Befikre

''Befikre'' () is a 2016 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film written, directed, and produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films. It stars Ranveer Singh and Vaani Kapoor as two commitment-phobic individuals who enter into a casual relationship and eventually confront their feelings for each other. Set and shot extensively in Paris, the film explores themes of modern romance and emotional vulnerability.

Principal photography took place over 50 days in Paris and Mumbai, with cinematography by Kaname Onoyama. The soundtrack was composed by Vishal–Shekhar, while Mikey McCleary provided the background score. This marked Chopra's fourth directorial venture and his first not to feature Shah Rukh Khan.

Released theatrically on 9 December 2016, ''Befikre'' received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, who praised its visuals and music but criticized its screenplay and character development. Despite the reception, the film performed moderately well at the box office, grossing ₹103.15 crore (US$13 million) worldwide.

Plot

In Paris, Dharam Gulati, a stand-up comedian from New Delhi, and Shyra Gill, a Paris-born Indian tourist guide, experience a breakup following a heated argument. Shyra returns to her parents' home under the condition that her relationship with Dharam is not discussed. Dharam processes the separation through his comedic performances.

Their relationship began when Dharam arrived in Paris and was introduced to Shyra at a party through a friend. Their dynamic involved playful dares, including one that led Dharam to slap a police officer. They entered a live-in relationship, but frequent arguments and personality clashes led to their eventual separation.

In the aftermath, Dharam and Shyra reconnect and agree to remain friends. They commemorate their breakup with a symbolic padlock on the Pont des Arts and vow not to fall in love with each other again. Shyra begins dating Aney, an investment banker, while Dharam starts a relationship with Christine, a French model. When Aney proposes marriage, Shyra consults Dharam, who, concealing his feelings, advises her to accept.

As preparations for their respective weddings progress, lingering emotions between Dharam and Shyra resurface. A confrontation during a pre-wedding event leads Dharam to admit he is not ready to marry Christine and still has feelings for Shyra. On the day of the weddings, both call off their ceremonies. Dharam challenges Shyra to marry him instead, and she accepts.

Cast

* Ranveer Singh as Dharam Gulati, a Delhi guy who moved to Paris to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian.
* Vaani Kapoor as Shyra Gill, a French tourist guide of Indian descent—born and raised in Paris.
* Arrmaan Ralhan as Anay, an investment banker who wants to marry Shyra.
* Julie Ordon as Christine, Dharam's French girlfriend.
* Akarsh Khurana as Joginder "Jogi" Gill, Shyra's father
* Ayesha Raza Mishra as Juhi Gill, Shyra's mother
* Aru Krishansh Verma as Mehra
* Elisa Bachir Bey as Nathalie

Production

Development

''Befikre'' was announced by Yash Raj Films in September 2015 as the return of Aditya Chopra to directing after an seven-year hiatus following ''Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi'' (2008). Intended as a departure from Chopra’s earlier romantic dramas, the film was conceived as a light-hearted love story rooted in contemporary urban culture. The project was positioned as a youthful romance set against a European backdrop, with Chopra taking inspiration from modern-day dating dynamics.

In December 2015, the studio confirmed that Vishal–Shekhar would compose the soundtrack, reuniting with Yash Raj Films after nearly a decade. Lyricist Jaideep Sahni was also brought on board, marking another return collaboration with the banner.

Casting

Ranveer Singh and Vaani Kapoor were cast in the lead roles in October 2015. The film marked Singh’s fifth collaboration with Aditya Chopra after ''Kill Dil'' (2014), while Kapoor was last seen in ''Shuddh Desi Romance'' (2013). In March 2016, Singh reportedly faced scheduling challenges due to his commitment to an upcoming project directed by Zoya Akhtar. The potential overlap was resolved without affecting ''Befikre'''s shooting timeline.

Filming

Principal photography began in March 2016 and was completed within a span of 50 days. The film was extensively shot on location in Paris, France, capturing various neighborhoods, historic landmarks, and street-side cafés to authentically portray the city’s aesthetic. Cinematographer Kaname Onoyama employed naturalistic lighting and wide-angle compositions to emphasize Paris as an integral backdrop to the story’s romantic tone.

Additional sequences were completed in Mumbai, India, during the post-production phase. The film was edited by Namrata Rao. The production maintained a low-profile shoot, aiming to complete work efficiently while avoiding media distractions.

Reception

Box office

''Befikre'' was released across 2,900 screens globally and opened to a strong response at the box office. On its opening day, it collected ₹103.6 million (equivalent to ₹150 million or US$1.8 million in 2023), making it the tenth-highest opening for a Bollywood film in 2016. Over the first weekend, the film collected ₹116 million and ₹124.7 million on Saturday and Sunday respectively, with a total weekend domestic net of ₹344.3 million (equivalent to ₹490 million or US$5.9 million in 2023). The film ranked as the eleventh-highest domestic weekend grosser of the year.

Over the course of its first week, ''Befikre'' collected an additional ₹143.2 million, bringing its total domestic net to ₹487.5 million (equivalent to ₹700 million or US$8.3 million in 2023). It eventually netted ₹602.6 million in India (equivalent to ₹870 million or US$10 million in 2023), becoming the sixteenth-highest netting Bollywood film in the domestic market for 2016. ''Box Office India'' classified the film as "average". Globally, the film grossed ₹1.3 billion (equivalent to ₹1.9 billion or US$22 million in 2023), and generated a profit of ₹500 million (equivalent to ₹720 million or US$8.5 million in 2023) for Yash Raj Films.

Internationally, ''Befikre'' collected ₹164.8 million on its opening day (equivalent to ₹240 million or US$2.8 million in 2023), becoming the fifteenth-highest overseas-grossing Bollywood film of the year.

Critical response

The film received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics. ''The Times of India'' awarded it 3 out of 5 stars, noting, "''Befikre'' has some honest, funny moments, and the attempt to upgrade the genre is apparent, but you don't come away with anything new." In contrast, ''The Indian Express''' Shubhra Gupta rated it 1.5 out of 5 stars, writing, "It's all there, and yet, ''Befikre'' never quite rises above its shiny surface... In its best moments, it has sparkle, but those are few and far between."

Rajeev Masand, also rating it 1.5 out of 5 stars, criticized the lack of emotional depth, stating, "What the film lacks is genuine feeling... even the frothiest of rom-coms need something real to keep you invested in its characters." Similarly, Raja Sen of '' Rediff.com'' called the film “painfully childish drivel” and concluded, "To use the language of the youth Aditya Chopra is attempting to speak, let’s call it Befi-cray-cray."

Soundtrack

The film's soundtrack was composed by Vishal–Shekhar, with background score and production by Mikey McCleary. Lyrics were written by Jaideep Sahni. The soundtrack album was released on 1 December 2016 by YRF Music.

Track listing

Accolades

References

External links

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{{Aditya Chopra

2016 films
Indian romantic comedy films
Yash Raj Films films
Films set in Paris
Films shot in Paris
2016 romantic comedy films
Films directed by Aditya Chopra