The Hero: Love Story of a Spy

2022-11-13T17:27:36Z

122.161.91.117:

{{short description|2003 Indian spy thriller film directed by Anil Sharma}}
{{good article}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox film
| name = The Hero: Love Story of a Spy
| image = Herolovestoryofaspy.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Anil Sharma (director)|Anil Sharma]]
| producer = {{Plainlist|
* Dhirajlal Shah
* Hasmukh Shah
* Pravin Shah
}}
| screenplay = Shaktimaan Talwar
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Sunny Deol]]
* [[Preity Zinta]]
* [[Priyanka Chopra]]
* [[Amrish Puri]]
}}
| music = [[Uttam Singh]]
| cinematography = Kabir Lal
| narrator = Sunny Deol
| editing = [[Suresh Urs]]
| distributor = Time Magnetics (India) Pvt. Ltd.
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2003|4|11}}
| runtime = 183 minutes<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Hero – Love Story of a Spy (2003) |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/hero-love-story-spy-2003 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424194819/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/hero-love-story-spy-2003 |archive-date=24 April 2020 |access-date=23 April 2020 |website=[[British Board of Film Classification]]}}</ref>
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget = {{INR}}35 crore<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=509|title=The Hero: Love Story of a Spy – Movie|publisher=[[Box Office India]]}}</ref>
| gross = {{INR}}45.13 crore<ref name="auto"/>
}}

'''''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy''''' is a 2003 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[spy thriller]] film directed by [[Anil Sharma (director)|Anil Sharma]] and produced by Time Magnetics. It stars [[Sunny Deol]], [[Preity Zinta]] and [[Priyanka Chopra]] in her [[Bollywood]] film debut. Written by Shaktimaan, the film tells the story of an undercover [[Research and Analysis Wing]] (RAW) agent who must gather intelligence about cross-border terrorism and stop the terrorist responsible for it and his separation from his fiancé.

Sharma had long contemplated making a spy film but felt this was not economically viable for the Indian market because Indian films did not have sufficient budgets. He first planned a film about India's spy network set in the early 2000s but made the 2001 film ''[[Gadar: Ek Prem Katha]]'', which became the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time]]. Following the record-breaking success of that film, Sharma decided to make ''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy''. The Shah Brothers were engaged to produce the film, which was touted to have a huge budget and scale, unlike previous Bollywood films. Aiming for high production values, a sizeable amount of money was spent on the film. Several large sets were created to give the film a feeling of grandeur, and international stunt experts were hired to coordinate action sequences new to Bollywood. [[Principal photography]] was done at Indian locations, including [[Kullu]] and [[Manali, Himachal Pradesh|Manali]], and in locations in Canada and Switzerland. [[Uttam Singh]] composed the soundtrack with lyrics written by [[Anand Bakshi]] and [[Javed Akhtar]].

The film's production cost was very high, with [[Trade magazine|trades]] suggesting that it was the [[List of most expensive Indian films|most expensive Indian film ever made]] at that point; this was the most talked-about aspect of the film. ''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy'' was released on 11 April 2003 to mixed to positive reviews from critics. It grossed over {{INR}}451 million at the box office against a production and marketing budget of {{INR}}350 million, becoming the [[List of Bollywood films of 2003|third-highest-grossing film of the year]]. Chopra won the [[Stardust Award for Best Supporting Actress]] for her performance.

== Plot ==
Arun Khanna is an army intelligence officer working for the Indian Secret Service agency [[Research and Analysis Wing]] (RAW) who has been sent to the [[Line of Control|Indo-Pakistan border in Kashmir]]. Under the identity of Major Ravi Batra, he sets up a spy network to obtain information about Pakistani terrorist activities across the border. In a nearby village, he meets Reshma, an orphan. Reshma joins the network to help Batra, and they fall in love. He reluctantly sends her into Pakistan to work as an undercover maid in Colonel Hidayatulla's house. Hidayatulla is associated with [[ISI (agnecy)|ISI]] head Isaq Khan and terrorist Maulana Azhar.

Reshma begins passing information to Batra. Khan, Azhar, and a group of nuclear scientists meet Hidayatulla's house, where they reveal plans to make a nuclear bomb for a terrorist attack in Kashmir. Reshma is exposed; she escapes and is chased but is saved by Batra and returns to India. Batra proposes marriage. Their engagement ceremony is cut short when terrorists attack. Reshma goes missing after falling into the river, and Batra is presumed dead.

Batra realizes Khan and Azhar are responsible for the attack. He fakes his own death and plans to infiltrate their terrorist network. In disguise, he follows Khan and Azhar to [[Canada]] and discovers they are planning to create a nuclear bomb. Reshma is found alive on the shore in Lahore, Pakistan, where she is rescued by Salman. She loses the ability to walk after learning about the deaths of Batra and her parents. Salman takes her to Canada for treatment under the care of doctor Shaheen Zakaria, the daughter of Muslim fundamentalist Mr. Zakaria, an associate of Khan. In a shopping mall, Reshma finds a muffler she had knitted for Batra, and realizes he is alive and in Canada.

Batra changes his identity to that of a nuclear scientist named Wahid. To infiltrate Zakaria's group, he wins Zakaria's trust and marries Shaheen. Reshma sees Batra as Wahid at his wedding with Shaheen and recognizes him. Batra tells Reshma they cannot be together because he is now married to Shaheen. Reshma is heartbroken and returns to India. Overhearing their conversation, Shaheen learns the truth and is heartbroken. Batra tells Shaheen the truth about her father, but she does not believe the news about her father's terrorist links.

Batra tricks the group into revealing the location of the bomb's parts, which have been kept at a high-altitude facility owned by Zakaria. The group reveals the codes to him, and he transmits a signal to the Canadian and Indian governments. Shaheen learns about the group's plan, exposing them. Khan learns about "Wahid's" true identity and attempts to kill him, but Batra survives. Soldiers arrive, forcing the terrorists toward a train station. They hijack a train and take the passengers hostage. Shaheen, on board, tries to disarm Khan, but he kills her. Before dying, she forgives Batra. Batra kills the other terrorists and Khan. He returns to Kashmir and reunites with Reshma.

== Cast ==
Credits adapted from [[Bollywood Hungama]].<ref name="cast&crew">{{Cite web |title=The Hero Cast & Crew |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/the-hero/cast/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424194952/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/the-hero/cast/ |archive-date=24 April 2020 |access-date=23 April 2020 |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]]}}</ref>
{{Div col}}
* [[Sunny Deol]] as Ajay Chakravarty/Arun Khanna/Major Ravi Batra/Wahid Khan/Roshanlal/Taneja
* [[Preity Zinta]] as Reshma
* [[Priyanka Chopra]] as Dr. Shaheen Zakaria
* [[Kabir Bedi]] as Mr. Zakaria
* [[Amrish Puri]] as Isaq Khan
* [[Rajpal Yadav]] as Lt. Dorjee
* [[Shahbaz Khan (actor)|Shahbaz Khan]] as Idris Malik
* [[Parvin Dabas]] as Dr. Salman
* [[Deep Dhillon]] as Colonel Hidayatullah
* [[Pradeep Rawat (actor)|Pradeep Rawat]] as the head of RAW.
* [[Shri Vallabh Vyas]] as Reshma's Guardian.
* [[Rajat Bedi]] as Wasim
*[[Arif Zakaria]] as Karimuddin.
*[[Gene Snitsky]] as a Russian terrorist.
* [[Big Guido]] as Lab's security guard.
{{Div col end}}

== Production ==
Director [[Anil Sharma (director)|Anil Sharma]] had planned to make ''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy'' before the release of his blockbuster film ''[[Gadar: Ek Prem Katha]]'' (2001).<ref name="directorrediff">{{Cite news |last=Jha |first=Subhash K. |date=9 April 2003 |title='The Hero is not an Indian James Bond' |work=[[Rediff.com]] |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/apr/09anil.htm |url-status=live |access-date=21 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182455/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/apr/09anil.htm |archive-date=3 March 2016}}</ref> Sharma said he wanted to make a spy film and had contemplated making something like a [[James Bond]] film for a long time but realised Indian films did not have the budget needed to make a film on such a scale.<ref name="directorrediff" /> Sharma then thought of making a film based on India's spy network and, unlike his last historical film, set it in the early 2000s. His idea was to make a family film with no sex and violence.<ref name="directorrediff" /> After the success of ''Gadar: Ek Prem Katha'', Sharma decided to make ''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy'' which Shaktimaan had written.<ref name="cast&crew" /><ref name="directorrediff" /> As part of his research for the film, Sharma interacted with Army personnel to understand the working methods of its intelligence section.<ref name="spygamesrediff">{{Cite web |last=Verma |first=Sukanya |title=Spy Games |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/mar/11intro.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040828001614/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/mar/11intro.htm |archive-date=28 August 2004 |access-date=21 April 2020 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref>

{{multiple image
| perrow = 2
| total_width = 300
| footer = [[Sunny Deol]] (top) and [[Preity Zinta]] (bottom) were cast in the lead roles
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| image1 = Sunny deol 2012.jpg
| width1 = 400
| height1 = 200
| alt1 = Sunny Deol
| image2 = Preity Zinta at IPL Players Auction.jpg
| width2 = 400
| height2 = 200
| alt2 = Preity Zinta
}}

The Shah brothers of Time Magnetics—Dhirajlal Shah, Hasmukh Shah, and Pravin Shah—were engaged to produce the film.<ref name="workrediff">{{Cite web |last=Lalwani |first=Vickey |date=1 March 2003 |title=Will The Hero work? |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/mar/01hero.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050413225813/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/mar/01hero.htm |archive-date=13 April 2005 |access-date=21 April 2020 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref><ref name="saferediff">{{Cite web |last=Lalwani |first=Vickey |date=10 April 2003 |title=Sunny Deol: Bollywood's safe bet |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/apr/10sunny.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106125727/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/apr/10sunny.htm |archive-date=6 January 2010 |access-date=21 April 2020 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> Aiming for high production values, Sharma mounted the film on a sizable budget and the scale he said was needed for a story of this proportion. He said the film was a risk, especially when the Indian film industry was going through a slump.<ref name="directorrediff" /> Sharma defended the budget, saying, "But everything is risky; even walking on the street is risky. I knew before I started how much it would cost. I think the two years I gave to the film are more important than the budget. The money may come back, the time won't. Films these days don't work because filmmakers don't give enough time to them."<ref name="directorrediff" />

Sharma cast Sunny Deol, who also starred in ''Gadar: Ek Prem Katha'', in the role of an Indian spy.<ref name="saferediff" /> The director felt that the film differed greatly from their previous collaboration because Deol played a "subtle spy" who did not "scream and shout" (Deol's trademark in his films).<ref name="directorrediff" /> Deol streaked his hair blond and wore several disguises in the film, which made him uncomfortable.<ref name="directorrediff" /> Preity Zinta was cast in the female lead as a naive Kashmiri village girl, while [[Miss World 2000]] Priyanka Chopra was cast in the supporting role of a Pakistani-born Canadian doctor.<ref name="saferediff" /><ref name="spygamesrediff" /> Chopra's other 2003 film ''[[Andaaz]]'' was supposed to be her debut Bollywood film, but ''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy'' ended up releasing a month before and thus became the actress' debut Bollywood film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Iyer |first=Rohini |date=10 January 2003 |title=Controversy's child |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/jan/10chopra.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106143724/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/jan/10chopra.htm |archive-date=6 January 2017 |access-date=15 March 2020 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Priyanka Chopra Filmography |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/priyanka-chopra/filmography/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430231927/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/priyanka-chopra/filmography/ |archive-date=30 April 2017 |access-date=23 April 2020 |website=Bollywood Hungama}}</ref> Zinta thought that the film had "a terrific script" and she identified with her character thanks to Zinta's [[Himachal Pradesh]] roots.<ref name="preityrediff" /> Chopra thought the film had "a very emotional subject" and being a part of a big film like this seemed like a good option for her.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jha |first=Subhash K. |date=5 March 2003 |title='Lara and I are lucky charms for each other' |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/mar/05priyanka.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050215103911/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/mar/05priyanka.htm |archive-date=15 February 2005 |access-date=21 April 2020 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> [[Kabir Bedi]] and [[Amrish Puri]] completed the cast.<ref name="cast&crew" /><ref name="saferediff" /> [[Simple Kapadia]], Abu Jani, [[Sandeep Khosla]], [[Neeta Lulla]] and Sheetal India designed the cast's costumes.<ref>''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy: The Movie Disc''. Event occurs at approximately 20:52</ref> Sanjay Dhabade was the film's production designer. Several huge sets were constructed, including a massive glass house on water.<ref name="spygamesrediff" /><ref name="workrediff" /> Kabir Lal handled the cinematography.<ref name="cast&crew" />

[[Principal photography]] took place in [[Kullu]] and [[Manali, Himachal Pradesh|Manali]] in India with filming in [[Lonavala]] and [[Film City, Mumbai|Film City]]<ref name="ReferenceA" /> where half the film was shot. The rest half was filmed at locations in Canada and Switzerland.<ref name="ReferenceA">''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy: The Movie Disc''. Event occurs at approximately 03:02:11</ref><ref name="cast&crew" /><ref name="directorrediff" /> Filming in freezing weather in Canada and Switzerland proved to be difficult for the cast who had to be transported to rooms with heaters every five minutes. Sometimes, the temperatures fell to {{Convert|-20|C|abbr=on}}.<ref name="saferediff" /> [[Allan Amin]] designed the action set pieces, and international action experts coordinated the stunts.<ref name="cast&crew" /><ref name="workrediff" /> In one of the "heavy duty" action scenes, eight helicopters were used in the filming.<ref name="spygamesrediff" /> The film's producers cast professional wrestler [[Big Guido]] as Bedi's bodyguard for an action sequence.<ref name="saferediff" /> For one scene, Deol had to jump off an {{Convert|11000|feet|m|abbr=out|adj=on}} tall peak, which he felt was difficult.<ref name="saferediff" /> The climax of the film was shot at [[Jungfrau]] in temperatures of {{Convert|-16|C|F|abbr=on}}.<ref name="saferediff" /> To shoot the scene, Lal propped himself on top of an open helicopter to capture the Jaungfrau Heights from {{Convert|15000|feet|m|abbr=out|adj=on}} in {{Convert|-30|C|F|abbr=on}}. The shot took two hours to film. After landing, he collapsed and was rushed to a hospital immediately.<ref name="spygamesrediff" /> [[Ganesh Acharya]] choreographed the songs, and [[Suresh Urs]] edited the film.<ref name="cast&crew" />

== Soundtrack ==
{{Infobox album
| name = The Hero: Love Story of a Spy
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[Uttam Singh]]
| cover =
| border = yes
| caption = Soundtrack cover
| released = {{Start date|df=y|2003|02|20}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = {{Duration|m=33|s=47}}
| language = [[Hindi]]
| label = Time Music
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}

[[Uttam Singh]] composed the soundtrack for ''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy'' with lyrics written by [[Anand Bakshi]] and [[Javed Akhtar]].<ref name="cast&crew" /><ref name="musicreview">{{Cite web |last=Budhu |first=Rakesh |title=Music Review – The Hero |url=http://www.planetbollywood.com/Music/TheHero/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819012406/http://www.planetbollywood.com/Music/TheHero/ |archive-date=19 August 2018 |access-date=23 April 2020 |website=Planet Bollywood}}</ref> Initially, Bakshi was the sole lyricist on the soundtrack, but during production he fell ill. He wrote the lyrics for a few songs after his recovery, but after his death, Akhtar was brought in to write the lyrics for the rest of the songs.<ref name="preityrediff">{{Cite web |last=Ashraf |first=Syed Firdaus |date=11 March 2003 |title='I am not married to Aamir Khan!' |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/mar/11preity.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111223311/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/mar/11preity.htm |archive-date=11 January 2015 |access-date=21 April 2020 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref><ref name="musicreview" /> The film contains eight original tracks with vocals provided by [[Vital Signs (band)|Vital Signs]], [[Udit Narayan]], [[Alka Yagnik]], [[Jaspinder Narula]], [[Sunidhi Chauhan]], [[Sardool Sikander]] and [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]].<ref name="cast&crew" /><ref name="musicreview" /> Times Music released the soundtrack on 20 February 2003.<ref name="cast&crew" /><ref name="musicreview" />

''[[Bollywood Hungama]]'' said the soundtrack did not have "anything great or extraordinary to offer" and that the music is below expectations considering the budget and scale of the film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tuteja |first=Joginder |date=11 March 2003 |title=The Hero: Movie Review |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/musicreview/7079/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715083221/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/musicreview/7079/index.html |archive-date=15 July 2009 |access-date=23 April 2020 |website=Bollywood Hungama}}</ref> ''Planet Bollywood'' rated the album 6 out of 10, calling it "simply passable, nothing spectacular" and saying the music is not what was expected from such a big film.<ref name="musicreview" /> The reviewer said "Dil Main Hai Pyar" is the best song on the album, noting "its enjoyable characteristics" and saying it had "the potential to become very popular".<ref name="musicreview" />

{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Hero: Love Story of a Spy |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/the-hero:-love-story-of-a-spy/xMa0db0Ya4s_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424195309/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/the-hero:-love-story-of-a-spy/xMa0db0Ya4s_ |archive-date=24 April 2020 |access-date=23 April 2020 |website=[[JioSaavn]]|date=6 October 2003 }}</ref>
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Dil Main Hai Pyaar
| extra1 = [[Udit Narayan]], [[Alka Yagnik]], [[Jaspinder Narula]]
| lyrics1 = [[Anand Bakshi]]
| length1 = 04:37
| title2 = Tere Shehar Ka Kya Hai Naam
| extra2 = Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik
| lyrics2 = Anand Bakshi
| length2 = 04:25
| title3 = In Mast Nigahon Se
| extra3 = Udit Narayan, [[Sunidhi Chauhan]]
| lyrics3 = [[Javed Akhtar]]
| length3 = 05:02
| title4 = Mari Koyal Ne Aisi Cook
| extra4 = [[Sardool Sikander]], Jaspinder Narula
| lyrics4 = Anand Bakshi
| length4 = 06:35
| title5 = Tum Bhi Na Mano
| extra5 = Alka Yagnik, [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]]
| lyrics5 = Javed Akhtar
| length5 = 06:11
| title6 = Dil Main Hai Pyaar 2
| extra6 = Alka Yagnik, [[Jaspinder Narula]]
| lyrics6 = Anand Bakshi
| length6 = 06:57
| title7 = Tu Hai
| extra7 = Vital Signs
| lyrics7 = Anand Bakshi
| length7 = 05:21
| title8 = Tu Hai 2
| extra8 = Vital Signs, Alka Yagnik & Sunidhi Chauhan
| lyrics8 = Anand Bakshi
| length8 = 05:21
}}

== Budget & Trade Analysis ==
After the record-breaking success of Deol's and Sharma's previous collaboration ''Gadar: Ek Prem Katha'', which had become the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing Indian film of all time]] at that point, their next collaboration was highly anticipated and a lot was expected from it.<ref name="directorrediff" /><ref name="workrediff" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gadar – Ek Prem Katha |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=657 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401074718/https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=657 |archive-date=1 April 2020 |access-date=24 April 2020 |website=Box Office India}}</ref> According to [[Taran Adarsh]], there were "gargantuan" expectations for the new film".<ref name="tareview">{{Cite web |last=Adarsh |first=Taran |date=11 April 2003 |title=The Hero Movie Review |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/the-hero/critic-review/the-hero-movie-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424194347/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/the-hero/critic-review/the-hero-movie-review/ |archive-date=24 April 2020 |access-date=23 April 2020 |website=Bollywood Hungama}}</ref> ''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy'' was much talked about for its budget and scale.<ref name="directorrediff" /><ref name="workrediff" /> Adarsh said the producers had spared no expense in making it a film of "epic proportions" and "grand production values", writing, "The money spent is visible in every frame, the grand look of the film just cannot be overlooked."<ref name="tareview" /> The film was also talked about for including stunts that were new to Bollywood cinema.<ref name="bbc">{{Cite web |date=29 October 2014 |title=The Hero – Love Story of a Spy |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/films/2003/04/the_hero_index.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050906214231/http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/films/2003/04/the_hero_index.shtml |archive-date=6 September 2005 |access-date=24 April 2020 |website=[[BBC]]}}</ref>

Industry experts and trade analysts declared ''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy'' the [[List of most expensive Indian films|most expensive Indian film ever made]] at that point, with some estimating its budget between {{INR}}500 to {{INR}}600 million.<ref name="workrediff" /><ref name="bbc" /><ref name="yearrediff">{{Cite web |last=Jha |first=Subhash K |date=15 April 2003 |title=Will 2003 be Bollywood's worst year? |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/apr/16bolly.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040924065503/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/apr/16bolly.htm |archive-date=24 September 2004 |access-date=16 March 2020 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/05/16/stories/2003051601120200.htm |title=A dauntless hero |date=16 May 2003 |work=[[The Hindu]] |last=Gangadhar |first=V. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612074223/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/05/16/stories/2003051601120200.htm |archive-date=12 June 2008 |access-date=10 March 2021 |url-status=dead }}</ref> According to ''[[Box Office India]]'', the film had a budget of {{INR}}350 million, including production and marketing costs.<ref name="boxoffice">{{Cite web |title=The Hero – Love Story of a Spy |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=509 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702184035/https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=509 |archive-date=2 July 2019 |access-date=23 April 2020 |website=[[Box Office India]]}}</ref> Sharma refused to confirm the exact budget but agreed it was an expensive film, telling Subhash K. Jha: "The producers have gone on record about the budget. I cannot tell you the exact cost. But yes, it is an expensive film."<ref name="directorrediff" /> The director, however, was extremely unhappy with the hype around the film's budget because he did not want to raise audience expectations.<ref name="directorrediff" /> Rajesh Thadani said the film should have been made on a lower budget because the economics of film-making had changed and that restraining a film's budget was "the need of the hour".<ref name="workrediff" /> A distributor told ''[[Rediff.com]]'' "making such a costly film in the 2000s was not a viable proposition and that audiences had become extremely unpredictable". He added: "''[[Devdas (2002 Hindi film)|Devdas]]'', with all its hype, barely managed to recover its cost. For ''The Hero'' to succeed, it will have to do better than ''Devdas''."<ref name="workrediff" />

When ''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy'' was in production, the Hindi film industry's revenues were declining, and many were hopeful the film would help to revive the industry.<ref name="directorrediff" /><ref name="workrediff" /> The film's trailers and promos created "enormous" to "positive" [[Marketing buzz|buzz]] in the public and the media, but some trade analysts were skeptical about its high budget and its potential box-office earnings.<ref name="directorrediff" /><ref name="workrediff" /> An editor of ''Box Office India'' said the recovery of the cost of a film like this, filmed on "an extra-large canvas", was impossible from the Indian market alone.<ref name="workrediff" /> He said big-budget films like this mostly rely on overseas markets, which was uncertain for this film because it offered nothing new to overseas audiences as a "James Bond type of movie" that had been done several times before.<ref name="workrediff" /> Trade analyst Amod Mehra was more optimistic about the film, saying he hoped it would help revive the Bollywood film industry, which had "virtually gone dead", and that "the public is anticipating something as thrilling and fast-paced as ''Gadar''. If he has kept the pulse of the public in mind, I see no reason why [the film] won't run well."<ref name="workrediff" />

== Release ==
As ''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy'' was nearing its release, the 2003 Bollywood Producers' strike prevented the release of new Hindi films in theaters after 1 April 2003.<ref name="strikerediff">{{Cite web |last=Jha |first=Subhash K. |date=22 April 2003 |title=Directors rage as producers strike |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/apr/22film.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605185642/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/apr/22film.htm |archive-date=5 June 2016 |access-date=23 April 2020 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> Deol was unhappy about the strike because he felt postponing a big film like this was not an affordable option, saying: "When a producer has spent so much money promoting and publicising a film like ''The Hero'', how is he expected to scrap his campaign, postpone his film and start from scratch?"<ref name="strikerediff" /> ''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy'' was released on 11 April 2003 on 500 screens despite the ongoing ban on the release of Hindi films.<ref name="yearrediff" />

The film had a good opening at the box office,<ref name="boxoffice2003">{{Cite web |title=Box Office 2003 |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=209&catName=MjAwMw |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023141040/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=209&catName=MjAwMw |archive-date=23 October 2013 |access-date=24 April 2020 |website=Box Office India}}</ref> collecting {{INR}}22.2 million on its opening day and {{INR}}63.1 million in its opening weekend in India with worldwide opening-weekend revenue of over {{INR}}111.5 million.<ref name="boxoffice" /> In its first week, the film collected over {{INR}}107 million at the domestic box office and over {{INR}}188.2 worldwide.<ref name="boxoffice" /> In a report published in ''Rediff.com'', Jha said the strike proved to be beneficial for ''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy'' because it had sustained a steady second-week run.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jha |first=Subhash K. |date=26 April 2003 |title='I'm not being defiant, merely realistic' |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/apr/26pran.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629192930/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/apr/26pran.htm |archive-date=29 June 2016 |access-date=23 April 2020 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> During its box office run, the film grossed {{INR}}414.5 million in India and over {{INR}}36.8 million in the overseas market, making a worldwide gross of over {{INR}}451.3 million.<ref name="boxofficeworldwide2003">{{Cite news |title=Top Worldwide Grosser 2003 |work=Box Office India |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/worldwide-total-gross.php?year=2003 |url-status=live |access-date=3 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151858/https://www.boxofficeindia.com/worldwide-total-gross.php?year=2003 |archive-date=25 December 2018}}</ref> It was the [[List of Bollywood films of 2003|third-highest-grossing Indian film of the year]],<ref name="boxofficeworldwide2003" /> but the film's box-office gross was considered to be below expectations due to high production costs.<ref name="boxoffice" /><ref name="boxoffice2003" />

Time released ''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy'' as a single-disc, [[NTSC]]-format [[DVD]] on 8 July 2003 across all regions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Hero DVD (2003) |url=https://www.induna.com/1000010783-productdetails/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111031641/http://www.induna.com/1000010783-productdetails/ |archive-date=11 January 2014 |access-date=24 April 2020 |website=[[Induna.com]]}}</ref><ref name="dvdrelease">{{Cite web |title=The Hero – Love Story of a Spy [DVD] |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hero-Love-Story-Spy-DVD/dp/B0000BZNKQ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303143502/http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hero-Love-Story-Spy-DVD/dp/B0000BZNKQ |archive-date=3 March 2010 |access-date=24 April 2020 |website=Amazon}}</ref> A DVD version released by [[Venus Records]] contains some bonus features, including a "making-of" documentary and a collection of Deol's songs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Hero: Love Story of a Spy (2003) |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/The-Hero-Love-Story-Of-A-Spy/616921/#Releases |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207062958/https://www.blu-ray.com/The-Hero-Love-Story-Of-A-Spy/616921/ |archive-date=7 February 2021 |access-date=24 April 2020 |website=[[Blu-ray]]}}</ref> A [[Video CD]] version was released at the same time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Hero VCD (2003) |url=https://www.induna.com/1000015325-productdetails/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111030656/http://www.induna.com/1000015325-productdetails/ |archive-date=11 January 2014 |access-date=24 April 2020}}</ref> Tip Top Video released the film internationally on an all-regions, [[PAL]]-[[Widescreen display modes|Widescreen]] format DVD.<ref name="dvdrelease" /> A [[VHS]] version was released on 1 September 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Hero – Love Story of a Spy [VHS] |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hero-Love-Story-Spy-Kabir-Bedi/dp/B0000APAEB |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817123606/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hero-Love-Story-Spy-Kabir-Bedi/dp/B0000APAEB |archive-date=17 August 2016 |access-date=24 April 2020 |website=[[Amazon (company)|Amazon]]|date=September 2003 }}</ref> [[Moser Baer]] later released another version of the DVD across all regions on an NTSC-format single disc.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Hero DVD (2003) |url=https://www.induna.com/1000001112-productdetails/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111025541/http://www.induna.com/1000001112-productdetails/ |archive-date=11 January 2014 |access-date=24 April 2020 |website=Induna.com}}</ref>

== Reception ==
[[File:Priyanka Chopra12.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Priyanka Chopra|[[Miss World 2000]] Priyanka Chopra made her Bollywood debut with the film, winning the [[Stardust Award for Best Supporting Actress]] for her performance]]
''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy'' garnered mixed to positive reviews from critics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Hero: Love Story of a Spy (2003) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10002625_hero |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127095042/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10002625_hero |archive-date=27 November 2017 |access-date=30 May 2017 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref> Deepa Gumaste of ''[[Rediff.com]]'' praised the film, calling it a "comicbook spy movie", comparing it to ''[[Die Another Day]]'' (2002) and ''[[Mission: Impossible]]'' (2000), and wrote, "At last an original ''[[desi]]'' spy who combines the guile and charm of James Bond and the raw appeal of [[John Rambo|Rambo]]!" She said the cinematography is a "treat for the eyes with exquisite footage of the picturesque landscapes" and wrote, "For once in a Hindi film, foreign locations have actually been put to good use."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gumaste |first=Deepa |date=11 April 2003 |title=A comicbook spy movie |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/apr/11hero.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823204323/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/apr/11hero.htm |archive-date=23 August 2017 |access-date=24 April 2020 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> Lawrence Van Gelder of ''[[New York Times]]'' was appreciative of the film, noting its "multiple pleasures" and writing, "Stretching from the snow-capped peaks of Kashmir to the ski slopes of Canada, mingling gunplay, spectacular explosions and chases with songs, dances and romance, this colorful Indian spy adventure constitutes the cinematic equivalent of the delightful and inconsequential escapism of a 700-page summer beach novel."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gelder |first=Lawrence Van |date=11 April 2003 |title=Film in Review; 'The Hero' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/11/movies/film-in-review-the-hero.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410023454/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/11/movies/film-in-review-the-hero.html |archive-date=10 April 2019 |access-date=24 April 2020 |website=[[New York Times]]}}</ref>

[[Sify]] gave ''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy'' film three out of five, writing, "The central theme gets more spice with a love story giving much role to play for Zinta and Chopra. The action sequences are well shot and Deol essays his role with his usual skill."<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 April 2003 |title=The Hero |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/the-hero-review--pclu0Lbejajae.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424200646/https://www.sify.com/movies/the-hero-review--pclu0Lbejajae.html |archive-date=24 April 2020 |access-date=24 April 2020 |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref> Kevin Thomas of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' called the film "straightforward escapist fare" with the sensibility of an "old-fashioned comic-book", and said it "may be corny" and "unintentionally amusing at times" but it is also "a lot of fun" and has "all the classic elements of a Bollywood blockbuster taken to a spectacular level".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Kevin |date=2 May 2003 |title=A singing, dancing 'Hero' |url=http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-thomas2may02,0,2020213.story |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100829010557/http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-thomas2may02,0,2020213.story |archive-date=29 August 2010 |access-date=24 April 2020 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> The ''[[BBC]]''<nowiki/>'s Manish Gajjar called the film "great escapist" cinema and praised the performances, writing that, "the role of Ravi Khanna was tailor-made for Deol. He got a chance to exhibit the various looks of a secret agent ... Zinta is radiantly refreshing throughout the film, whilst ex-Miss World Chopra appears natural considering that this is her debut film."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gajjar |first=Manish |date=24 September 2014 |title=The Hero |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/films/2003/04/the_hero.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221150359/http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/films/2003/04/the_hero.shtml |archive-date=21 December 2019 |access-date=24 April 2020 |website=[[BBC]]}}</ref>

Derek Elley of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' said ''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy'' is "wildly over-the-top" but "undeniably entertaining". Praising the performances, Elley wrote, "Deol makes a solid, rather than exciting hero, better in military duds than his increasingly outre disguises, and Puri overacts wildly as the villain. The female leads are much more engaging, with Zinta typically sparky and likable, and mega-looker Chopra making a solid screen debut as a modern urban miss."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elley |first=Derek |date=16 April 2003 |title=The Hero: Love Story of a Spy |url=https://variety.com/2003/film/reviews/the-hero-love-story-of-a-spy-1200542160/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061004/http://variety.com/2003/film/reviews/the-hero-love-story-of-a-spy-1200542160/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=24 April 2020 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> [[Anupama Chopra]] of ''[[India Today]]'' said the narrative has flair, noting the love story, including the courtship and consequent separation that has "emotional vigour" works to some extent but the spying part is a problem. She wrote: "The leads try hard—Deol appears suavely sincere and Zinta, vulnerable—but Shaktimaan's script doesn't hold. The incendiary dialogue got whistles but the comic-book discussions on nuclear bombs were a sleeping pill."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chopra |first=Anupama |date=18 April 2003 |title=Film review: 'Hero: The Love Story of a Spy' starring Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/your-week/story/20030428-film-review-hero-the-love-story-of-a-spy-starring-sunny-deol-preity-zinta-792869-2003-04-28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424201014/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/your-week/story/20030428-film-review-hero-the-love-story-of-a-spy-starring-sunny-deol-preity-zinta-792869-2003-04-28 |archive-date=24 April 2020 |access-date=24 April 2020 |website=[[India Today]]}}</ref> Taran Adarsh of ''Bollywood Hungama'' criticized the "superficial" writing but praised the technical aspects of the film, such as the "terrific" visuals and "awe-inspiring" action sequences, and said it "lacks the soul to make you cry and make your heart go out for the on-screen characters ... [the film] has gloss and hype as its trumpcards, but ... lacks in emotions, music and a taut screenplay".<ref name="tareview" />

== Accolades ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
!scope="col"| Award
!scope="col"| Date{{efn|Linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.}}
!scope="col"| Category
!scope="col"| Recipient(s) and nominee(s)
!scope="col"| Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
!scope="row" | [[International Indian Film Academy Awards|IIFA Awards]]
| [[5th IIFA Awards|22 May 2004]]
| [[IIFA Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role|Best Performance in a Negative Role]]
| {{sort|Puri|[[Amrish Puri]]}}
| {{nom}}
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kay |first=Jeremy |date=2 April 2004 |title=Kal Ho Naa Ho leads IIFA nominees |work=[[Screen Daily]] |url=https://www.screendaily.com/kal-ho-naa-ho-leads-iifa-nominees/4018041.article |url-status=live |access-date=21 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107094231/https://www.screendaily.com/kal-ho-naa-ho-leads-iifa-nominees/4018041.article |archive-date=7 January 2018}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row" | [[Screen Awards]]
| 16 January 2004
| Best Action
| {{sort|Amin|[[Allan Amin]]}}
| {{nom}}
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Hero : Awards and Nominations |work=Bollywood Hungama |url=http://www.indiafm.com/movies/awards/7079/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430175246/http://www.indiafm.com/movies/awards/7079/index.html |archive-date=30 April 2008}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row" | [[Stardust Awards]]
| 2004
| [[Stardust Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]]
| {{Sort|Chopra|[[Priyanka Chopra]]}}
| {{won}}
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hrithik, Preity conquer 2003 awards |url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2004/mar/03awards.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208151903/http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2004/mar/03awards.htm |archive-date=8 February 2012 |access-date=21 April 2020 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row" rowspan="4" | [[Zee Cine Awards]]
| rowspan="4" | 26 February 2004
| [[Zee Cine Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role|Best Performance in a Negative Role]]
| {{sort|Puri|[[Amrish Puri]]}}
| {{nom}}
|style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"|<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Zee Cine Awards 2004 |series=Zee Cine Awards |network=[[Zee TV]] |date=26 March 2004}}</ref>
|-
| [[Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut|Best Female Debut]]
| {{Sort|Chopra|[[Priyanka Chopra]]}}{{efn|Also for ''[[Andaaz]]''.}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Zee Cine Award for Best Action|Best Action]]
| {{sort|Amin|[[Allan Amin]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Visual Effects
| ''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy''
| {{nom}}
|}

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Bollywood Hungama movie|the-hero|The Hero}}
* {{IMDb title|0347167}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hero: Love Story of a Spy}}
[[Category:2000s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:2000s spy thriller films]]
[[Category:2003 action thriller films]]
[[Category:2003 drama films]]
[[Category:2003 films]]
[[Category:2003 thriller drama films]]
[[Category:Films about the Research and Analysis Wing]]
[[Category:Films directed by Anil Sharma]]
[[Category:Films scored by Uttam Singh]]
[[Category:Films set in Canada]]
[[Category:Films set in Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Films shot in Quebec]]
[[Category:Films shot in India]]
[[Category:Films shot in Switzerland]]
[[Category:India–Pakistan relations in popular culture]]
[[Category:Indian action thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian spy thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian thriller drama films]]
[[Category:Kashmir conflict in films]]
[[Category:Military of Pakistan in films]]
[[Category:Indian spy action films]]
[[Category:Films about nuclear technology]]
[[Category:Films about nuclear war and weapons]]
[[Category:Films shot in Toronto]]

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The Hero: Love Story of a Spy