Pardes (1997 film)
Pardes () is a 1997 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama musical film directed, produced, and co-written by Subhash Ghai. Distributed by Mukta Arts, it stars Shah Rukh Khan, and newcomers Mahima Chaudhry and Apurva Agnihotri in lead roles, with Alok Nath, Amrish Puri and Himani Shivpuri in supporting roles. The film was shot at various locations in the United States (Los Angeles, Las Vegas), Canada (British Columbia, including Vancouver) and India (Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, including Agra). Pardes theatrically released in India on 8 August 1997. It received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics, with praise for its soundtrack and Khan, Chaudhry, and Agnihotri's performances; however its story and screenplay received criticism. It grossed over  worldwide, emerging as a commercial success, and was the fourth highest-grossing Bollywood film of 1997, behind Dil To Pagal Hai (also starring Khan), Border, and Ishq. At the 43rd Filmfare Awards, Pardes received 12 nominations, including Best Film, Best Director (Ghai) and Best Actress (Chaudhry), and won 3 awards – Best Female Debut (Chaudhry), Best Female Playback Singer (Alka Yagnik for "Meri Mehbooba") and Best Screenplay (Ghai). The film was remade in Telugu as Pelli Kanuka (1998) starring Jagapati Babu, Lakshmi & Banumathi Ramakrishna. It was released on the eve of celebration of 50th anniversary of the Indian independence. Plot
Arjun is the foster son of Kishorilal, a wealthy NRI who harbours extreme affection for his home country, India. On a trip to meet his friend in India, Kishorilal comes in contact with his friend's daughter, Ganga. He is impressed by her culture and values and decides to arrange her marriage with his biological son, Rajiv. Arjun is tasked to prepare Ganga's family to receive Rajiv when he arrives. Arjun sets about "westernizing" the household but is resisted by Ganga and her siblings. Their clash brings them together, and Arjun and Ganga become friends. Rajiv visits the village in a month's time and is subjected to alien Indian customs and traditions. With help from Arjun, he soon begins to understand Indian culture and becomes attracted to Ganga. Rajiv and Ganga agree to their arranged marriage and fly off together to the US after being engaged in India. Ganga lives with the Kishorilal household while preparations are made for a grand wedding. During this time, she faces hostilities from Kishorilal's family, who have long left India and its values behind, having fully embraced American culture. Ganga believes Rajiv is different from his family, but is soon exposed to his indulgent lifestyle, his brattish behaviour, and secrets of his past relationships. Having grown up in a conservative family in India, she reacts negatively to this new information and lashes out at Arjun, accusing him of painting a false picture of Rajiv before their engagement. Arjun's continued friendship with Ganga is noticed by Kishorilal's family, and they relocate him within the country so he cannot interfere in Rajiv's relationship. On a trip to Las Vegas, Rajiv and Ganga end up fighting in their hotel room over the former's insistence to have sex before marriage, which goes against Indian culture. Rajiv goes as far as to say insulting things about India, causing Ganga to get infuriated and slap him and subsequently cancel her relationship with him by discarding her ring. Rajiv ends up attempting assault on Ganga, who fights him off and escapes. Arjun finds her in a distressed state at a train station and flies her back to the safety of her family in India. Back in the village, Ganga's family is falsely led to believe that Arjun and Ganga have eloped. Rajiv shows up in the country and hires goons to take revenge on Arjun. Arjun is left a bloody mess but fights back for Ganga's sake. His fistfight with Rajiv turns violent, but they are interrupted by Kishorilal. Kishorilal demands an explanation from Arjun for his actions, who confesses that he has fallen in love with Ganga but acted only with the intent to protect her (and not elope with her). Ganga, meanwhile, has also realized her love for Arjun. She exposes Rajiv to her family for his actions in Vegas. Kishorilal is shocked and disgusted with what he is seeing. He then announces that Ganga will marry Arjun, instead of Rajiv. Rajiv is shocked and tells Kishorilal that he is his son. However, the latter slaps the former and orders him to go back to the US. Ganga and Arjun return to the US and get married. They live out a happy married life together. 