Ishaqzaade

''Ishaqzaade'' () is a 2012 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film written and directed by Habib Faisal, and produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner. The film stars Arjun Kapoor in his debut and Parineeti Chopra in lead roles, alongside Gauahar Khan, Natasha Rastogi, Anil Rastogi, and Shashank Khaitan in supporting roles. Set in the fictional town of Almor in Uttar Pradesh, the narrative follows Parma Chauhan and Zoya Qureshi, members of rival political families, whose passionate romance challenges deeply rooted religious and societal divides.

The film marked Kapoor’s first appearance in a leading role, and Chopra’s second following ''Ladies vs Ricky Bahl'' (2011). Principal photography took place in various locations across Uttar Pradesh, with cinematography by Hemant Chaturvedi and music composed by Amit Trivedi. The soundtrack features lyrics by Kausar Munir and includes the popular track "Pareshaan," sung by Shalmali Kholgade. The official trailer was released on 15 March 2012, followed by the film’s theatrical release on 11 May 2012.

Upon release, ''Ishaqzaade'' received positive reviews from critics, with particular praise directed toward Chopra’s performance, as well as its screenplay and music. Produced on a budget of ₹160 million (US$2 million), the film emerged as a commercial success, grossing ₹613 million (US$7.5 million) worldwide.

At the 58th Filmfare Awards, the film received four nominations, including Best Actress (Chopra) and Best Male Debut (Kapoor), winning Best Female Playback Singer for Shalmali Kholgade for the song "Pareshaan." Additionally, Chopra was awarded the National Film Award – Special Mention at the 60th National Film Awards for her performance.

Plot

In the town of Almor, the Chauhans and the Qureshis are rival political families with a history of hostility. Parma Chauhan, the wayward grandson of political patriarch Surya Chauhan, struggles for validation in his family due to his reputation as a troublemaker. Zoya Qureshi, the spirited and assertive daughter of Aftab Qureshi, aspires to enter politics but is discouraged by her conservative Muslim family.

During a heated election campaign, Parma and Zoya clash repeatedly but gradually develop mutual attraction. They fall in love and elope, with Parma converting to Islam and assuming the name Parvez. After a staged marriage ceremony, the two consummate their relationship. Parma later reveals that the wedding was a ruse designed to dishonor Zoya and avenge an earlier humiliation. Heartbroken, Zoya attempts to retaliate but is stopped by Parma's mother, Parvati, who urges her son to honor his actions. When Parvati tries to protect the couple, Surya fatally shoots her, prompting Parma to turn against his family and protect Zoya.

Forced to flee, the couple seeks refuge in a brothel managed by Chand Bibi. Although Zoya initially suspects Parma of betrayal, she begins to forgive him as he expresses remorse. They eventually reconcile and marry in a legitimate ceremony. Hoping for reconciliation, Zoya brings Parma to her home, but her father threatens to kill her. The couple escapes once again, planning to flee to Jaipur. However, their families join forces to track them down, viewing their union as a threat to both political legacies and religious boundaries.

Cornered on a college rooftop during Eid, Parma and Zoya engage in a final standoff with their pursuers. With no escape and few bullets left, they choose to shoot each other, dying in each other's arms. Their families depart, believing the matter settled. The film concludes with a message highlighting the tragic consequences faced by interfaith and intercaste couples in contemporary India.

Cast

* Arjun Kapoor as Parma Chauhan
* Parineeti Chopra as Zoya Qureshi
* Gauahar Khan as Chand Bibi
* Anil Rastogi as Surya Chauhan, Parma's father
* Natasha Rastogi as Parvati Chauhan, Parma's mother
* Ratan Singh as Aftab Qureshi, Zoya's father
* Charu Rastogi as Zoya's mother
* Shashank Khaitan as Dharma Chauhan
* Ankit Kakkar as Karma Chauhan
* Aftab Ahmed Khan as Shadaab Qureshi
* Jafarpal Dhillon as Sohraab Qureshi
* Usha Bachani as a Prostitute

Production

Casting

In late 2011, it was announced that Arjun Kapoor would make his acting debut in ''Ishaqzaade''. Initially slated to debut in ''Virus Diwan'', another Yash Raj Films project, Kapoor’s launch was realigned after that film was shelved. ''Ishaqzaade'' was developed specifically to introduce him under the Yash Raj banner. Parineeti Chopra, who had made her screen debut the previous year in ''Ladies vs Ricky Bahl'' (2011), was cast opposite Kapoor. National Film Award-winning choreographers Rekha and Chinni Prakash, known for their work in ''Jodhaa Akbar'' (2008), were brought on to choreograph the film's musical sequences. Veteran action director Sham Kaushal was responsible for staging the action scenes.

Filming

Filming began on 15 October 2011. A major part of the film was shot in Lucknow, Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh and at other sites near Lucknow.

Principal photography for ''Ishaqzaade'' commenced on 15 October 2011. A significant portion of the film was shot on location in and around Lucknow and Hardoi in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

Soundtrack

The music for ''Ishaqzaade'' was composed by Amit Trivedi, marking his first collaboration with Yash Raj Films. The lyrics were written by Kausar Munir, with the exception of the track "Chokra Jawaan," which was penned by the film’s writer-director, Habib Faisal. The soundtrack album, which includes remixes of "Pareshaan" and "Jhallah Wallah" by Abhijit Vaghani, was released on 13 April 2012 under the YRF Music label. The film's background score was composed by Ranjit Barot.

Reception

Box office

''Ishaqzaade'' opened to strong box office performance across India, with theater occupancy ranging between 70% and 90% on its first day. The film collected ₹45.4 million (US$540,000) nett on its opening day, followed by ₹51.5 million (US$610,000) and ₹62.2 million (US$740,000) on its second and third days, respectively. It earned ₹159 million (US$1.9 million) nett over its first weekend and ₹257 million (US$3.0 million) by the end of its first week.

The film broke the record for the highest first-week collections for a Hindi non-star cast film, previously held by ''Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na'' (2008). It continued to perform well in subsequent weeks, collecting ₹73.8 million (US$870,000) in its second weekend and ₹125 million (US$1.5 million) in its second week. The film earned an additional ₹43.4 million (US$510,000) during its third weekend, solidifying its status as a commercial success. It concluded its theatrical run with a domestic net total of approximately ₹453.9 million (US$5.5 million) and a worldwide gross of ₹613 million (US$7.5 million) against a budget of ₹160 million (US$2 million).

Critical reception

''Ishaqzaade'' received positive reviews from critics, with widespread praise for Parineeti Chopra’s performance.

Taran Adarsh of ''Bollywood Hungama'' rated the film 3.5 out of 5 stars, describing it as "a volatile and intense story with ample doses of fanatical romance," and praised its performances, music, and mainstream appeal. Mrigank Dhaniwala of ''Koimoi'' also gave it 3.5 stars, noting that the film was "an entertaining fare" that relied on its strong first half and engaging performances. Khalid Mohamed of ''Deccan Chronicle'' echoed similar sentiments, calling it a film that "gets under your skin... and rocks."

Rachit Gupta of '' Filmfare'' rated the film 3 out of 5, referring to it as a "fantastic Indian adaptation of Romeo and Juliet⁣⁣," and appreciated its exploration of love as a force beyond life and death. ''Dainik Bhaskar'' awarded the film 3 stars, citing its performances, unconventional climax, and intense chemistry between the leads as highlights, though it noted that the political backdrop might be less relatable to metropolitan audiences. Shomini Sen of ''Zee News'' commended director Habib Faisal’s depiction of small-town life and its cultural nuances.

Blessy Chettiar of ''DNA'' noted that while the film had a slow start, it picked up significantly and praised Chopra’s performance as scene-stealing. Anupama Chopra appreciated the precision in the storytelling and the leads’ performances, stating that "''Ishaqzaade'' does provide half a good time. How many films can you say that for?" Trisha Gupta of ''Firstpost'' acknowledged the film’s sharply drawn characters and Chopra’s standout performance, though she criticized the film’s ending and thematic execution.

Accolades

References

External links

Official website
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2012 films
2012 action drama films
2012 romantic drama films
Indian romantic drama films
Indian romantic action films
Indian action drama films
Films shot in Lucknow
Yash Raj Films films
2010s Hindi-language films
Indian interfaith romance films
2010s romantic action films
Films based on Romeo and Juliet
Films shot in Uttar Pradesh
Films about honor killing
Honour killing in India
Films set in Uttar Pradesh
Films set in Lucknow
Films about the caste system in India
Films about Islam