmira Shah ... Kabira's Gang Member
* Asrani ... Bank Manager
* Snehal Dabi ... Man at Bus Stop
* Mushtaq Khan ... Devi Prasad's Servent
* Sulbha Arya ... Raju's Mother
* Kahkashan ... Special Appearance in song "Shana Shan Shana Nanu"
Synopsis
* Akshay Kumar ... Raju
* Sunil Shetty ... Ghanshyam (Shyam)
* Paresh Rawal ... Baburao Ganpatrao Apte
* Tabu ... Anuradha Shivshankar Panikar
* Gulshan Grover ... Kabira
* Kulbhushan Kharbanda ... Devi Prasad
* Om Puri ... Kharak Singh
* Dinesh Hingoo ... Chaman Jhinga
* Namrata Shirodkar ... Ms. Chinga(Special Appearance) in Song
* Mukesh Khanna ... Police Commissioner Prakash
* Razak Khan ... Kabira's Gang Member
* Kashmira Shah ... Kabira's Gang Member
* Asrani ... Bank Manager
* Snehal Dabi ... Man at Bus Stop
* Mushtaq Khan ... Devi Prasad's Servent
* Sulbha Arya ... Raju's Mother
* Kahkashan ... Special Appearance in song "Shana Shan Shana Nanu"
Synopsis
Shyam (Sunil Shetty) has come to Mumbai seeking a job in his late father's bank. Apparently his father died in a fire that broke out in the bank and he claims that the bank owes him the job. Soon he discovers that he is not the only one after this job. A young woman, Anuradha Panniker, is also in the running, her father also died in that fire. Shyam claims he should get the job as his father died before Anuradha's father so his father is several minutes "senior" to Anuradha's father.
After a bad day at the bank, Shyam is on his way to find lodging when he bumps into Raju (Akshay Kumar), a slacker and con-man, Shyam believes that Raju tried to steal his wallet and the men have an argument.
Later that evening, Shyam reaches "Star Garage" owned by Baburao Ganpatrao Apte (Paresh Rawal), a kind-hearted (and equally near-sighted) man who is eccentric and an alcoholic. He agrees to take him in as a paying boarder, although he warns Shyam that he will have to share the place with another boarder. Unfortunately for Shyam the other guy is Raju, who has not paid a single penny of rent in the last 2 years to Baburao. The two men come to blows again the minute they see each other. Poor Baburao is stuck in the middle.
Following day Shyam receives a visit from Anuradha, who is trying to make him sign a waiver allowing her to take the job. He refuses, but Raju manages to trick him into signing it anyway. When Shyam discovers what has happens, he threatens to sue both the bank manager and Anuradha. Panicked, the manager convinces her to try and woo Shyam, to no avail. Finally, she offer to give up the job for 50,000 rupees. Needless to say, he doesn't have the 50,000, but he discovers that she's in worse financial shape than him. Following the death of her father, she has been forced to take care of her mentally-disturbed mother, and hasn't paid her rent in two years. She offers the position to Shyam without conditions, but he refuses.
Eventually, Shyam, Raju and Babu bond over a night of drinking, where they all realize they're in the same boat. The next morning, they receive a call for a Mr. Devi Prasad—which is nothing new, because Babu is constantly getting calls for Devi Prasad. This time, however, it's deadly serious. The caller is Kabira, a criminal, who has kidnapped Devi Prasad's granddaughter and is holding her for ransom. Raju comes up with the idea of contacting the real Devi Prasad, posing as Kabira and demanding double the ransom—after which, they pay Kabira the original amount and pocket the other half. As could be expected, very little goes according to plan.
After a bad day at the bank, Shyam is on his way to find lodging when he bumps into Raju (Akshay Kumar), a slacker and con-man, Shyam believes that Raju tried to steal his wallet and the men have an argument.
Later that evening, Shyam reaches "Star Garage" owned by Baburao Ganpatrao Apte (Paresh Rawal), a kind-hearted (and equally near-sighted) man who is eccentric and an alcoholic. He agrees to take him in as a paying boarder, although he warns Shyam that he will have to share the place with another boarder. Unfortunately for Shyam the other guy is Raju, who has not paid a single penny of rent in the last 2 years to Baburao. The two men come to blows again the minute they see each other. Poor Baburao is stuck in the middle.
Following day Shyam receives a visit from Anuradha, who is trying to make him sign a waiver allowing her to take the job. He refuses, but Raju manages to trick him into signing it anyway. When Shyam discovers what has happens, he threatens to sue both the bank manager and Anuradha. Panicked, the manager convinces her to try and woo Shyam, to no avail. Finally, she offer to give up the job for 50,000 rupees. Needless to say, he doesn't have the 50,000, but he discovers that she's in worse financial shape than him. Following the death of her father, she has been forced to take care of her mentally-disturbed mother, and hasn't paid her rent in two years. She offers the position to Shyam without conditions, but he refuses.
Eventually, Shyam, Raju and Babu bond over a night of drinking, where they all realize they're in the same boat. The next morning, they receive a call for a Mr. Devi Prasad—which is nothing new, because Babu is constantly getting calls for Devi Prasad. This time, however, it's deadly serious. The caller is Kabira, a criminal, who has kidnapped Devi Prasad's granddaughter and is holding her for ransom. Raju comes up with the idea of contacting the real Devi Prasad, posing as Kabira and demanding double the ransom—after which, they pay Kabira the original amount and pocket the other half. As could be expected, very little goes according to plan.
Music
1. Jab Bhi Koi Haseena [Singers:K.K.,Chorus] -Picturised:Akshay Kumar
2.Denewala Jab Bhi [Singers:Abhijeet,Vinod Khanna,Hariharan] -Picturised:Akshay Kumar,Suniel Shetty,Paresh Rawal]
3.Tun Tunak Tun [Singers:Richa Sharma,Udit] [Music: Bally Sagoo] -Picturised:Akshay Kumar, Namrata Shirodkar-special song appearance
4.Main Ladki [Singers:Abhijeet, Kavita Krishnamurthy] -Picturised:Suniel Shetty,Tabu
5.Humba Leela [Singers:Abhijeet,Vinod Khanna,Hariharan] -Picturised:Akshay Kumar,Suniel Shetty,Paresh Rawal,Tabu
Awards1. Jab Bhi Koi Haseena [Singers:K.K.,Chorus] -Picturised:Akshay Kumar
2.Denewala Jab Bhi [Singers:Abhijeet,Vinod Khanna,Hariharan] -Picturised:Akshay Kumar,Suniel Shetty,Paresh Rawal]
3.Tun Tunak Tun [Singers:Richa Sharma,Udit] [Music: Bally Sagoo] -Picturised:Akshay Kumar, Namrata Shirodkar-special song appearance
4.Main Ladki [Singers:Abhijeet, Kavita Krishnamurthy] -Picturised:Suniel Shetty,Tabu
5.Humba Leela [Singers:Abhijeet,Vinod Khanna,Hariharan] -Picturised:Akshay Kumar,Suniel Shetty,Paresh Rawal,Tabu
Akshay Kumar won best supporting actor Bollywood Movie Awards for his performance.
Paresh Rawal won the Filmfare Best Comedian Award for his performance, as well as the Star Screen Award and IIFA Award in the same category.
Reception
Hera Pheri was a huge hit in India. It was quite popular with audiences and critics alike. Much of the acclaim went to Paresh Rawal for his incredible comic timing and acting, with critics calling it "one of his best performances ever". Rawal became a huge sensation overnight, from being a stereotypical villain to a hilarious comic relief in movies.
