# Baabul (2006 film)

Baabul (transl. Father's affection to daughter) is a 2006 Indian Hindi-language romantic family drama film, directed by Ravi Chopra. The movie stars Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, John Abraham, Rani Mukerji and Salman Khan. It celebrates B. R. Chopra's 50 years in cinema, though it was unsuccessful at the box office.

## Plot

Balraj Kapoor is a rich businessman, happy and content with his world. He and his wife Shobhna wait for their only son Avinash a.k.a. 'Avi' to return from his studies in the United States. After seven years, Avinash completes his education, comes back to India, and joins his father's business.
Avinash meets Malvika a.k.a. 'Millie' and the two fall in love. Millie tells her childhood friend Rajat that she loves someone, which devastates him as he is also in love with her. He asks Avinash to keep her happy.
Avinash and Millie get married and have a baby boy they name Ansh. A couple years later, during Ansh's birthday party, the family waits for Avinash to get home from a business trip from London to close a huge business deal. he dies in a road accident after walking out onto the ongoing traffic, leaving Millie devastated.
Balraj seeks to bring happiness back into his widowed daughter-in-law's life. He contacts Rajat in London, informs him of Avinash's death, and asks him to marry Millie upon learning of Rajat's feelings for her. Rajat meets Ansh and bonds well with him. However, there is stiff opposition from Shobhna and Balraj's conservative older brother Balwant. Shobhna fears losing her grandson Ansh while Balwant takes the traditional view that a woman marrying twice is a sin. However, Balraj stands firm and convinces everyone.
In the end, Rajat and Millie get married, and everything is well. Avinash comes as a spirit and blesses his dad with happiness and thanks him.

## Cast

* Amitabh Bachchan as Balraj Kapoor, a rich businessman who shares a strong bond with his son Avinash. After Avinash dies, he is willing to seek happiness in his daughter-in-law Millie's life once again by getting her married to Rajat.
* Hema Malini as Shobhna Kapoor, Balraj's wife, Avinash's mother, Millie's mother-in-law, and Ansh's grandmother.
* John Abraham as Rajat Verma, he is Millie's childhood friend who is also in love with her. After Avinash's death, he is sought out by Balraj to bring happiness into Millie's life again and marry her.
* Rani Mukerji as Malvika "Milli" Kapoor (née Talwar), an aspiring artist who becomes Avinash's wife and is the mother of their son Ansh. She goes into a deep depression after Avinash dies and misses him very much.
* Salman Khan as Avinash Kapoor, he is Balraj and Shobhna's only son who shares a strong bond with his father referring him as “Buddy”. He joins his father's business firm and becomes a businessman as well. He is the husband of Millie and the father of Ansh. He dies in a car accident causing Millie to fall through depression.
* Om Puri as Balwant Kapoor, Balraj's older brother who is strictly bound by old ways of marriage and is very religious. In the end he realizes his folly and gives his consent to Millie and Rajat's marriage.
* Sarika as Pushpa Kapoor, Balraj and Balwant's widowed younger sister-in-law who has always been looked down upon by Balwant for being a widow.
* Aman Verma as Shobhna's brother
* Parmeet Sethi as Khushi Kapoor, Balwant's son
* Sharat Saxena as Jeet Talwar, Malvika's father
* Smita Jaykar as Suman Talwar, Malvika's mother
* Rajpal Yadav as Paanchi, the Kapoor Household servant and chauffeur
* Shriya Saran as bride in opening credits (special appearance)
* Vaishnavi Mahant

## Music

The music is composed by Aadesh Shrivastava. The soundtrack has 11 songs. The soundtrack was one of the most successful soundtracks of 2006.
| Song | Singer(s) | Other notes |
| Gaa Re Mann | Kavita Krishnamurthy, Alka Yagnik, Kailash Kher, Sudesh Bhosle, Aadesh Shrivastava and Amitabh Bachchan | Filmed on Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Rani Mukerji and Salman Khan |
| Come On Come On | Amitabh Bachchan, Sonu Nigam, Vishal Dadlani, Aadesh Shrivastava and Ranjit Barot | Filmed on Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini and Salman Khan |
| Har Manzar | Kunal Ganjawala | Filmed on Amitabh Bachchan and John Abraham |
| Baawri Piya Ki | Sonu Nigam | Filmed on Rani Mukerji and Salman Khan |
| Bebasi Dard Ka Alam | Kunal Ganjawala | Filmed on Amitabh Bachchan, John Abraham and Rani Mukerji |
| Keh Raha Hai | Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal | Filmed on Rani Mukerji and Salman Khan |
| Kehta Hai Baabul | Jagjit Singh (Movie version was sung by Amitabh Bachchan) | Filmed on Amitabh Bachchan |
| Baabul Bidaai Song | Richa Sharma | Originally a 15-minute song was Bollywood's longest track, film used 2-3 min. version. |
| Har Manzar (Remix) (DJ Suketu - Arranged by Aks) | Kunal Ganjawala | |
| Come On Come On (Remix) (DJ Suketu - Arranged by Aks) | Amitabh Bachchan, Sonu Nigam, Vishal Dadlani, Aadesh Shrivastava and Ranjit Barot | |
| Vaada Raha | Sonu Nigam | Filmed on Rani Mukerji |

## Reception
### Box office

Baabul opened in Mumbai with occupancy of about 75%, considered remarkably low for a Salman Khan-starrer, and occupancy went downhill very quickly, presumably due to unfavorable word-of-mouth. In the rest of the country, even the opening was dismal and it never picked up. Eventually, the film was declared a flop. The small centres opened to poor response and overall the film did not do quite well in India but was an above average grosser. However, it did great business overseas, entering at the 8th position on the UK charts in its first week. It was a big hit in the overseas market.

### Critical response

The Times Of India gave a 3/5 rating, saying, "The problem with Baabul is its first half- completely dead and totally listless. Samrat Sharma of Fullhyderabad.com wrote: "It's a film made for the more traditional generation or social class, and even so, while may not be terribly effective, it is sufficiently well-crafted..." Namrata Joshi of Outlook India gave the film two stars out of four, writing "Despite the failings in his character, Big B [Amitabh Bachchan] lends it gravitas and dignity. But his self-conscious cute couple act with Hema Malini is irritating. Time to get over Baghban.

## Awards

Nominated
* 52nd Filmfare Awards: Best Supporting Actor – John Abraham