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Band Baaja Baaraat

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Band Baaja Baaraat
Theatrical release poster
Directed byManeesh Sharma
Written byHabib Faisal
Story byManeesh Sharma
Produced byAditya Chopra
StarringRanveer Singh
Anushka Sharma
CinematographyAseem Mishra
Edited byNamrata Rao
Music bySalim–Sulaiman
Production
company
Distributed byYash Raj Films
Release date
  • 10 December 2010 (2010-12-10)
Running time
140 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget₹15 crore
Box office₹33.3 crore[1]

Band Baaja Baaraat (transl. Band, Music, and Party; also known as Wedding Planners) is a 2010 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film directed by Maneesh Sharma in his directorial debut, written by Habib Faisal, and produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner. The film stars Ranveer Singh in his debut role and Anushka Sharma, and follows the story of Shruti and Bittoo, two young entrepreneurs who launch a wedding planning business in Delhi and navigate the ups and downs of partnership and romance.

The film was released theatrically on 10 December 2010 to widespread critical acclaim. Reviewers praised its fresh setting, sharp screenplay, vibrant music, and the lead pair’s energetic performances.[2][3] Despite stiff competition from contemporaneous releases, the film emerged as a commercial success. Band Baaja Baaraat grossed approximately ₹96 crore (US$12 million) worldwide against a modest budget of ₹10 crore.

At the 56th Filmfare Awards, Band Baaja Baaraat earned six nominations including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actress, and won two awards—Best Male Debut (Singh) and Best Debut Director (Sharma). The film was later remade in Tamil as Aaha Kalyanam (2014), also produced by Yash Raj Films.[4]

Plot

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Shruti Kakkar is a determined and ambitious young woman with dreams of becoming Delhi’s top wedding planner. She crosses paths with Bittoo Sharma, a carefree college graduate, at a local wedding, where he gatecrashes for free food and poses as a videographer. When Bittoo learns of Shruti’s plan to launch a wedding planning venture—Shaadi Mubarak—he initially scoffs at the idea. However, faced with the prospect of returning to a rural life on his father’s sugarcane farm, he persuades Shruti to take him on as her business partner.

To gain experience, the duo briefly work for an established wedding planner, only to discover their employer is a fraud. They quit and launch Shaadi Mubarak on their own. Their venture becomes a success after they plan a wedding in their neighborhood, earning attention for their creativity and organization. As business flourishes, they move into a formal office and take on increasingly upscale clients. However, after a night of partying, Shruti and Bittoo sleep together, disrupting their professional dynamic.

While Shruti hopes for something more, Bittoo treats the incident as casual, prompting her to confront him. The fallout leads to the dissolution of their partnership. Shruti continues Shaadi Mubarak solo, while Bittoo starts a rival company—Happy Wedding. Both struggle without the other, and their businesses begin to falter.

Eventually, a wealthy client insists they reunite for a grand wedding in Rajasthan. Agreeing to work together one last time, they navigate lingering tensions while planning the high-profile event. Bittoo, learning that Shruti is engaged, becomes erratic and confronts her fiancé. Realizing Bittoo’s behavior stems from unresolved feelings, Shruti confronts him, and the two reconcile. They go on to complete the wedding successfully and later marry in a ceremony organized by Shaadi Mubarak.

Cast

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  • Ranveer Singh as Bittoo Sharma
  • Anushka Sharma as Shruti Kakkar
  • Neeraj Sood as Maqsood, florist
  • Puru Chibber as Mika, Bittoo's best friend[5]
  • Manish Choudhary as Sidhwani
  • Manit Joura as Sunny, cameraman
  • Sushil Dahiya as Brigadier Brar
  • Revant Shergill as Santy, musician
  • Manu Rishi as Inspector
  • Govind Pandey as Bittoo's father
  • Vinod Verma as Shruti's father
  • Nirupama Chopra as Shruti's mother
  • Pushvinder Rathore as Shruti's sister
  • Shena Gamat as Chanda Narang, a famous wedding planner
  • Manmeet Singh as Rajinder Singh, caterer
  • Shireena Sambyal as Sonia

Production

[edit]

"Anushka Sharma and I have been friends for a long time, and we have a very comfortable love-hate relationship – more hate and less love from her side!"

—Maneesh Sharma[6]

Development

[edit]

Band Baaja Baaraat marked the directorial debut of Maneesh Sharma, who had previously assisted on Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008). The project was produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner. The film’s narrative focused on a youthful romantic storyline set in Delhi’s wedding planning industry. Early media reports speculated titles such as Shaadi Mubarak and Shaadi Mubarak Ho, but Yash Raj Films clarified in late April 2010 that the film was still untitled.[7] The official title, Band Baaja Baaraat, was announced in July 2010.[8]

Casting

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Anushka Sharma was cast as the female lead, fulfilling the final film in her three-film contract with Yash Raj Films after Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008). Describing the role as challenging, Sharma noted that speaking in a fast-paced, colloquial Delhi dialect was the most difficult aspect of the part.[9][10] Director Maneesh Sharma, a longtime friend, described her as “feisty” and a natural performer who disliked multiple takes.[6][11]

Ranveer Singh, a newcomer with no prior experience in acting or modeling, was selected for the male lead after impressing Aditya Chopra in his first audition.[12] Singh underwent acting training and spent time in Delhi to understand the culture.[13] On landing the role, he said, “I’m the first solo hero Yash Raj is launching. It’s a huge deal for me. I guess I happened to be in the right place at the right time.”[14]

Filming

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Principal photography began in Delhi on 4 February 2010.[12] Singh was reportedly nervous on his first day, but completed his initial scene in three takes.[13] Filming locations included Janakpuri, Subhash Nagar, Delhi University, Ring Road, Mehrauli Farms, and Akbar Road, as well as Hansraj College—Maneesh Sharma’s alma mater.[6][15][16] Some scenes were later filmed in Mumbai (March) and Rajasthan (April).[17]

During a shoot in West Delhi’s Subhash Nagar, Singh’s unfamiliar face led onlookers to confuse him for actors like Ranbir Kapoor or Riteish Deshmukh. Police were called in to control the crowd. The shoot also included a kissing scene between the leads, reportedly done in a single take, and an intense scene in which Singh accidentally hit Sharma.[13][18]

Aseem Mishra handled cinematography, having worked on films such as New York (2009) and Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai (2010). Choreography was led by Vaibhavi Merchant, known for Lagaan (2001) and Devdas (2002). Costume design was done by Niharika Khan, with production design by Sonal Choudhry and T. P. Abid. Assistant directors included Akshat Kapil and Rohit Philip.

Rumors of a romantic relationship between Sharma and Singh circulated during the shoot. Singh later joked, “She is the best co-star I have ever worked with! It’s also because she is the only co-star I have ever worked with!”[13][18][19][20][21]

Soundtrack

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Main article: Band Baaja Baaraat (soundtrack)

The soundtrack and background score for Band Baaja Baaraat were composed by the duo Salim–Sulaiman, marking another collaboration with Yash Raj Films following their work on Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008). The lyrics were penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya. The album features vocals by a diverse group of playback singers, including Sunidhi Chauhan, Benny Dayal, Shreya Ghoshal, Natalie Di Luccio, Himani Kapoor, Harshdeep Kaur, Labh Janjua, Shraddha Pandit, Master Saleem, Sukhwinder Singh, Amitabh Bhattacharya, and Salim Merchant.

The soundtrack consists of nine tracks, including two remix versions.[22] It was first unveiled on 3 November 2010 at Yash Raj Studios in Andheri, Mumbai, and was officially launched on 10 November 2010 at a promotional event held at the Reliance TimeOut store in Bandra.[23][24][18]

Marketing and release

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"We’re like a tiny paan shop if you compare us with the other releases in the same week or month, but this paan shop is the best of the lot"

— Anushka Sharma[10]
Anushka Sharma at a Band Baaja Baaraat press event, 2010

As with previous Yash Raj Films productions since Mohabbatein (2000), publicity design for Band Baaja Baaraat was overseen by Fayyaz Badruddin, with stills photographed by Abhay Singh and Zahir Abbas Khan. The film’s official trailer and website launched on 19 October 2010, featuring the synopsis, promotional images, downloadable wallpapers, a press kit, and e-cards branded as “Band Baaj-O-Grams.”[25] The studio expanded its digital outreach through dedicated Facebook, Twitter, and Blogspot channels, as well as exclusive video content on YouTube, including music videos for "Tarkeebein" and "Ainvayi Ainvayi".

Singh looking towards his left and smiling, wearing a black t-shirt
Lead actor Ranveer Singh at a promotional event for Band Baaja Baaraat

To promote the film, lead actors Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma, along with director Maneesh Sharma, made appearances at IIT Delhi's annual festival and at the GIP Mall in Noida.[26][27] However, promotions briefly drew media attention following an incident aboard Kingfisher Airlines flight IT 331 on 26 October 2010, when the actors confronted a passenger who allegedly took unsolicited photographs.[28][29] The altercation was resolved without formal complaints after police intervention upon landing in Delhi.[30][31][32]

Despite skepticism regarding its commercial prospects due to the absence of a male star and Sharma's perceived lull in popularity post her debut contract with the studio, Band Baaja Baaraat gradually built momentum through word-of-mouth and targeted promotions.[33][34] The film was theatrically released worldwide on 10 December 2010, coinciding nearly two years to the day with Sharma’s debut Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008)—a strategic choice by the studio aiming to replicate that film's success trajectory.[35][36]

Reception

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Box office

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Band Baaja Baaraat had a modest opening, collecting ₹9.5 million on its first day. The film showed steady growth over the weekend, earning ₹20 million on Saturday and ₹22.5 million on Sunday, bringing the first weekend total to ₹48.5 million.[37]

In its first week, the film collected ₹94 million, followed by ₹46 million in the second week. The film continued to perform well in subsequent weeks, with collections of ₹15 million in the third week and ₹10 million in the fourth week. The total domestic net collection stood at approximately ₹170.9 million.[38]

Internationally, Band Baaja Baaraat had a limited release. In the United States and Canada, it grossed $43,820, while in the United Kingdom, it earned £63,200. The film's worldwide gross was approximately ₹300 million.[39]

With a production budget of ₹130 million, the film was declared a "Hit" by Box Office India.[40]

Critical reception

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Upon release, Band Baaja Baaraat received universal critical acclaim. Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama gave it 4/5 stars, commenting, "Thankfully, Band Baaja Baaraat works on every level. The writing is crisp, the execution of the material [director: Maneesh Sharma] is worthy, and the lead actors [Anushka, Ranveer] steer the film to the destination smoothly... Band Baaja Baaraat is honest, fresh, youthful, and extremely entertaining. Recommended!"

Pankaj Sabnani of Glamsham gave it 4.5/5 stars and wrote, "There's an interesting blend of humour, drama, and romance in the film. It's replete with great scenes. Make sure you join the celebrations and groove with this Band Baaja Baaraat. Strongly recommended!" Anupama Chopra of NDTV awarded it 4/5 stars and commented, "Band Baaja Baaraat is reasonably entertaining. It's definitely the most fun you'll have in a theater this weekend." Rajeev Masand gave it 3/5 stars, writing, "Band Baaja Baaraat works because it’s invested with an earnestness that’s become increasingly rare to find at the movies... It’s a romantic comedy done correctly. Fun, but with warmth at its heart. Don’t miss it!"

Nikhat Kazmi of The Times of India gave the film 3/5 stars and opined, "As long as you view Band Baaja Baaraat as a loving, heartfelt take on what makes Delhi go dhak-dhak, the film holds your attention. Band Baaja Baaraat engages you with its fond look at fun-loving Dilliwalas." Sonal Dedhia of Rediff.com gave it 3/5, commenting, "On the whole, Band Baaja Baaraat is a refreshing film—very different from the usual romantic comedy movies we're so used to. It is a well-made film that should connect with the audience. Give this one a chance, you won't regret it."

Anushka Sharma (top) and Ranveer Singh (bottom) received widespread praise and won several awards and nominations for their performances.

Accolades

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Award Date of the ceremony Category Recipients Result Ref.
Producers Guild Film Awards 11 January 2011 Best Actress in a Leading Role Anushka Sharma (tied with Vidya Balan for Ishqiya) Won [41]
Best Male Debut Ranveer Singh Won
Zee Cine Awards 14 January 2011 Best Actor – Female Anushka Sharma Nominated [42]
Best Male Debut Ranveer Singh Won
Screen Awards 22 January 2011 Best Actress Anushka Sharma Nominated [43]
Best Male Debut Ranveer Singh Won
Filmfare Awards 29 January 2011 Best Film Band Baaja Baaraat Nominated [44]
Best Director Maneesh Sharma Nominated
Best Actress Anushka Sharma Nominated
Best Male Debut Ranveer Singh Won
Best Debut Director Maneesh Sharma Won
Best Scene of the Year The bread pakora scene Nominated
Stardust Awards 6 February 2011 Best Actor in a Comedy or Romance Ranveer Singh Nominated [45]
Superstar of Tomorrow – Male Won
Best Actress in a Comedy or Romance Anushka Sharma Nominated
IIFA Awards 23–25 June 2011 Best Film Band Baaja Baaraat Nominated [46]
Best Director Maneesh Sharma Nominated
Best Actress Anushka Sharma Won
Star Debut of the Year – Male Ranveer Singh Won
Hottest Pair Anushka Sharma and Ranveer Singh Won
Best Music Director Salim–Sulaiman Nominated
Best Lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya (for "Ainvayi Ainvayi") Nominated
Best Female Playback Singer Sunidhi Chauhan (for "Ainvayi Ainvayi") Nominated
Best Story Maneesh Sharma Nominated
Best Dialogue Habib Faisal Nominated
Best Costume Design Niharika Khan Won
Best Editing Namrata Rao Won
Best Song Recording Vijay Dayal (for "Ainvayi Ainvayi") Won

See also

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References

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  1. ^ BOI Trade Network. "Box Office 2010". Box office India. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  2. ^ Tuteja, Joginder. "Final verdict – Band Baaja Baaraat is success story". Archived from the original on 22 December 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  3. ^ Nahta, Komal (10 January 2011). "Tees Maar Khan Crashes Further, Band Baaja Baaraat Still in the Race". Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  4. ^ "YRF Movies - Latest and Upcoming Hindi Movies Yash Raj Films".
  5. ^ Puru Chibber. "Exclusive interview with Bittoo's best friend about his career journey". Humans Of College. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Chandna Arora "Anushka’s a Ramjas girl?", The Times of India, 27 October 2010.
  7. ^ Indo-Asian News Service "YRF's next not Shaadi Mubarak", Hindustan Times, 23 April 2010.
  8. ^ Bollywood Hungama News Network "YRF's next not Shaadi Mubarak", Bollywood Hungama, 26 July 2010.
  9. ^ "Anushka-Ranveer to come with ‘Band Baaja Baaraat’", IndiaGlitz, 24 September 2010.
  10. ^ a b Shweta Mehta "‘I am not Rajnikanth’", Hindustan Times, 26 October 2010.
  11. ^ Soumyadipta Banerjee "Bengaluru girl Anushka Sharma says I look Punjabi, but I am not", Daily News & Analysis, 26 October 2010.
  12. ^ a b "Yash Raj Films launches debutant actor Ranveer Singh in its next project", Yash Raj Films.com, 4 February 2010.
  13. ^ a b c d Shweta Mehta "‘I felt something for Anushka’", Hindustan Times, 23 October 2010.
  14. ^ Hill Road Media "New kid on the block: Ranveer Singh" Archived 30 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine, StarBoxOffice, 25 October 2010.
  15. ^ "I can make 15 films on Delhi: Maneesh". The Times of India. 19 December 2010. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012.
  16. ^ The campus crew in Bollywood The Times of India, 10 December 2010.
  17. ^ "Anushka Sharma"[usurped], SawfNews.com.
  18. ^ a b c "At the Music Launch of Band Baaja Baarat". BollySpice.com. 3 November 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  19. ^ "It’s Ranveer Singh and not Shahid for Anushka" Archived 10 July 2012 at archive.today, IndiaInfo.com, 12 April 2010.
  20. ^ Vickey Lalwani "Anushka, beau part ways", The Times of India, 13 October 2010.
  21. ^ TNN "Anushka, Ranveer no more a jodi!", The Times of India, 21 October 2010.
  22. ^ "Band Baaja Baaraat Music Released", Yash Raj Films, 3 November 2010.
  23. ^ "Anushka Sharma: Adorable at Band Baaja Baaraat Music Launch"[usurped], SawfNews.com, 20 October 2010.
  24. ^ TNN "Salman thanks Akshay, SRK enjoys alone time", The Times of India, 28 October 2010.
  25. ^ yrfmovies "Hey guys, Do check out the Official Website of Band Baaja Baaraat... www.bandbaajabaaraat.com :-)”", Twitter, 19 October 2010.
  26. ^ Band Baaja Baaraat "Who wants to shake a leg with Shruti & Bittoo?", BlogSpot, 20 October 2010.
  27. ^ "Anushka Sharma, Ranveer Singh Plug Band Baaja Baaraat at GIP Mall Noida"[usurped], SawfNews.com, 22 October 2010.
  28. ^ Express News Service "Actors Anushka Sharma, Ranvir in airport row", Indian Express, 27 October 2010.
  29. ^ Sonal Chawla & Lakshmi Iyer "Anushka has a possessive ex!", The Times of India, 28 October 2010.
  30. ^ TNN "Actors fly into rage as co-flyer clicks them", The Times of India, 27 October 2010.
  31. ^ HT Correspondent "Anushka, co-star pick fight with co-passengers on Kingfisher flight", Hindustan Times, 26 October 2010.
  32. ^ PTI "'Band Baaja Baaraat' stars in 'scuffle'", The Times of India, 27 October 2010.
  33. ^ Dipti Nagpaul D'souza "Missing the mark", Indian Express, 5 November 2010.
  34. ^ Kaustubh Shetye "Ranveer Was Perfect For 'BAND BAJAA BAARAAT'- Anushka" Archived 11 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Bollywood Chaska, 8 November 2010.
  35. ^ "10 December ko bajega “BAND BAAJA BAARAAT”", Yash Raj Films.com, 24 September 2010.
  36. ^ Joginder Tuteja "Anushka Sharma set to repeat history", OneIndia, 27 September 2010.
  37. ^ "Band Baaja Baaraat Box Office Collection | Day Wise | Worldwide - Sacnilk". www.sacnilk.com. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  38. ^ Sharma, Maneesh (10 December 2010), Band Baaja Baaraat (Comedy, Drama, Romance), Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma, Ranjit Batra, Yash Raj Films, retrieved 29 May 2025
  39. ^ "Band Baaja Baaraat". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  40. ^ "Band Baaja Baaraat - Movie - Box Office India". boxofficeindia.com. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  41. ^ "Winners of 5th Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards". www.bollywoodhungama.com. Archived from the original on 11 January 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  42. ^ bollywoodproduct (13 April 2022). "12th Zee Cine Awards (2011)". Bollywood Product. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  43. ^ Yount, Stacey (6 January 2011). "17th Star Screen Awards 2011 Winners". BollySpice.com - The latest movies, interviews in Bollywood. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  44. ^ 56th Idea Filmfare Awards (Reality-TV), Imran Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan, 6 February 2011, retrieved 29 May 2025{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  45. ^ "Stardust Awards, India (2011)". IMDb. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  46. ^ 12th International Indian Film Academy Awards, Riteish Deshmukh, Boman Irani, Shah Rukh Khan, 25 June 2011, retrieved 29 May 2025{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
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