Duplicate (1998 film): Difference between revisions

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{{EngvarB|date=May 2014}}
{{short description|Hindi-language action comedy film}}
{{use Indian English|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}


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| director      = [[Mahesh Bhatt]]
| director      = [[Mahesh Bhatt]]
| producer      = [[Yash Johar]]
| producer      = [[Yash Johar]]
| writer        = [[Robin Bhatt]]<br />[[Akash Khurana]]<br />[[Javed Siddiqi]]
| writer        = [[Robin Bhatt]]&lt;br /&gt;[[Akash Khurana]]&lt;br /&gt;[[Javed Siddiqi]]
| narrator      =  
| narrator      =  
| starring      = [[Shahrukh Khan]]<br />[[Shah Rukh Khan]]<br />[[Juhi Chawla]]<br />[[Sonali Bendre]]
| starring      = [[Shah Rukh Khan]]&lt;br /&gt;[[Juhi Chawla]]&lt;br /&gt;[[Sonali Bendre]]
| music          = '''Songs:'''<br>[[Anu Malik]]<br>'''Score:'''<br>[[Louis Banks]]
| music          = '''Songs:'''&lt;br&gt;[[Anu Malik]]&lt;br&gt;'''Score:'''&lt;br&gt;[[Louis Banks]]
| cinematography = Sameer Arya
| cinematography = Sameer Arya
| editing        = Waman Bhonsle
| editing        = Waman Bhonsle
Line 20: Line 21:
| country        = India
| country        = India
| language      = Hindi
| language      = Hindi
| budget        = {{INRConvert|9.5|c|year=1998}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Movies/movie_detail/duplicate#.VbxZ9txVikp|title=Duplicate Budget|publisher=Box Office India|date=22 July 2015|access-date=22 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707015519/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Movies/movie_detail/duplicate#.VbxZ9txVikp|archive-date=7 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| budget        = {{INRConvert|9.5|c|year=1998}}&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Movies/movie_detail/duplicate#.VbxZ9txVikp|title=Duplicate Budget|publisher=Box Office India|date=22 July 2015|access-date=22 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707015519/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Movies/movie_detail/duplicate#.VbxZ9txVikp|archive-date=7 July 2015|url-status=dead}}&lt;/ref&gt;
| gross          = {{INRConvert|21.49|c|year=1998}}<ref name="Duplicate Box office">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Movies/movie_detail/duplicate#.VbxZ9txVikp|title=Duplicate Box office|publisher=Box Office India|date=22 July 2015|access-date=22 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707015519/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Movies/movie_detail/duplicate#.VbxZ9txVikp|archive-date=7 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| gross          = {{INRConvert|21.49|c|year=1998}}&lt;ref name="Duplicate Box office"&gt;{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Movies/movie_detail/duplicate#.VbxZ9txVikp|title=Duplicate Box office|publisher=Box Office India|date=22 July 2015|access-date=22 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707015519/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Movies/movie_detail/duplicate#.VbxZ9txVikp|archive-date=7 July 2015|url-status=dead}}&lt;/ref&gt;
}}
}}


'''''Duplicate''''' is a 1998 Indian [[Bollywood|Hindi]] [[action comedy film]] directed by [[Mahesh Bhatt]] and stars [[Shah Rukh Khan|Shahrukh Khan]] in a double role opposite [[Juhi Chawla]] and [[Sonali Bendre]]. It marked Khan's first of many collaborations with [[Dharma Productions]]. Upon release, the film received mixed reviews and was an average grosser at the box office.
'''''Duplicate''''' is a 1998 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[action comedy film]] directed by [[Mahesh Bhatt]]. It stars [[Shahrukh Khan|Shah Rukh Khan]] in a [[dual role]], with [[Juhi Chawla]] and [[Sonali Bendre]] playing female lead roles. The film portrays Shah Rukh Khan playing a dual role as Bablu, an aspiring chef, and Manu, a notorious gangster. It marked Khan's first of many collaborations with [[Dharma Productions]]. At the [[43rd Filmfare Awards]], the film received 2 nominations – [[Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role|Best Villain]] (Khan) and [[Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist|Best Lyricist]] ([[Javed Akhtar]] for "Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam"). The movie has been described as a remake of the 1935 Hollywood classic ''[[The Whole Town's Talking]]''.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web |date=10 January 2021 |title=Revisiting Duplicate: 20 interesting facts about the Shah Rukh Khan action-comedy |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/photos/slideshows/2021/Jan/10/revisiting-duplicate-20-interesting-facts-about-the-shah-rukh-khan-action-comedy-1237.html |access-date=3 July 2025 |website=Cinema Express}}&lt;/ref&gt;


==Plot==
==Plot==
Bablu Chaudhary, a bubbly young man, is an aspiring chef who always prays to God whenever he gets the chance. Then the movie shifts to Manu who is a very big don and a duplicate of Bablu getting chased by the police. It shifts back to Bablu as he gets a job as the head chef at a hotel and meets the charming Sonia Kapoor, the hotel catering manager and the Hotel's owner who has a crush on Sonia. Bablu falls in love with her.
Bablu, a bubbly and childish young man, is an aspiring chef who always prays to God whenever he gets the chance. Manu, who is a very big gangster and a doppelganger of Bablu, is meanwhile getting chased by the police. He eventually gets caught, but swiftly gets his way out of getting arrested.


One day, when Bablu takes Sonia out for lunch trying to express his feelings, he gets arrested because the police think that Bablu is Manu. Bablu is able to prove his true identity, but not before Manu hears of his duplicate and decides to take his place by trying killing him.  But Bablu saves himself but Manu says they have to switch places if he wants to survive so Bablu unwillingly accepts.  Soon due to his womanizing nature, Manu flirts with Sonia , but ultimately fails at trying to kiss her. Soon Lily, who is Manu's girlfriend tries to flirt with Bablu thinking him to be Manu but also fails. Bablu is a very kind man who starts teaching all of Manu's gang members, including Lily about morals.
On his way to a job interview, Bablu meets Sonia Kapoor, a charming and beautiful hotel catering manager, in a cab. They argue over who should get the cab, but eventually figure out that they are going to the same place; Bablu is going to a job interview with Sonia. Bablu eventually gets hired as the head chef at the hotel after showing off his cooking skills and meets the hotel's owner who has a crush on Sonia, even though Sonia doesn't reciprocate his feelings. Throughout the film, the manager tries his hardest to get Bablu and Sonia broken up, and Bablu fired. As Sonia and Bablu continue to work with each other, Bablu falls in love with her.


Now seeing that the light is on in Bablu's home, Manu thinking Bablu is home starts calling for him but really it is Bablu's mother. She thinks Bablu is drunk since Manu who is posing as Bablu is calling out for Bablu, so she scolds him and tells him to go to sleep. Soon they switch back since the police are not looking for Manu anymore. Now Bablu scared of Manu, calls his mother and Sonia to a rundown place so they can meet each other so Sonia can now marry him. Now Manu loses much money and thinking Bablu did it locates him the since Bablu runs late Manu arrives where Sonia and Bablu's mom are waiting. Thinking they have tracked down Manu they come and try to arrest him. But Sonia intervenes and tells them they have the wrong guy. Bablu now coming to the location tells the police that is Manu. Bablu's mom says that Bablu was a big wrestler before he came to Mumbai and she says whoever pulls her to their respective side is the real Bablu. When Bablu sees that his mother's arms are hurting decides to let go because he can't bear to see his mother in pain. Now the police thinking Bablu is Manu grab him but she says that the man holding her is Manu because she knew that Bablu would not dare to try and let his mother bear any pain. But Manu has a gun and tries to shoot her, but before he can do that Lily comes and shoots him and reveals that she informed the police because Bablu taught her how to be a good person. The film ends on a happy note with Bablu and Sonia's wedding.
One day, when Bablu takes Sonia out for lunch trying to express his feelings, he gets arrested after the police mistake him for Manu. Bablu is able to prove his true identity, but not before Manu hears of his duplicate. Bablu is given an identity card by the police and goes home happily only to be met by Manu and his goons. Manu tries to kill Bablu and take his place, but Manu threatens him that they have to switch places if he wants him and his loved ones to survive, forcing Bablu to unwillingly accept.
 
Due to his womanizing nature, Manu begins to flirt with Sonia, posing as Bablu, who notices that his behavior has changed drastically, and rejects Manu. Manu becomes extremely frustrated and continues to try and flirt with her. At the same time, Lily, Manu's girlfriend, also tries to flirt with Bablu, posing as Manu, after falling in love with his "new" personality. Bablu rejects her as well since he is madly in love with Sonia. Regardless, Bablu starts teaching all of Manu's gang members, including Lily, about morals.
 
One day, Manu arrives at Bablu's house, still posing as him, and sees that the light is on. He thinks that the real Bablu is inside and starts calling out for him, but is surprised to see that it is Bablu's mother. She thinks Bablu is drunk since Manu who is posing as Bablu is calling out for Bablu, so she scolds him and tells him to go to sleep. Soon Bablu and Manu switch back since the police have given up on looking for Manu. Manu decides he wants to kill Bablu and calls Bablu's mother and Sonia to an abandoned and rundown location so that Sonia and Bablu can get married, trapping them. Meanwhile, Bablu realizes he has lost a lot of his money, and thinking Manu did it, locates him, falling into Manu's trap as well. At the same exact time, the police have tracked down who they ''think'' is Manu, but is really Bablu, and follow him to the rundown location. The police arrive before Bablu, but Sonia intervenes and tells them they have the wrong guy, thinking Manu is Bablu. All of a sudden, the real Bablu arrives at the location and tells the police that the other man is Manu. Causing more confusion, Manu reappears and says he is Bablu. However, Bablu's mom says that Bablu was a big wrestler before he came to Mumbai and she says whoever pulls her to their respective side is the real Bablu. Bablu and Manu begin pulling, and when Bablu sees his mother in pain, he lets go, letting Manu win. Manu believes this proves he is "Bablu", thinking now the real Bablu will get shot and killed, but Bablu's mother reveals that the real Bablu would never let his mother be in pain. Manu reveals that he has a gun, and tries shooting Bablu, but before he can do that, Lily shoots him dead from behind. She reveals that because Bablu taught her how to be a good person, she decided to save the day. Regardless of Lily being in love with Bablu, Bablu and Sonia get married, ending the film on a good note.


==Cast==
==Cast==
* [[Shah Rukh Khan|Shahrukh Khan]] as Bablu Chaudhry
*[[Shahrukh Khan]] as Bablu Chaudhary / Manu Dada (dual role)
* [[Shah Rukh Khan]] as Manu Dada
*[[Juhi Chawla]] as Sonia Kapoor, Bablu's love interest.
* [[Juhi Chawla]] as Sonia Kapoor/Sonia Bablu Chaudhry
*[[Sonali Bendre]] as Lily, Manu's love interest.
* [[Sonali Bendre]] as Lily
*[[Mohnish Behl]] as Ravi Lamba, Sonia's Hotel Manager.
* [[Mohnish Behl]] as Ravi Lamba
*[[Farida Jalal]] as Mrs. Chaudhary, "Bebe"
* [[Farida Jalal]] as Bablu's mother
*[[Tiku Talsania]] as Inspector R. K. Thakur
* [[Tiku Talsania]] as Inspector R.K Thakur
*[[Gulshan Grover]] as Shalaku
* [[Gulshan Grover]] as Shalako
*[[Sharat Saxena]] as Dhingra
* [[Sharat Saxena]] as Dhingra
*Naushaad Abbas as a henchman
* [[Kajol]] as new Lily the girl on the station cameo
*Rana Jung Bahadur as Gappa
*[[Kajol]] as Simran Singh, the girl on the station (uncredited cameo)
*[[Vishwajeet Pradhan]] as Tony (special appearance)


==Soundtrack==
==Soundtrack==
The songs featured in the film are composed by [[Anu Malik]] with lyrics penned by [[Javed Akhtar]]. The songs were rendered by [[Kavita Krishnamurthy]], [[Alka Yagnik]], [[Kumar Sanu]], [[Udit Narayan]] and [[Abhijeet Bhattacharya]].
{{Infobox album
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
| name        = Duplicate
! # !! Title !! Singer(s)!! Length !! Music
| type        = Soundtrack Album
| artist      = [[Anu Malik]]
| cover        =
| alt          =
| released    =
| recorded    =
| venue        =
| studio      =
| genre        = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length      = 46:37
| label        = [[Saregama]]
| producer    =
| prev_title  =
| prev_year    =
| next_title  =
| next_year    =
}}
 
The songs featured in the film are composed by [[Anu Malik]] with lyrics penned by [[Javed Akhtar]]. The songs were rendered by [[Kavita Krishnamurthy]], [[Alka Yagnik]], [[Abhijeet Bhattacharya]], [[Kumar Sanu]], and [[Udit Narayan]]. Most popular songs in album "Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam", "Kathai Aankhon Wali", "Ek Shararat Hone Ko Hai", etc.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
! # !! Title !! Singer(s)!! Length  
|-
|-
| 1
| 1.
| "Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam"
| "Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam"
| [[Alka Yagnik]] & [[Udit Narayan]]  
| [[Alka Yagnik]] &amp; [[Udit Narayan]]  
| 06:59
| 06:59
| 
|-  
|-  
| 2
| 2.
| "Kathai Aankhon Wali"
| "Kathai Aankhon Wali"
| [[Kumar Sanu]]
| [[Kumar Sanu]]
| 07:13
| 07:13
|  
|- 
| 3.
| "Ek Shararat Hone Ko Hai"
| [[Kavita Krishnamurti|Kavita Krishnamurthy]] &amp; Kumar Sanu
| 05:54
|-
|-
| 3
| 4.
| "Ladna Jhagadna"
| "Ladna Jhagadna"
| [[Kavita Krishnamurthy]] & [[Abhijeet Bhattacharya]]
| Kavita Krishnamurthy &amp; [[Abhijeet Bhattacharya]]
| 06:28
| 06:28
|
|-
| 4
| "Tum Nahin Jaana"
| Alka Yagnik, [[Shankar Mahadevan]] & Udit Narayan
| 06:48
|
|-
|-
| 5
| 5.
| "Wah Ji Wah"
| "Wah Ji Wah"
| Kumar Sanu
| Kumar Sanu
| 06:04
| 06:04
|
|-  
|-
| 6.
| 6
| "Tum Nahin Jaana"
| "Ek Shararat Hone Ko Hai"
| Alka Yagnik, [[Shankar Mahadevan]] &amp; Udit Narayan
| Kavita Krishnamurthy & Kumar Sanu
| 06:48
| 05:54
|
|-
| 7
| "Theme Music" (Instrumental)
| Jack Known
| 00:34
|
|}
|}


== Box office ==
== Box office ==


''Duplicate'' grossed {{INRConvert|17.39|c}} in India and $1 million ({{INR|link=Indian rupee}}4.10 [[crore]]) in other countries, for a worldwide total of {{INRConvert|21.49|c}}, against its {{INRConvert|9.50|c}} budget. It had a worldwide opening week of {{INRConvert|9.44|c}}.<ref name="Duplicate Box office"/> It is the [[List of Bollywood films of 1998|12th-highest-grossing film of 1998]] worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Years/year_world_total/1998#.VbxZD9xViko|title=Top Worldwide Grossers 1998|publisher=Box Office India|date=22 July 2015|access-date=22 July 2015}}</ref>
''Duplicate'' grossed {{INRConvert|17.39|c}} in India and $1 million ({{INR|link=Indian rupee}}4.10 [[crore]]) in other countries, for a worldwide total of {{INRConvert|21.49|c}}, against its {{INRConvert|9.50|c}} budget. It had a worldwide opening week of {{INRConvert|9.44|c}}.&lt;ref name="Duplicate Box office"/&gt; It is the [[List of Bollywood films of 1998|12th-highest-grossing Bollywood film of 1998]] worldwide.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Years/year_world_total/1998#.VbxZD9xViko|title=Top Worldwide Grossers 1998|publisher=Box Office India|date=22 July 2015|access-date=22 July 2015}}&lt;/ref&gt;


===Overseas===
===Overseas===


It grossed $375,000 ({{INR|link=Indian rupee}}1.53 [[crore]]) in its first week and earned a total of $1 million ({{INR|link=Indian rupee}}4.10 [[crore]]) outside India.<ref name="Duplicate Box office"/> Overseas, it is the [[List of Bollywood films of 1998|3rd-highest-grossing film of 1998]] behind ''[[Kuch Kuch Hota Hai]]'' ($6.3 million ({{INR|link=Indian rupee}}26.61 [[crore]])) and ''[[Dil Se..]]'' ($2.32 million ({{INR|link=Indian rupee}}9.86 [[crore]])), which were also [[Shah Rukh Khan]] starrers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Years/year_over_total/1998#.VbxZFNxViko|title=Top Overseas Gross 1998|publisher=Box Office India|date=22 July 2015|access-date=22 July 2015}}</ref>
It grossed $375,000 ({{INR|link=Indian rupee}}1.53 [[crore]]) in its first week and earned a total of $1 million ({{INR|link=Indian rupee}}4.10 [[crore]]) outside India.&lt;ref name="Duplicate Box office"/&gt; Overseas, it is the [[List of Bollywood films of 1998|3rd-highest-grossing Bollywood film of 1998]] behind ''[[Kuch Kuch Hota Hai]]'' ($6.3 million ({{INR|link=Indian rupee}}21.49 [[crore]])) and ''[[Dil Se..]]'' ($2.32 million ({{INR|link=Indian rupee}}9.86 [[crore]])), which were also [[Shah Rukh Khan]] starrers.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Years/year_over_total/1998#.VbxZFNxViko|title=Top Overseas Gross 1998|publisher=Box Office India|date=22 July 2015|access-date=22 July 2015}}&lt;/ref&gt;


{| class="wikitable"  style="float:centre; width:45%; text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable"  style="float:centre; width:45%; text-align:center;"
Line 108: Line 123:
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" | India
| rowspan="3" | India
| ''Nett Gross'':<br />{{INRConvert|10.17|c}}
| ''Nett Gross'':&lt;br /&gt;{{INRConvert|10.17|c}}
|-
|-
| ''Distributor share'':<br />{{INRConvert|5.14|c}}
| ''Distributor share'':&lt;br /&gt;{{INRConvert|5.14|c}}
|-
|-
| ''Total Gross'':<br />{{INRConvert|17.39|c}}
| ''Total Gross'':&lt;br /&gt;{{INRConvert|17.39|c}}
|-
|-
|| International<br /> <small>''(Outside India)''</small>
|| International&lt;br /&gt; &lt;small&gt;''(Outside India)''&lt;/small&gt;
| $1 million ({{INR|link=Indian rupee}}4.10 [[crore]])
| $1 million ({{INR|link=Indian rupee}}4.10 [[crore]])
|-
|-
Line 122: Line 137:


==Awards and nominations==
==Awards and nominations==
;[[Filmfare Awards|1999 Filmfare Awards]]
===[[Filmfare Awards|1999 Filmfare Awards]]===


Nominated
{|class="wikitable storable"
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role|Best Villain]] - [[Shah Rukh Khan]]
! Category || Nominees || Result
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist|Best Lyrics]] - [[Javed Akhtar]] for "Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam"
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role|Best Villain]]
|[[Shah Rukh Khan]]
|rowspan="2"{{nom}}
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist|Best Lyricist]]
|[[Javed Akhtar]] for "Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam"
|-
|}


;[[Bollywood Movie Awards]]
===[[Bollywood Movie Awards]]===


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 141: Line 164:
| [[Juhi Chawla]]
| [[Juhi Chawla]]
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
|-
|}
===[[Zee Cine Awards]]===
{| class="wikitable"
|-  style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
!Year
!Category
!Film
!Result
|-
|-
| 1999
| 1999
Line 146: Line 180:
| [[Juhi Chawla]]
| [[Juhi Chawla]]
| {{nom}}
| {{nom}}
|-
|}
|}
==Release==
Duplicate's DVD was released by [[Ultra Media & Entertainment]].Duplicate's television premiere was occurred on [[Zee TV]].{{cn|date=June 2021}}


==References==
==References==
Line 156: Line 188:
==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0164550|Duplicate}}
* {{IMDb title|0164550|Duplicate}}
* {{Netflix title}}


{{Mahesh Bhatt}}
{{Mahesh Bhatt}}
Line 162: Line 195:


[[Category:1998 films]]
[[Category:1998 films]]
[[Category:1990s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:1998 action comedy films]]
[[Category:1998 crime comedy films]]
[[Category:1998 Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:1998 Indian films]]
[[Category:1990s gangster films]]
[[Category:Films about lookalikes]]
[[Category:Films about lookalikes]]
[[Category:Films scored by Anu Malik]]
[[Category:Films scored by Anu Malik]]
Line 168: Line 205:
[[Category:Films directed by Mahesh Bhatt]]
[[Category:Films directed by Mahesh Bhatt]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Robin Bhatt]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Robin Bhatt]]
[[Category:Foreign films shot in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Films shot in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian action comedy films]]
[[Category:Indian action comedy films]]
[[Category:Indian crime comedy films]]
[[Category:Indian crime comedy films]]
[[Category:1990s action comedy films]]
[[Category:Films about chefs]]
[[Category:1990s crime comedy films]]
[[Category:Indian remakes of American films]]

Revision as of 05:01, 4 March 2026



Duplicate
Film poster
Directed byMahesh Bhatt
Produced byYash Johar
Written byRobin Bhatt<br />Akash Khurana<br />Javed Siddiqi
StarringShah Rukh Khan<br />Juhi Chawla<br />Sonali Bendre
Music bySongs:<br>Anu Malik<br>Score:<br>Louis Banks
CinematographySameer Arya
Edited byWaman Bhonsle
Production
company
Distributed byEros International
Release date
  • 8 May 1998 (1998-05-08)
Running time
166 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget₹9.5 crore (equivalent to ₹34 crore or US$4.8 million in 2019)<ref>"Duplicate Budget". Box Office India. 22 July 2015. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.</ref>
Box office₹21.49 crore (equivalent to ₹78 crore or US$11 million in 2019)<ref name="Duplicate Box office">"Duplicate Box office". Box Office India. 22 July 2015. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.</ref>

Duplicate is a 1998 Indian Hindi-language action comedy film directed by Mahesh Bhatt. It stars Shah Rukh Khan in a dual role, with Juhi Chawla and Sonali Bendre playing female lead roles. The film portrays Shah Rukh Khan playing a dual role as Bablu, an aspiring chef, and Manu, a notorious gangster. It marked Khan's first of many collaborations with Dharma Productions. At the 43rd Filmfare Awards, the film received 2 nominations – Best Villain (Khan) and Best Lyricist (Javed Akhtar for "Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam"). The movie has been described as a remake of the 1935 Hollywood classic The Whole Town's Talking.<ref>"Revisiting Duplicate: 20 interesting facts about the Shah Rukh Khan action-comedy". Cinema Express. 10 January 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2025.</ref>

Plot

Bablu, a bubbly and childish young man, is an aspiring chef who always prays to God whenever he gets the chance. Manu, who is a very big gangster and a doppelganger of Bablu, is meanwhile getting chased by the police. He eventually gets caught, but swiftly gets his way out of getting arrested.

On his way to a job interview, Bablu meets Sonia Kapoor, a charming and beautiful hotel catering manager, in a cab. They argue over who should get the cab, but eventually figure out that they are going to the same place; Bablu is going to a job interview with Sonia. Bablu eventually gets hired as the head chef at the hotel after showing off his cooking skills and meets the hotel's owner who has a crush on Sonia, even though Sonia doesn't reciprocate his feelings. Throughout the film, the manager tries his hardest to get Bablu and Sonia broken up, and Bablu fired. As Sonia and Bablu continue to work with each other, Bablu falls in love with her.

One day, when Bablu takes Sonia out for lunch trying to express his feelings, he gets arrested after the police mistake him for Manu. Bablu is able to prove his true identity, but not before Manu hears of his duplicate. Bablu is given an identity card by the police and goes home happily only to be met by Manu and his goons. Manu tries to kill Bablu and take his place, but Manu threatens him that they have to switch places if he wants him and his loved ones to survive, forcing Bablu to unwillingly accept.

Due to his womanizing nature, Manu begins to flirt with Sonia, posing as Bablu, who notices that his behavior has changed drastically, and rejects Manu. Manu becomes extremely frustrated and continues to try and flirt with her. At the same time, Lily, Manu's girlfriend, also tries to flirt with Bablu, posing as Manu, after falling in love with his "new" personality. Bablu rejects her as well since he is madly in love with Sonia. Regardless, Bablu starts teaching all of Manu's gang members, including Lily, about morals.

One day, Manu arrives at Bablu's house, still posing as him, and sees that the light is on. He thinks that the real Bablu is inside and starts calling out for him, but is surprised to see that it is Bablu's mother. She thinks Bablu is drunk since Manu who is posing as Bablu is calling out for Bablu, so she scolds him and tells him to go to sleep. Soon Bablu and Manu switch back since the police have given up on looking for Manu. Manu decides he wants to kill Bablu and calls Bablu's mother and Sonia to an abandoned and rundown location so that Sonia and Bablu can get married, trapping them. Meanwhile, Bablu realizes he has lost a lot of his money, and thinking Manu did it, locates him, falling into Manu's trap as well. At the same exact time, the police have tracked down who they think is Manu, but is really Bablu, and follow him to the rundown location. The police arrive before Bablu, but Sonia intervenes and tells them they have the wrong guy, thinking Manu is Bablu. All of a sudden, the real Bablu arrives at the location and tells the police that the other man is Manu. Causing more confusion, Manu reappears and says he is Bablu. However, Bablu's mom says that Bablu was a big wrestler before he came to Mumbai and she says whoever pulls her to their respective side is the real Bablu. Bablu and Manu begin pulling, and when Bablu sees his mother in pain, he lets go, letting Manu win. Manu believes this proves he is "Bablu", thinking now the real Bablu will get shot and killed, but Bablu's mother reveals that the real Bablu would never let his mother be in pain. Manu reveals that he has a gun, and tries shooting Bablu, but before he can do that, Lily shoots him dead from behind. She reveals that because Bablu taught her how to be a good person, she decided to save the day. Regardless of Lily being in love with Bablu, Bablu and Sonia get married, ending the film on a good note.

Cast

Soundtrack

Duplicate
Soundtrack Album by
Anu Malik
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length46:37
LabelSaregama

The songs featured in the film are composed by Anu Malik with lyrics penned by Javed Akhtar. The songs were rendered by Kavita Krishnamurthy, Alka Yagnik, Abhijeet Bhattacharya, Kumar Sanu, and Udit Narayan. Most popular songs in album "Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam", "Kathai Aankhon Wali", "Ek Shararat Hone Ko Hai", etc.

# Title Singer(s) Length
1. "Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam" Alka Yagnik & Udit Narayan 06:59
2. "Kathai Aankhon Wali" Kumar Sanu 07:13
3. "Ek Shararat Hone Ko Hai" Kavita Krishnamurthy & Kumar Sanu 05:54
4. "Ladna Jhagadna" Kavita Krishnamurthy & Abhijeet Bhattacharya 06:28
5. "Wah Ji Wah" Kumar Sanu 06:04
6. "Tum Nahin Jaana" Alka Yagnik, Shankar Mahadevan & Udit Narayan 06:48

Box office

Duplicate grossed ₹17.39 crore (US$2.4 million) in India and $1 million (₹4.10 crore) in other countries, for a worldwide total of ₹21.49 crore (US$3.0 million), against its ₹9.50 crore (US$1.3 million) budget. It had a worldwide opening week of ₹9.44 crore (US$1.3 million).<ref name="Duplicate Box office"/> It is the 12th-highest-grossing Bollywood film of 1998 worldwide.<ref>"Top Worldwide Grossers 1998". Box Office India. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.</ref>

Overseas

It grossed $375,000 (₹1.53 crore) in its first week and earned a total of $1 million (₹4.10 crore) outside India.<ref name="Duplicate Box office"/> Overseas, it is the 3rd-highest-grossing Bollywood film of 1998 behind Kuch Kuch Hota Hai ($6.3 million (₹21.49 crore)) and Dil Se.. ($2.32 million (₹9.86 crore)), which were also Shah Rukh Khan starrers.<ref>"Top Overseas Gross 1998". Box Office India. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.</ref>

'Duplicate' worldwide collections breakdown
Territory Territory wise Collections break-up
India Nett Gross:<br />₹10.17 crore (US$1.4 million)
Distributor share:<br />₹5.14 crore (US$720,000)
Total Gross:<br />₹17.39 crore (US$2.4 million)
International<br /> <small>(Outside India)</small> $1 million (₹4.10 crore)
Worldwide ₹21.49 crore (US$3.0 million)

Awards and nominations

1999 Filmfare Awards

Category Nominees Result
Best Villain Shah Rukh Khan Nominated
Best Lyricist Javed Akhtar for "Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam"

Bollywood Movie Awards

Year Category Film Result
1999 Most Sensational Actress Juhi Chawla Won

Zee Cine Awards

Year Category Film Result
1999 Zee Cine Award for Best Actor – Female Juhi Chawla Nominated

References

External links

Template:Karan Johar

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