On November 12, 2024, three Hindi movies completed 20 years since their release. One is a beloved cross-border love story that might never be made in the current times, another is a competent adaptation of a Hollywood thriller, and the third is a largely forgotten musical drama that marked the decline of a once-acclaimed director. We're talking about Veer-Zaara, Aitraaz, and Naach, all of which were released on November 12, 2004, leading to a three-way clash during the Diwali festivities. ‘Veer Zaara’ Re-Released on 20th Anniversary: Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukerji’s Iconic Film Returns to 600 Screens Worldwide.

It’s easy to guess which of these films became a major blockbuster and which failed at the box office right from day one. As trade experts currently celebrate the success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Singham Again, which clashed during Diwali 2024, let's revisit the 2004 clash, exploring why two of these films succeeded while one fell short.

Veer-Zaara

The late Yash Chopra's penultimate film featured Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta in the lead roles, with Rani Mukerji, his future daughter-in-law, playing a significant supporting role. Shah Rukh Khan portrayed IAF pilot Veer Pratap Singh, who falls in love with Zaara Hayaat Khan, a Pakistani woman from a wealthy and influential family who comes to India to scatter her late caretaker’s ashes. Veer travels to Pakistan to bring back Zaara, but ends up sacrificing his own freedom for her happiness by being wrongfully imprisoned for 22 years. An earnest lawyer (Mukerji) eventually secures his freedom and reunites him with Zaara, who has remained unmarried all those years.

Watch the Trailer of 'Veer-Zaara':

Veer-Zaara also featured performances by Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Manoj Bajpayee, Anupam Kher, and Boman Irani. The film was lauded for its performances, heartfelt love story, and a beautiful soundtrack comprising unused compositions by the late Madan Mohan, reimagined by his son Sanjeev Kohli.

With a budget of INR 23 crore, Veer-Zaara had the strongest box office opening among the three films and maintained momentum in India and overseas. It concluded its theatrical run in 2004 with a worldwide gross of INR 97.64 crore (BOI). A recent re-release pushed its global earnings past the INR 100 crore mark.

PS: 2004 was an exceptional year for Shah Rukh Khan as an actor. He delivered two super-hits, Main Hoon Na and Veer Zaara. While his third film, Swades, underperformed in India, it did well overseas and is now considered one of the best Hindi films, having aged better than its contemporaries.

Aitraaz

Directed by the thriller specialists Abbas-Mustan, Aitraaz was a romantic legal thriller starring Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, and Priyanka Chopra. The film was inspired by the 1994 Hollywood movie Disclosure, featuring Michael Douglas and Demi Moore. Aitraaz follows a man falsely accused of sexual harassment by his former lover, now his boss, with his wife defending him in court. Demi Moore Birthday: From Pyaar Ka Saaya to Aitraaz, Hindi Movies That Were Remakes of Her Popular Films.

Watch the Trailer of 'Aitraaz':

Himesh Reshammiya's soundtrack for Aitraaz included hits like "Aankhen Bandh Karke," "Talatum Talatum," and "Gela Gela Gela," which were popular even before the film’s release. Although Aitraaz was impacted by Veer Zaara, it performed well enough to be deemed a hit. Made on a budget of INR 11 crore, it grossed INR 26 crore worldwide (BOI). The movie was praised for its courtroom drama and performances, especially Priyanka Chopra's portrayal of the alluring antagonist.

Naach

Directed by Ram Gopal Varma, Naach was a musical drama set against the backdrop of Bollywood and dance, starring Abhishek Bachchan, Antara Mali, and Riteish Deshmukh. The story centred on a love triangle involving an aspiring actor (Bachchan), a struggling choreographer (Mali), and a director (Deshmukh).

Watch A Scene From 'Naach':

Despite its emphasis on music and dance, the soundtrack composed by Amar Mohile, Shailendra-Swapnil, and Nitin Raikwar failed to make an impact. Additionally, Naach’s trailers did not generate much excitement. The film was a box office failure, earning just INR 4.78 crore worldwide on a budget of INR 8.5 crore. It signalled the decline of Ram Gopal Varma’s golden era in Bollywood, with Sarkar being the only acclaimed movie he made afterwards.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 12, 2024 04:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).