Cocktail (2012 film)
Cocktail is a 2012 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy-drama film directed by Homi Adajania and written by Imtiaz Ali. The film was produced by Saif Ali Khan and Dinesh Vijan on a budget of ₹35 crore. It stars Deepika Padukone, Saif Ali Khan, Diana Penty, Dimple Kapadia, Boman Irani and Randeep Hooda. The film score and soundtrack were composed by Pritam, Yo Yo Honey Singh and Salim–Sulaiman. Cocktail was released theatrically worldwide on 13 July 2012 and became a commercial success, grossing ₹126 crore worldwide, and was one of the highest grossing Hindi films of 2012. It received positive reviews from critics, who praised the direction, soundtrack, humor, cinematography, costumes and the performances of the cast, with particular praise directed towards Padukone and Penty's performances, proving to be a breakthrough for them. The film marked a significant turning point in Padukone's career, and established her as a leading actress of Hindi cinema. At the 58th Filmfare Awards, Cocktail received four nominations, including Best Actress (Padukone) and Best Female Debut (Penty). Plot
Meera (Diana Penty) is a shy and traditional Indian girl who leaves her family in India, to live in London with her husband Kunal (Randeep Hooda). While at the London airport, she meets Gautam Kapoor (Saif Ali Khan), a shameless flirt and playboy who hits on her and asks her out. Meera, disturbed by his over-extroverted behaviour, politely tells him that she is married and then leaves. Meera searches for Kunal and finally finds him, but he is angry to see her and explains that he only married Meera for money, telling her to stay away from him. This leaves Meera heartbroken and stranded in London with no place to stay. While in the bathroom at a department store, Meera meets Veronica (Deepika Padukone), an aimless party-girl who sees Meera weeping and decides to help her. Veronica takes Meera to her apartment and explains that her rich estranged father sends her a large amount of money through cheque every month, which helps Veronica enjoy the life of a spoilt socialite. One night, Veronica takes Meera to a nightclub, where they run into Gautam. At the club, Gautam and Veronica dance intimately and make out. The next morning, after a job interview, Meera comes home to find Gautam on the couch. She learns that Gautam and Veronica slept together the previous night. Soon, Gautam moves in with Veronica and Meera, continuing his "no-strings-attached" relationship with Veronica. Although Meera initially dislikes him, she comes to accept him, and the three become good friends. Eventually, Gautam's mother Kavita (Dimple Kapadia) and his uncle Randhir (Boman Irani) arrive, looking for him. Kavita is shocked to see Gautam's drunken escapades with the two girls and wants to know if he has found anyone to settle down with yet. She does not particularly like Veronica due to her lifestyle, while Randhir develops a soft spot for her. Gautam lies to Kavita and says that he is in a relationship with Meera because she is the "ideal Indian girl", who would meet his mother's approval. During this charade, Gautam and Meera become closer and end up falling in love. However, Meera is hesitant to admit it, because she does not want to hurt Veronica, her best friend. Veronica has fallen in love with Gautam and is trying to win Kavita's approval by becoming a "decent" Indian girl. Unable to continue with the lie, Gautam sits the two women down and explains to Veronica that even though she loves him, he is in love with Meera. Meera apologizes to Veronica, but Veronica assures her that it is okay and insists that they all go to the club to celebrate. However, at the club, a drunken Veronica breaks down, telling Gautam that she will do whatever he wants, and she tells Meera that no one has ever used her the way she did. The next morning, the three part ways. Meera decides to go back to Kunal. Gautam is unable to concentrate on his work or move on, and Veronica becomes depressed and engages in increasingly dangerous and destructive behavior. Thereby, the three of them are depressed. One night, Veronica is badly injured after being hit by a car. Gautam rushes her to the hospital. Meera arrives there with Kunal to make it look like she has gotten over Gautam. Gautam moves back in with Veronica to care for her. Veronica thinks that they are rebuilding their relationship, but soon realizes that Gautam is no longer the flirtatious, fun-loving man she fell for and that he is his real self only with Meera. She sacrifices her love for Gautam after realizing that they are not meant for each other, and she helps him locate Meera. They seek out Kunal, who tells them that Meera left him because she loved Gautam too much and that she has gone back to India. Gautam and Veronica travel to Delhi. Veronica helps Gautam propose to Meera, and she accepts. Veronica and Meera become best friends again and the three friends reunite. 