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{{Short description|1993 film directed by Yash Chopra}}
{{Short description|1993 Bollywood film}}
{{other uses}}
{{Other uses}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2014}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name          = Darr: A Violent Love Story
| name          = Darr: A Violent Love Story
| image          = Darr poster.jpg
| image          = Darr poster.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical Release Poster
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director      = [[Yash Chopra]]
| director      = [[Yash Chopra]]
| producer      = Yash Chopra
| writer        = [[Honey Irani]] {{infobox|decat=yes|child=yes|label1= Dialogues by|data1= [[Javed Siddiqui]]}}
| writer        = [[Honey Irani]]<br />[[Javed Siddiqui]]
| screenplay    =  
| screenplay    =  
| story          =  
| story          =  
| based_on       =  
| producer       = Yash Chopra
| starring      = [[Sunny Deol]]<br />[[Juhi Chawla]]<br />[[Shah Rukh Khan]]<br />[[Anupam Kher]]<br />[[Tanvi Azmi]]<br />[[Dalip Tahil]]
| starring      = {{plainlist|
| narrator      =
<!-- Arranged per film's opening credits. -->
| music          = [[Shiv-Hari]]
* [[Sunny Deol]]
* [[Juhi Chawla]]
* [[Shah Rukh Khan]]
}}
| cinematography = [[Manmohan Singh (film director)|Manmohan Singh]]
| cinematography = [[Manmohan Singh (film director)|Manmohan Singh]]
| editing        = '''Keshav Naidu'''
| editing        = Keshav Naidu
| music          = [[Shiv–Hari]]
| studio        = [[Yash Raj Films]]
| studio        = [[Yash Raj Films]]
| distributor    = Yash Raj Films
| distributor    = Yash Raj Films
| released      = {{Film date|1993|12|24|df=yes}}
| released      = {{film date|1993|12|24|df=yes}}
| runtime        = 177 minutes
| runtime        = 177 minutes
| country        = India
| country        = India
| language      = [[Hindi]]
| language      = Hindi
| budget        = {{INR|3 crore}}<ref name="boxofficeindia1">{{cite web | title = Darr - Movie - Box Office India | work = boxofficeindia.com | access-date = 2016-08-11 | url = http://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=3320 }}</ref>
| budget        = {{INR|3.25 crore}}<ref name="boxofficeindia1">{{cite web | title = Darr – Movie – Box Office India | work = boxofficeindia.com | access-date = 2016-08-11 | url = http://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=3320 }}</ref>
| gross          = {{Estimation}} {{INR|21.31 crore}}<ref name="boxofficeindia1"/>
| gross          = {{Estimation}} {{INR|21.3 crore}}<ref name="boxofficeindia1" />
}}
}}


'''''Darr''''' ({{Translation}} ''Fear'') is a 1993 [[Cinema of India|Indian]] [[romantic film|romantic]] [[psychological thriller film]] directed by [[Yash Chopra]] through the studio [[Yash Raj Films]]. The film stars [[Sunny Deol]], [[Juhi Chawla]] and [[Shah Rukh Khan]] (in his first Yash Raj film), with [[Anupam Kher]], [[Tanvi Azmi]] and [[Dalip Tahil]] in supporting roles.
'''''Darr: A Violent Love Story''''' ({{IPA|hi|ɖər}}; {{lit.}} ''Fear'') is a 1993 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[psychological thriller]] film directed and produced by [[Yash Chopra]] under his banner [[Yash Raj Films]]. It stars <!-- Arranged per film's opening credits. -->[[Sunny Deol]], [[Juhi Chawla]] and [[Shah Rukh Khan]] in the lead roles, along with [[Anupam Kher]], [[Tanvi Azmi]], [[Annu Kapoor]], and [[Dalip Tahil]] in supporting roles.
 
''Darr'' released on 24 December 1993, coinciding with the [[Christmas]] weekend, and emerged as a major commercial success. It was declared a blockbuster at the box-office and went on to become the [[List of Hindi films of 1993|third highest-grossing Hindi film of the year]] and the highest-grossing Indian film of the year. It received widespread critical acclaim upon release, with praise towards the direction, story, screenplay, soundtrack, cinematography, costumes and the performances of the cast.
 
''Darr'' proved to be a milestone for both Chawla and Khan's careers, catapulting them to stardom. The film emerged as Chawla's third consecutive commercial success that year, following ''[[Lootere]]'' and ''[[Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke]]'', thus solidifying her career as a leading lady in the 1990s, while Khan's portrayal of an obsessive lover was widely appreciated by critics and audiences alike. The film marked the first of Khan's collaborations with Chopra and the Yash Raj Films banner.


''Darr'' has won several accolades, including the [[National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment]]. The film received 10 nominations at the [[39th Filmfare Awards]], including [[Filmfare Award for Best Film|Best Film]], [[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]] for Chopra, [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] for Deol, [[Filmfare Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] for Chawla, and [[Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role|Best Villain]] for Khan, and won 2 awards, including [[Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role|Best Comedian]] for Kher. For Chawla, this was her fourth consecutive box office hit of the year solidifying her career as a leading lady in the 1990s. Khan's portrayal of obsessive lover was applauded by critics.
The film received two nominations at the [[39th Filmfare Awards]] for [[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]] (Chopra) and [[Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role|Best Villain]] (Khan), and won two awards: [[Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role|Best Comedian]] (Kher) and [[Filmfare Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]] (Manmohan Singh). At the [[41st National Film Awards]], the film won the award for [[National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment|Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment]].


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
The film begins with Kiran, a beautiful college student, returning home to her brother Vijay and his wife Poonam for Holi celebrations. She is being obsessively stalked along the way by Rahul, her classmate who has a crush on her. Kiran's boyfriend Sunil is a navy
Kiran Awasthi, a beautiful college student, visits her brother Vijay and his wife Poonam upon her return home. Rahul Mehra, her classmate who is in love with her, is relentlessly following her. An [[MARCOS|SF officer]] in the [[Indian Navy]], [[Lieutenant (navy)|Lieutenant]] Sunil Malhotra is Kiran's boyfriend. His [[Commanding officer|Commanding Officer]] [[Indian Navy ranks and insignia#Commissioned officers|Captain]] Avinash Mehra, is Rahul's father.
officer Sunil's Captain Mehra is also the father of Rahul. Rahul tries to be friendly with Sunil in order to be closer to Kiran.
 
Rahul makes an effort to be friendly with Sunil in order to be near Kiran. Rahul keeps calling her when she gets home and asks her to avoid Sunil, but despite her fear, she rejects Rahul's authority over her. She and her family are frightened when he visits her on both her birthday and [[Holi]]. Kiran and Sunil become engaged thanks to Vijay and Poonam, who think the stalker would never bother Kiran again.


When Kiran reaches home, she is continually stalked by Rahul on the phone. This causes much stress to herself and her family. He crashes Kiran's family's Holi celebration as a member of the band. Sunil asks Kiran to offer the band some money for their performance, where Rahul expresses  his love to Kiran, which disturbs her greatly and a foot chase ensues between Sunil and Rahul, but Rahul soon disappears into the crowd.
Upon learning this, a furious Rahul attempts to murder Sunil but is unsuccessful. When Sunil is chasing Rahul, he doesn't know that the stalker is Rahul, he has an accident and is taken to the hospital. Kiran chooses to flee the city so that the stalker won't harm her beloved any longer but is apprehended by Sunil, who marries her that very night. Rahul is attacked by this and vows to take Kiran for himself. He kills the police officers sent to protect the couple and vandalizes their new home with graffiti reading "{{IAST|Śādī Mubārāka Kiraṇa}}" (Congrats on your marriage, Kiran) and "''{{IAST|Tuma mērī hō Kiraṇa}}''" (You are mine, Kiran).


When Rahul receives the news of Kiran and Sunil's engagement, he tries to shoot and kill Sunil when the couple is out shopping for a wedding ring. He misses his aim and Sunil begins to chase him, from which Rahul escapes while Sunil meets with an accident.
This horrifies Kiran, who worries that she might lose her mind. Sunil decides to take Kiran on a surprise honeymoon to [[Switzerland]] while booking extra tickets to [[Goa]], so that the stalker goes away by misunderstanding that the couple is in Goa. Rahul falls for the trick and looks everywhere for Kiran in Goa in vain, but couldn't find her. Instead, he meets Vikram "Vicky" Oberoi, a friend from college, who is ill. Rahul then makes an effort to get to know Kiran's brother and sister-in-law by paying them daily visits to learn about Kiran's location.


Sunil after his recovery gets married to Kiran but Rahul still refuses to give up on Kiran. He kills the two cops assigned for their protection and defaces their new home with graffiti that declares his love and which causes them more distress. To get away from the stalker, Sunil takes Kiran on a surprise honeymoon to Switzerland while booking extra tickets to
Vicky calls Rahul and invites him to meet him. When he does, he discovers him on his deathbed, pleading with Rahul to kill him since he can no longer bear the anguish. After a brief pause, he kills his companion while creating the illusion that Vicky was the stalker. Kiran's family believes the stalker killed himself after failing to find Kiran and relax. Rahul is informed of her true whereabouts, and he shows up at her hotel.
Goa so that the stalker will go away. Rahul then kills his best friend Vikram and makes it look like that Vikram was the one who was her stalker. Rahul turns up at their hotel in the Alps after knowing their location from Poonam and Vijay. Kiran recognizes him from college and the couple welcomes him to be part of their festivities.


That very evening, Sunil finds out that Rahul was the one who has been Kiran's stalker all along. He sends Kiran away on a boat confronts Rahul and beats him up. Rahul stabs Sunil with a knife after feigning surrender and leaves him for dead. He then goes to the boat and starts forcing Kiran in marrying him. But Sunil comes back and beats him. He gets shocked when he hears Kiran supporting Sunil before being killed.
He is acknowledged by Kiran and Sunil, who invite him to join their celebrations. However, Sunil learns that Rahul was Kiran's stalker when Vijay calls him and says that Rahul had been visiting him and Poonam but not mentioned he was going to Switzerland. Sunil sends Kiran to wait for him at a boat, before luring Rahul to the forest and attacking him. Rahul begs for mercy, stabs Sunil and then abandons him to perish. Later, as Rahul arrives at the boat, he tries to marry Kiran without her will and informs her that Sunil has died. Despite her pleading and begging, he hands her his mother's old saree and orders her to wear it.


Kiran and Sunil then return to India and reunite with their family.
Kiran locks herself in a room in the boat. When the boat's door is smashed and Kiran is yanked back out by Rahul and pretends to agree to marry Rahul, then it is discovered that Sunil didn't actually die and he returns to save Kiran bloodies. Enraged, Sunil brutally fights Rahul and ends up shooting him thrice. Dying, Rahul expresses shame for his actions and begs Kiran to not hate him. Kiran and Sunil return to [[India]] and visit their relatives once again.


==Cast==
== Cast ==
{{colbegin}}
<!-- Arranged per film's opening credits. -->
*[[Sunny Deol]] as Sunil Malhotra, Kiran's husband
*[[Sunny Deol]] as [[Lieutenant]] Sunil Malhotra, Kiran’s husband
*[[Juhi Chawla]] as Kiran Awasthi
*[[Juhi Chawla]] as Kiran Malhotra, Sunil’s wife
* [[Shah Rukh Khan]] as Rahul Mehra, Capt. Avinash's son
*[[Shahrukh Khan]] as Rahul Mehra, Kiran's obsessive unrequited lover and stalker
*[[Anupam Kher]] as Vijay Awasthi, Kiran's elder brother
*[[Anupam Kher]] as Vijay Awasthi, Kiran's brother
*[[Tanvi Azmi]] as Poonam Awasthi, Kiran's Sister in-law and Vijay's wife
*[[Tanvi Azmi]] as Poonam Awasthi, Vijay’s wife; Kiran’s sister-in-law
*[[Dalip Tahil]] as Captain Avinash Mehra, Rahul's father and Sunil's boss
*[[Dalip Tahil]] as [[Captain]] Avinash Mehra, Rahul's father; Sunil's superior in the Indian Navy
*[[Annu Kapoor]] as Vikram 'Vicky' Oberoi, Rahul's friend
*[[Annu Kapoor]] as Vikram "Vicky" Oberoi, Rahul's friend
*[[Vikas Anand]] as Dr. Ajay Gupta
*Piloo J. Wadia as the hotel manager
{{colend}}
*[[Vikas Anand]] as the psychiatrist


== Production ==
== Production ==
<ref name=rediff>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2000/jan/31preet.htm |title=Rediff On The NeT, Movies: The Preethse review |publisher=Rediff|date=31 January 2000 |access-date=5 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Chintamani |first1=Gautam |title=After 'Darr', Shah Rukh Khan channels Robert De Niro again in 'Fan'. Will it help?- Entertainment News, Firstpost |url=https://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/after-darr-shah-rukh-khan-channels-robert-de-niro-again-in-fan-will-it-help-2671356.html |website=Firstpost |language=en |date=12 March 2016}}</ref> [[Sanjay Dutt]] was the original choice of the role of antagonist Rahul, but Chopra was unable to finalize him because of his jail sentence due to illegal possession of arms. [[Sudesh Berry]] was then considered for the role, but was rejected after a screen test. [[Ajay Devgan]] was offered the role of Rahul, but he could not accept due to other commitments.


[[Aamir Khan]], who had worked with Chopra on ''[[Parampara (1993 film)|Parampara]],'' was then signed as Rahul. However, problems arose when Khan asked Chopra for a joint narration of the script with him and [[Sunny Deol]]. Khan's reasoning for this was that since he and Deol were two leading actors, they could hear their roles and if they were both satisfied, no ego hassles would happen henceforth. However, Chopra refused to heed to such a request. Khan was also unhappy with the way Deol's character beat Rahul up in the film's climax. Khan was then removed from the project. Ironically, after the release, Deol was miffed as he felt that the other male lead role was stronger than his.  
=== Development ===
[[Aditya Chopra]] wanted to make a film similar to the Hollywood film ''[[Cape Fear (1991 film)|Cape Fear]]'' (1991) starring [[Robert De Niro]]. The film was to be directed by Naresh Malhotra, an assistant of [[Yash Chopra]], with [[Raveena Tandon]], [[Dino Martelli|Deepak Malhotra]], and Saahil Chaddha in the lead roles. However, Yash decided to take over the project, and eventually changed the casting.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 July 2023 |title=Saahil Chadha recalls being replaced from Darr after Yash Chopra took over the film, says Aditya Chopra offered him Shah Rukh Khan's part |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/saahil-chadha-replaced-darr-after-yash-chopra-aditya-chopra-offered-him-shah-rukh-khan-part-8849950/ |website=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> The film's title ''Darr'' was suggested to Chopra by his other son [[Uday Chopra]] (who worked as an assistant director in the film) and [[Hrithik Roshan]].<ref name="indiatv">{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/bollywood-darr-shah-rukh-khan-lesser-known-facts-418621|title=24 years of Darr: We bet you didn't know these 7 unknown facts about Shah Rukh Khan's film|date=24 December 2017|agency=[[India TV]]|access-date=10 November 2018|archive-date=22 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922153031/https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/bollywood-darr-shah-rukh-khan-lesser-known-facts-418621|url-status=dead}}</ref>


After Aamir left the film, [[Shah Rukh Khan]] was cast as Rahul. ''Darr'' helped bring Shahrukh to stardom and he went on to star in all of Chopra's future directorial ventures. [[Rishi Kapoor]], [[Mithun Chakraborty]] and [[Jackie Shroff]] were all offered the role of Sunil before [[Sunny Deol]].
=== Casting ===
[[Sridevi]], who had previously collaborated with Chopra in ''[[Chandni (1989 film)|Chandni]]'' (1989) and ''[[Lamhe]]'' (1991), was first offered the role of Kiran. The role was planned much like her previous roles in ''Chandni'' and ''Lamhe''. However, she wanted Kiran to be the obsessed lover instead of the victim; Chopra refused this change of plot, causing Sridevi to opt out.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-08-29 |title='Baahubali' to 'Baghban': Films rejected by Sridevi |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/photo-features/baahubali-to-baghban-films-rejected-by-sridevi/photostory/63109441.cms |access-date=2026-03-05 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> [[Madhuri Dixit]] was offered the role next, but she refused due to scheduling conflicts. [[Aishwarya Rai Bachchan|Aishwarya Rai]] was [[Screen test|screen tested]] for the role, but ultimately could do not the film as she competing for the [[Miss World Pageant]] at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-25 |title=‘Yash Chopra wanted to cast Aishwarya Rai for Darr, didn’t work out because of Miss World pageant,’ recalls Neeta Lulla |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/yash-chopra-wanted-aishwarya-rai-for-darr-didnt-work-out-8859672/ |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> [[Divya Bharti]] was then signed, however, she was replaced with [[Juhi Chawla]] at [[Aamir Khan]]'s request.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 April 2020 |title=Did You Know: Aamir Khan got Divya Bharti replaced with Juhi Chawla in Darr due to THIS reason? |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/nostalgia/did-you-know-aamir-khan-got-divya-bharti-replaced-juhi-chawla-darr-due-reason-523740 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412115556/https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/nostalgia/did-you-know-aamir-khan-got-divya-bharti-replaced-juhi-chawla-darr-due-reason-523740 |archive-date=12 April 2020|website=[[Pinkvilla]]}}</ref>


[[Sridevi]], who had previously worked with Chopra in ''[[Chandni (film)|Chandni]]'' (1989) and ''[[Lamhe]]'' (1991), was the original choice for the role of Kiran. The role was crafted and planned much like her previous roles in ''Chandni'' and ''Lamhe''. Chopra too admitted dressing Kiran like Chandni and Pallavi/Pooja, which can be observed in the film as well. However, Sridevi refused to accept the role as she wanted Kiran's character to be the obsessed lover instead of the victim, but Chopra refused this change of plot. After Sridevi, the role was offered to [[Divya Bharti]] mainly on the consultation of [[Sunny Deol]]. But owing to some previous misunderstandings, Aamir got Divya replaced by Juhi Chawla.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/nostalgia/did-you-know-aamir-khan-got-divya-bharti-replaced-juhi-chawla-darr-due-reason-523740|title=Did You Know: Aamir Khan got Divya Bharti replaced with Juhi Chawla in Darr due to THIS reason?|website=PINKVILLA|language=en|access-date=2020-04-13}}</ref>
[[Sanjay Dutt]] was the original choice for the antagonist Rahul Mehra, however was unable to sign the film due to his conviction of illegal possession of arms. [[Sudesh Berry]] was considered for the role, but was rejected after a screen test.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Not Shah Rukh Khan, this actor was first choice of Yash Chopra for Darr, rejected the role due to..., name is... |url=https://www.india.com/entertainment/not-shah-rukh-khan-this-border-actor-was-first-choice-of-yash-chopra-for-darr-rejected-the-role-due-to-this-reason-name-is-sudesh-berry-7967660/ |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=[[India.com]] |language=en}}</ref> The role was then offered to [[Ajay Devgn]], who declined as he was uncomfortable playing a negative character at that stage of his career.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-05-01 |title=Movies that Ajay Devgn rejected |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/movies-that-ajay-devgn-rejected/photostory/120533031.cms?picid=120533100 |access-date=2026-03-05 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> [[Aamir Khan]], who had worked with Chopra in ''[[Parampara (1993 film)|Parampara]]'' the same year, was signed. However, he was removed from the project after he asked for a joint narration with [[Sunny Deol]]. Khan's reasoning for this was that since he and Deol were two leading actors, they could hear their roles and if they were both satisfied, no ego hassles would happen henceforth. Furthermore, Khan was also unhappy with the way Deol's character beat Rahul up in the climax.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=12 June 2025 |title=Aamir Khan BREAKS SILENCE on losing Darr to Shah Rukh Khan: “I said yes, but I was fired from the film because…” : |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/aamir-khan-breaks-silence-losing-darr-shah-rukh-khan-said-yes-fired-film/ |access-date=5 March 2026 |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |language=en}}</ref> Following Aamir's exit, [[Shah Rukh Khan]] was cast as Rahul after Chopra's son Aditya had watched his debut performance in ''[[Deewana (1992 film)|Deewana]]'' and suggested his name. ''Darr'' ended up capulating Khan to stardom and he went to star in all of Yash's future directorial ventures.


[[Nitish Bharadwaj]] was approached for Sunil's role after Rishi Kapoor and Jackie Shroff rejected the role. This is because of his popularity as [[Krishna|Lord Krishna]]'s role in B.R. Chopra's ''Mahabharat''. But Nitish rejected the role claiming that the role is not as challenging as it would be.
[[Rishi Kapoor]], [[Mithun Chakraborty]], and [[Jackie Shroff]] were all offered the role of Sunil, however all three of them refused.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-05-12 |title=Did you know Rishi Kapoor had turned down ‘Darr’ and suggested Shah Rukh Khan’s name? |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/did-you-know-rishi-kapoor-had-turned-down-darr-and-suggested-shah-rukh-khans-name/articleshow/75692647.cms |access-date=2026-03-05 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> [[Nitish Bharadwaj]] was also approached for the role of Sunil, due to his popularity as [[Krishna|Lord Krishna]] in [[B. R. Chopra]]'s [[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|''Mahabharat'']], but declined as he felt the role was not challenging enough. [[Sunny Deol]] had been given the choice of playing Sunil or the antagonist Rahul. Deol chose to play Sunil, believing that a negative role would harm his career.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2026-02-03 |title=Honey Irani revisits Shah Rukh Khan–Sunny Deol fallout; reveals Sunny was first offered SRK’s iconic role in Darr but he declined |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/honey-irani-revisits-shah-rukh-khansunny-deol-fallout-reveals-sunny-was-first-offered-srks-iconic-role-in-darr-but-he-declined/articleshow/127888211.cms |access-date=2026-03-05 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>


The film's title ''Darr'' was suggested to Yash Chopra by [[Hrithik Roshan]] and Chopra's younger son [[Uday Chopra]].<ref name="indiatv">{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/bollywood-darr-shah-rukh-khan-lesser-known-facts-418621|title=24 years of Darr: We bet you didn't know these 7 unknown facts about Shah Rukh Khan's film|date=24 December 2017|agency=[[India TV]]}}</ref>
== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack was composed by the duo [[Shiv–Hari]], with the lyrics written by [[Anand Bakshi]].


== Soundtrack ==
It was the second best-selling [[Bollywood soundtrack]] album of the year, being surpassed only by ''[[Baazigar]]'' (which also starred Shah Rukh Khan).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=284&catName=MTk5MC0xOTk5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215081552/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=284&catName=MTk5MC0xOTk5&PHPSESSID=108b9056cd4ca14236f9c6119d34dcce |archive-date=15 February 2008 |title=Music Hits 1990–1999 (Figures in Units) |publisher=Box Office India |date=22 January 2009 |access-date=9 May 2012}}</ref> The soundtrack album sold about 4.5{{nbsp}}million units in India,<ref name="Outlook">{{cite magazine|title=Making Music Like Ne'er Before|magazine=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]|date=13 March 1996|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/making-music-like-neer-before/200987|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210071742/http://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/making-music-like-neer-before/200987|archive-date=2017-12-10|access-date=25 March 2022}}</ref> earning at least {{INRConvert|10.8|c|year=1993}}.<ref>{{cite journal|title=India Today|journal=[[India Today]]|date=1994|volume=19|page=iv|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LHEZAQAAMAAJ|language=en|quote=DARR <br /> Music Director: Shiv-Harl <br /> Lyricist: Anand Bakshi <br /> Sales: 40 lakh tapes <br /> Value: Rs 10.8 crore}}</ref> Rakesh Budhu of ''Planet Bollywood'' in his review gave the album 8.5 stars out of 10.<ref name="pb" />
The soundtrack for ''Darr'' was composed by the duo [[Shiv-Hari]] (Shiv Kumar Sharma and Hariprasad Chaurasia). It is written by Anand Bakshi  It was the second best-selling [[Bollywood soundtrack]] album of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=284&catName=MTk5MC0xOTk5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215081552/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=284&catName=MTk5MC0xOTk5&PHPSESSID=108b9056cd4ca14236f9c6119d34dcce |archive-date=15 February 2008 |title=Music Hits 1990–1999 (Figures in Units) |publisher=Box Office India |date=22 January 2009 |access-date=9 May 2012}}</ref> The soundtrack album sold about 4.5{{nbsp}}million units in India,<ref name="Outlook">{{cite journal|title=Making Music Like Ne'er Before|journal=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]|date=13 March 1996|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/making-music-like-neer-before/200987}}</ref> earning at least {{INRConvert|10.8|c|year=1993}}.<ref>{{cite journal|title=India Today|journal=[[India Today]]|date=1994|volume=19|page=iv|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LHEZAQAAMAAJ|language=en|quote=DARR <br> Music Director: Shiv-Harl <br> Lyricist: Anand Bakshi <br> Sales: 40 lakh tapes <br> Value: Rs 10.8 crore}}</ref> Rakesh Budhu of ''Planet Bollywood'' in his review gave the album 8.5 stars out of 10.<ref name="pb"/>
 
''Darr'''s soundtrack marked one of the earliest instances of [[Udit Narayan]] supplying his voice for Shah Rukh Khan. Narayan's voice went on to be featured in the soundtracks of every single one of Khan's collaborations with Yash Raj Films until ''[[Veer-Zaara]]'' (2004).


{{Infobox album
{{Infobox album
| name       = Darr
| name         = Darr
| type       = soundtrack
| type         = soundtrack
| artist     = [[Shiv-Hari]]
| artist       = [[Shiv-Hari]]
| cover     =
| cover       =  
| alt       =
| alt         =  
| released   = 1993
| released     = 1993
| recorded   =
| recorded     =  
| venue     =
| venue       =  
| studio     =
| studio       =  
| genre     = [[Film soundtrack]]
| genre       = [[Film soundtrack]]
| length     = 42:12
| length       = 42:12
| label     = [[HMV Records]]
| label       = [[Saregama]]
| producer   =
| producer     = [[Shiv-Hari]]
| prev_title = [[Sahibaan]]
| prev_title   = [[Sahibaan]]
| prev_year = 1993
| prev_year   = 1993
| next_title =
| next_title   =  
| next_year =
| next_year   =  
}}
}}
{{Album ratings
 
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = Planet Bollywood
| rev1 = Planet Bollywood
| rev1Score = {{Rating|7.5|10}}<ref name="pb">{{cite web|title=Darr Music Review|url=http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=042106034653|access-date=30 March 2018}}</ref>
| rev1Score = {{Rating|8.5|10}}<ref name="pb">{{cite web|title=Darr Music Review|url=http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=042106034653|access-date=30 March 2018}}</ref>
}}
}}
{{Track listing
{{Track listing
Line 110: Line 121:
| title2 = Darwaaza Band Karlo
| title2 = Darwaaza Band Karlo
| length2 = 6:05
| length2 = 6:05
| extra2 = [[Lata Mangeshkar]], [[Abhijeet Bhattacharya|Abhijeet]]
| extra2 = [[Lata Mangeshkar]] & [[Abhijeet Bhattacharya|Abhijeet]]
| title3 = Tu Mere Saamne
| title3 = Tu Mere Saamne
| length3 = 6:07
| length3 = 6:07
| extra3 = Lata Mangeshkar, Udit Narayan
| extra3 = Lata Mangeshkar & Udit Narayan
| title4 = Ishq Da Bura Rog
| title4 = Ishq Da Bura Rog (not in the film)
| length4 = 5:43
| length4 = 5:43
| extra4 = Lata Mangeshkar, [[Vinod Rathod]]
| extra4 = Lata Mangeshkar & [[Vinod Rathod]]
| title5 = Solah Button
| title5 = Solah Button
| length5 = 7:35
| length5 = 7:35
| extra5 = Lata Mangeshkar, [[Kavita Krishnamurthy]], [[Pamela Chopra]]
| extra5 = Lata Mangeshkar, [[Kavita Krishnamurthy]] & [[Pamela Chopra]]
| title6 = Likha Hai Ye In Hawaaon Pe
| title6 = Likha Hai Ye In Hawaaon Pe
| length6 = 5:12
| length6 = 5:12
| extra6 = Lata Mangeshkar, [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]]
| extra6 = Lata Mangeshkar & [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]]
| title7 = Ang Se Ang Lagana
| title7 = Ang Se Ang Lagana
| length7 = 6:49
| length7 = 6:49
| extra7 = [[Alka Yagnik]], Vinod Rathod, [[Sudesh Bhosale]], Devki Pandit
| extra7 = [[Vinod Rathod]], [[Sudesh Bhosle]], [[Alka Yagnik]] & [[Devaki Pandit]]
| title8 = Obsession (Dance Music)
| length8 = 2:18
| extra8 = Instrumental
}}
}}


== Box office ==
== Box office ==
At the domestic Indian box office, ''Darr'' became the third highest-grossing film of 1993, after ''[[Aankhen (1993 film)|Aankhen]]'' and ''[[Khalnayak]]'', and was declared a blockbuster.<ref name="boxofficeindia2">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=199&catName= |title=Box Office 1993 |publisher=Boxofficeindia.com |access-date=14 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814154929/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=199&catName= |archive-date=14 August 2013 }}</ref> In India, it was released on 190 screens, with 19.96{{nbsp}}million tickets sold. Its domestic gross was {{INR|link=yes}}15.73{{nbsp}}[[crore]], including a [[net income]] of {{INR}}10.74{{nbsp}}crore, which is equivalent to {{INRConvert|184.4|c}} when adjusted for inflation.<ref name="boxofficeindia1"/> Its domestic gross is equivalent to {{INRConvert|339|c}} when adjusted for inflation.{{efn|name=Inflation|Inflation rate of 17.17 times: {{INR}}10.74{{nbsp}}crore domestic net equivalent to {{INRConvert|184.4|c}}.<ref name="boxofficeindia1"/>}}
At the domestic Indian box office, ''Darr'' became the third highest-grossing film of 1993, after ''[[Aankhen (1993 film)|Aankhen]]'' and ''[[Khalnayak]]'', and was declared a blockbuster.<ref name="boxofficeindia2">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=199&catName= |title=Box Office 1993 |publisher=Boxofficeindia.com |access-date=14 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814154929/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=199&catName= |archive-date=14 August 2013 }}</ref> In India, it was released on 190 screens, with 19.96{{nbsp}}million tickets sold. Its domestic gross was {{INR|link=yes}}15.73{{nbsp}}[[crore]], including a [[net income]] of {{INR}}10.74{{nbsp}}crore, which is equivalent to {{INRConvert|184.4|c|year=2017|mode=historical}} when adjusted for inflation {{as of|2017|lc=y}}.<ref name="boxofficeindia1" /> Its domestic gross is equivalent to {{INRConvert|339|c|year=2017|mode=historical}} when adjusted for inflation {{as of|2017|lc=y}}.{{efn|name=Inflation|Inflation rate of 17.17 times: {{INR}}10.74{{nbsp}}crore domestic net equivalent to {{INRConvert|184.4|c|year=2017|mode=historical}}.<ref name="boxofficeindia1" />}}
 
At the overseas box office, ''Darr'' was the year's highest-grossing Indian film of 1993, grossing {{INR}}5.58{{nbsp}}crore.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top Overseas Grossers 1993|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/overseas-total-gross.php?year=1993|website=[[Box Office India]]|access-date=3 December 2017}}</ref> Worldwide, it grossed {{INR}}21.31{{nbsp}}crore,<ref name="boxofficeindia1"/> equivalent to {{INRConvert|366|c}} when adjusted for inflation.{{efn|name=Inflation}}


== Remakes ==
At the overseas box office, ''Darr'' was the year's highest-grossing Indian film of 1993, grossing $500,000 ({{INR}}5.58{{nbsp}}crore).<ref>{{cite web|title=Top Overseas Grossers 1993|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/overseas-total-gross.php?year=1993|website=[[Box Office India]]|access-date=3 December 2017}}</ref> Worldwide, it grossed {{INRConvert|21.31|c|year=1993|mode=historical}},<ref name="boxofficeindia1" /> equivalent to {{INRConvert|366|c|year=2017|mode=historical}} when adjusted for inflation {{as of|2017|lc=y}}.{{efn|name=Inflation}}
''Darr'' was remade in Kannada as ''[[Preethse]]'', starring [[Upendra (actor)|Upendra]] as Chandu (Rahul) [[Shiva Rajkumar]] as Surya (Sunil) and Bollywood actress [[Sonali Bendre]] playing Kiran.<ref>[http://m.rediff.com/movies/1999/dec/08spice.htm ''He Ram!'' What's going on?] rediff.com</ref> The film also partially inspired the 2005 Tamil ''[[Chinna (2005 film)|Chinna]]'', starring [[Arjun Sarja]] and [[Sneha (actress)|Sneha]] in lead roles. The Telugu film ''Tapassu'' also borrowed some scenes from ''Darr''.


The teaser trailer for an intended five-part web series ''Darr 2.0'' was released on [[YouTube]] on August 30, 2016. It was set to be a retelling of the film in a contemporary setting, portraying cyber-stalking and digital crimes. The web series was set to be produced by Ashish Chopra under the banner of [[Y-Films]] and directed by Vikash Chandra. Screenplay and dialogues are by Nikhil Taneja and Shubham Yogi.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dixit|first1=Mini|title=Shah Rukh's Darr is getting a creepy, stalker-ish, web series makeover|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/darr-reboot-yashraj-shah-rukh-khan-juhi-chawla-internet-stalker-lifest/1/753009.html|website=India Today|access-date=12 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Ramachandran|first1=Naman|author-link1=Naman Ramachandran|title=Early Shah Rukh Khan Film 'Darr' Revived as Indian Web Series|url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/asia/shah-rukh-khan-film-darr-indian-web-series-1201847582/|access-date=21 August 2017|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=30 August 2016}}</ref> The series was later postponed.
== Awards and nominations ==
 
== Awards ==
{{Anchor|Awards|Accolades}}
{{Anchor|Awards|Accolades}}
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 144: Line 153:
! Award !! Category !! Nominee !! Result !! References
! Award !! Category !! Nominee !! Result !! References
|-
|-
|[[41st National Film Awards|National Film Awards 1993]] || [[National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment]] || [[Yash Chopra]] || {{won}} || <ref>{{cite book|last1=Gopalakrishnan|first1=K.|last2=Aggarwal|first2=Semugha|title=41st National Film Festival|publisher=Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India|pages=18–19|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/41st_nff_1994.pdf}}</ref>
|[[41st National Film Awards]] || [[National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment|Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment]] || [[Yash Chopra]] || {{won}} || <ref>{{cite book|last1=Gopalakrishnan|first1=K.|last2=Aggarwal|first2=Semugha|title=41st National Film Festival|publisher=Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India|pages=18–19|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/41st_nff_1994.pdf}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=10|[[39th Filmfare Awards]] || [[Filmfare Best Comedian Award|Best Comedian]] || [[Anupam Kher]] || {{won}} ||rowspan=10|<ref>{{cite web|website=IMDb|title=Filmfare Awards (1994)|url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000245/1994/|access-date=12 September 2016}}</ref>
|-
| [[Filmfare Best Cinematographer Award|Best Cinematographer]] || [[Manmohan Singh (film director)|Manmohan Singh]] || {{won}}
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Film|Best Film]] || [[Yash Chopra]] || {{nom}}
|-
|-
| [[Filmfare Best Director Award|Best Director]] || [[Yash Chopra]] || {{nom}}
| rowspan="9" |[[39th Filmfare Awards]] || [[Filmfare Best Comedian Award|Best Comedian]] || [[Anupam Kher]] || {{won}} || rowspan="11" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Filmfare Awards Winners 1994: Complete list of winners of Filmfare Awards 1994 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-awards/filmfare-awards-winners/bollywood/1994/101 |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[Filmfare Best Actress Award|Best Actress]] || [[Juhi Chawla]] || {{nom}}
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]|| [[Manmohan Singh (film director)|Manmohan Singh]] || {{won}}
|-
|-
| [[Filmfare Best Actor Award|Best Actor]] || [[Sunny Deol]] || {{nom}}
| [[Filmfare Best Director Award|Best Director]] || Yash Chopra || {{Nom}}
|-
|-
| [[Filmfare Best Villain Award|Best Villain]] || [[Shah Rukh Khan|Shahrukh Khan]] || {{nom}}
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role|Best Villain]] || [[Shah Rukh Khan]] || {{Nom}}
|-
|-
| [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award|Best Music Director]]  || [[Shiv-Hari]] || {{nom}}
| [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award|Best Music Director]]  || [[Shiv-Hari]] || {{Nom}}
|-
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist|Best Lyrics]]  || [[Anand Bakshi]] for "Jaadu Teri Nazar" || {{nom}}
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist|Best Lyricist]]  || [[Anand Bakshi]] for "Jaadu Teri Nazar" || {{Nom}}
|-
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer|Best Male Playback Singer]]  || [[Udit Narayan]] for "Jaadu Teri Nazar" || {{nom}}
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer|Best Male Playback Singer]]  || [[Udit Narayan]] for "Jaadu Teri Nazar" || {{Nom}}
|}
|}
== Remakes ==
It was remade in Kannada as ''[[Preethse]]'', starring [[Upendra (actor)|Upendra]] as Chandu (Rahul), [[Shiva Rajkumar]] as Surya (Sunil) and [[Sonali Bendre]] playing Kiran.<ref>{{Cite web
| author= Rajitha
| date = 8 December 1999
| title= Sonali takes over from Juhi
|url=https://m.rediff.com/movies/1999/dec/08spice.htm|access-date=2023-01-04|website=m.rediff.com}}</ref> The film also partially inspired the 2005 Tamil film ''[[Chinna (2005 film)|Chinna]]''. The Telugu film ''Tapassu'' also borrowed some scenes from ''Darr''.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}
The teaser trailer for an intended five-part web series ''Darr 2.0'' was released on [[YouTube]] on August 30, 2016. It was set to be a retelling of the film in a contemporary setting, portraying cyber-stalking and digital crimes. The web series was set to be produced by Ashish Chopra under the banner of [[Y-Films]] and directed by Vikash Chandra. Screenplay and dialogues are by Nikhil Taneja and Shubham Yogi.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dixit|first1=Mini|title=Shah Rukh's Darr is getting a creepy, stalker-ish, web series makeover|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/what-s-hot/story/darr-reboot-yashraj-shah-rukh-khan-juhi-chawla-internet-stalker-lifest-338220-2016-08-31|access-date=12 September 2016|website=India Today|date=31 August 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ramachandran |first1=Nama |author-link1=Naman Ramachandran |date=30 August 2016 |title=Early Shah Rukh Khan Film 'Darr' Revived as Indian Web Series |url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/asia/shah-rukh-khan-film-darr-indian-web-series-1201847582/ |access-date=21 August 2017 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> The series was shelved.
==Legacy==
Audience and the critics appreciated Shah Rukh Khan's dialogue: "I love you, K-k-k- Kiran" which still remains iconic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mishra |first=Himanshu |date=2023-01-02 |title=Favourite Villains: When Shah Rukh Khan Made Us Weep For The Anti-Hero In Darr |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/readers-articles/darr-amazon-prime-video-favourite-villains-when-shah-rukh-khan-made-us-weep-for-the-anti-hero-in-darr-juhi-chawla-sunny-deol |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=www.filmcompanion.in |language=en}}</ref>


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
{{Notelist}}


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


== Further reading ==
== Further reading ==
*{{cite book |last=Chowdhury |first=Purna |editor1-last=Mehta |editor1-first=Rini Bhattacharya |editor2-last=Pandharipande |editor2-first=Rajeshwari V. |title=Bollywood and Globalization: Indian Popular Cinema, Nation, and Diaspora |year=2010 |publisher=Anthem Press |isbn=978-1843318330 |pages=56–60 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p3OqmW_tQYIC&pg=PA56 |chapter=Bollywood Babes: Body and Female Desire in the Bombay Films Since the Nineties and ''Darr'', ''Mohra'' and ''Aitraaz'': A Tropic Discourse}}
*{{cite book |last=Chowdhury |first=Purna |editor1-last=Mehta |editor1-first=Rini Bhattacharya |editor2-last=Pandharipande |editor2-first=Rajeshwari V. |title=Bollywood and Globalization: Indian Popular Cinema, Nation, and Diaspora |year=2010 |publisher=Anthem Press |isbn=978-1-84331-833-0 |pages=56–60 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p3OqmW_tQYIC&pg=PA56 |chapter=Bollywood Babes: Body and Female Desire in the Bombay Films Since the Nineties and ''Darr'', ''Mohra'' and ''Aitraaz'': A Tropic Discourse}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
Line 183: Line 198:


[[Category:1993 films]]
[[Category:1993 films]]
[[Category:1990s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:1993 Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:1990s psychological thriller films]]
[[Category:Hindustani-language films]]<!--Colloquial language used in the film-->
[[Category:1993 psychological thriller films]]
[[Category:1990s chase films]]
[[Category:1990s chase films]]
[[Category:1990s romantic thriller films]]
[[Category:1990s romantic thriller films]]
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[[Category:Films directed by Yash Chopra]]
[[Category:Films directed by Yash Chopra]]
[[Category:Hindi films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Hindi films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian romantic thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian romantic thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian psychological thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian psychological thriller films]]
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[[Category:Yash Raj Films films]]
[[Category:Yash Raj Films films]]
[[Category:Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Foreign films shot in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Films shot in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Films about psychopaths]]
[[Category:Films about fear]]
[[Category:Films about fear]]
[[Category:Films about stalking]]
[[Category:Films about stalking]]
[[Category:Home invasions in film]]
[[Category:Films about home invasion]]
[[Category:Murder in films]]
[[Category:Films set in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Films set in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Indian Navy in films]]
[[Category:Films set in Goa]]
[[Category:Indian crime thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian films about revenge]]
[[Category:Films set on boats]]
[[Category:Hindi-language romantic thriller films]]

Latest revision as of 00:10, 20 March 2026


For other uses, see Darr (disambiguation).

Darr: A Violent Love Story
File:Darr poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byYash Chopra
Produced byYash Chopra
Written byHoney Irani
Dialogues byJaved Siddiqui
Starring
Music byShiv–Hari
CinematographyManmohan Singh
Edited byKeshav Naidu
Production
company
Distributed byYash Raj Films
Release date
  • 24 December 1993 (1993-12-24)
Running time
177 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget₹3.25 crore[1]
Box officeest. ₹21.3 crore[1]

Darr: A Violent Love Story (hi; Template:Lit. Fear) is a 1993 Indian Hindi-language psychological thriller film directed and produced by Yash Chopra under his banner Yash Raj Films. It stars Sunny Deol, Juhi Chawla and Shah Rukh Khan in the lead roles, along with Anupam Kher, Tanvi Azmi, Annu Kapoor, and Dalip Tahil in supporting roles.

Darr released on 24 December 1993, coinciding with the Christmas weekend, and emerged as a major commercial success. It was declared a blockbuster at the box-office and went on to become the third highest-grossing Hindi film of the year and the highest-grossing Indian film of the year. It received widespread critical acclaim upon release, with praise towards the direction, story, screenplay, soundtrack, cinematography, costumes and the performances of the cast.

Darr proved to be a milestone for both Chawla and Khan's careers, catapulting them to stardom. The film emerged as Chawla's third consecutive commercial success that year, following Lootere and Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke, thus solidifying her career as a leading lady in the 1990s, while Khan's portrayal of an obsessive lover was widely appreciated by critics and audiences alike. The film marked the first of Khan's collaborations with Chopra and the Yash Raj Films banner.

The film received two nominations at the 39th Filmfare Awards for Best Director (Chopra) and Best Villain (Khan), and won two awards: Best Comedian (Kher) and Best Cinematography (Manmohan Singh). At the 41st National Film Awards, the film won the award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.

Plot[edit | edit source]

Kiran Awasthi, a beautiful college student, visits her brother Vijay and his wife Poonam upon her return home. Rahul Mehra, her classmate who is in love with her, is relentlessly following her. An SF officer in the Indian Navy, Lieutenant Sunil Malhotra is Kiran's boyfriend. His Commanding Officer Captain Avinash Mehra, is Rahul's father.

Rahul makes an effort to be friendly with Sunil in order to be near Kiran. Rahul keeps calling her when she gets home and asks her to avoid Sunil, but despite her fear, she rejects Rahul's authority over her. She and her family are frightened when he visits her on both her birthday and Holi. Kiran and Sunil become engaged thanks to Vijay and Poonam, who think the stalker would never bother Kiran again.

Upon learning this, a furious Rahul attempts to murder Sunil but is unsuccessful. When Sunil is chasing Rahul, he doesn't know that the stalker is Rahul, he has an accident and is taken to the hospital. Kiran chooses to flee the city so that the stalker won't harm her beloved any longer but is apprehended by Sunil, who marries her that very night. Rahul is attacked by this and vows to take Kiran for himself. He kills the police officers sent to protect the couple and vandalizes their new home with graffiti reading "Śādī Mubārāka Kiraṇa" (Congrats on your marriage, Kiran) and "Tuma mērī hō Kiraṇa" (You are mine, Kiran).

This horrifies Kiran, who worries that she might lose her mind. Sunil decides to take Kiran on a surprise honeymoon to Switzerland while booking extra tickets to Goa, so that the stalker goes away by misunderstanding that the couple is in Goa. Rahul falls for the trick and looks everywhere for Kiran in Goa in vain, but couldn't find her. Instead, he meets Vikram "Vicky" Oberoi, a friend from college, who is ill. Rahul then makes an effort to get to know Kiran's brother and sister-in-law by paying them daily visits to learn about Kiran's location.

Vicky calls Rahul and invites him to meet him. When he does, he discovers him on his deathbed, pleading with Rahul to kill him since he can no longer bear the anguish. After a brief pause, he kills his companion while creating the illusion that Vicky was the stalker. Kiran's family believes the stalker killed himself after failing to find Kiran and relax. Rahul is informed of her true whereabouts, and he shows up at her hotel.

He is acknowledged by Kiran and Sunil, who invite him to join their celebrations. However, Sunil learns that Rahul was Kiran's stalker when Vijay calls him and says that Rahul had been visiting him and Poonam but not mentioned he was going to Switzerland. Sunil sends Kiran to wait for him at a boat, before luring Rahul to the forest and attacking him. Rahul begs for mercy, stabs Sunil and then abandons him to perish. Later, as Rahul arrives at the boat, he tries to marry Kiran without her will and informs her that Sunil has died. Despite her pleading and begging, he hands her his mother's old saree and orders her to wear it.

Kiran locks herself in a room in the boat. When the boat's door is smashed and Kiran is yanked back out by Rahul and pretends to agree to marry Rahul, then it is discovered that Sunil didn't actually die and he returns to save Kiran bloodies. Enraged, Sunil brutally fights Rahul and ends up shooting him thrice. Dying, Rahul expresses shame for his actions and begs Kiran to not hate him. Kiran and Sunil return to India and visit their relatives once again.

Cast[edit | edit source]

Production[edit | edit source]

Development[edit | edit source]

Aditya Chopra wanted to make a film similar to the Hollywood film Cape Fear (1991) starring Robert De Niro. The film was to be directed by Naresh Malhotra, an assistant of Yash Chopra, with Raveena Tandon, Deepak Malhotra, and Saahil Chaddha in the lead roles. However, Yash decided to take over the project, and eventually changed the casting.[2] The film's title Darr was suggested to Chopra by his other son Uday Chopra (who worked as an assistant director in the film) and Hrithik Roshan.[3]

Casting[edit | edit source]

Sridevi, who had previously collaborated with Chopra in Chandni (1989) and Lamhe (1991), was first offered the role of Kiran. The role was planned much like her previous roles in Chandni and Lamhe. However, she wanted Kiran to be the obsessed lover instead of the victim; Chopra refused this change of plot, causing Sridevi to opt out.[4] Madhuri Dixit was offered the role next, but she refused due to scheduling conflicts. Aishwarya Rai was screen tested for the role, but ultimately could do not the film as she competing for the Miss World Pageant at the time.[5] Divya Bharti was then signed, however, she was replaced with Juhi Chawla at Aamir Khan's request.[6]

Sanjay Dutt was the original choice for the antagonist Rahul Mehra, however was unable to sign the film due to his conviction of illegal possession of arms. Sudesh Berry was considered for the role, but was rejected after a screen test.[7] The role was then offered to Ajay Devgn, who declined as he was uncomfortable playing a negative character at that stage of his career.[8] Aamir Khan, who had worked with Chopra in Parampara the same year, was signed. However, he was removed from the project after he asked for a joint narration with Sunny Deol. Khan's reasoning for this was that since he and Deol were two leading actors, they could hear their roles and if they were both satisfied, no ego hassles would happen henceforth. Furthermore, Khan was also unhappy with the way Deol's character beat Rahul up in the climax.[9] Following Aamir's exit, Shah Rukh Khan was cast as Rahul after Chopra's son Aditya had watched his debut performance in Deewana and suggested his name. Darr ended up capulating Khan to stardom and he went to star in all of Yash's future directorial ventures.

Rishi Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, and Jackie Shroff were all offered the role of Sunil, however all three of them refused.[10] Nitish Bharadwaj was also approached for the role of Sunil, due to his popularity as Lord Krishna in B. R. Chopra's Mahabharat, but declined as he felt the role was not challenging enough. Sunny Deol had been given the choice of playing Sunil or the antagonist Rahul. Deol chose to play Sunil, believing that a negative role would harm his career.[11]

Soundtrack[edit | edit source]

The soundtrack was composed by the duo Shiv–Hari, with the lyrics written by Anand Bakshi.

It was the second best-selling Bollywood soundtrack album of the year, being surpassed only by Baazigar (which also starred Shah Rukh Khan).[12] The soundtrack album sold about 4.5 million units in India,[13] earning at least ₹10.8 crore (equivalent to ₹63 crore or US$8.8 million in 2019).[14] Rakesh Budhu of Planet Bollywood in his review gave the album 8.5 stars out of 10.[15]

Darr's soundtrack marked one of the earliest instances of Udit Narayan supplying his voice for Shah Rukh Khan. Narayan's voice went on to be featured in the soundtracks of every single one of Khan's collaborations with Yash Raj Films until Veer-Zaara (2004).

Darr
Soundtrack album by
Shiv-Hari
Released1993
GenreFilm soundtrack
Length42:12
LabelSaregama
ProducerShiv-Hari
Shiv-Hari chronology
Sahibaan
(1993) 		Darr
(1993)

Template:Music ratings

All lyrics are written by Anand Bakshi.

No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Jaadu Teri Nazar"Udit Narayan4:41
2."Darwaaza Band Karlo"Lata Mangeshkar & Abhijeet6:05
3."Tu Mere Saamne"Lata Mangeshkar & Udit Narayan6:07
4."Ishq Da Bura Rog (not in the film)"Lata Mangeshkar & Vinod Rathod5:43
5."Solah Button"Lata Mangeshkar, Kavita Krishnamurthy & Pamela Chopra7:35
6."Likha Hai Ye In Hawaaon Pe"Lata Mangeshkar & Hariharan5:12
7."Ang Se Ang Lagana"Vinod Rathod, Sudesh Bhosle, Alka Yagnik & Devaki Pandit6:49
8."Obsession (Dance Music)"Instrumental2:18

Box office[edit | edit source]

At the domestic Indian box office, Darr became the third highest-grossing film of 1993, after Aankhen and Khalnayak, and was declared a blockbuster.[16] In India, it was released on 190 screens, with 19.96 million tickets sold. Its domestic gross was ₹15.73 crore, including a net income of ₹10.74 crore, which is equivalent to ₹184.4 crore (US$28.32 million) when adjusted for inflation as of 2017.[1] Its domestic gross is equivalent to ₹339 crore (US$52.06 million) when adjusted for inflation as of 2017.[lower-alpha 1]

At the overseas box office, Darr was the year's highest-grossing Indian film of 1993, grossing $500,000 (₹5.58 crore).[17] Worldwide, it grossed ₹21.31 crore (US$6.78 million),[1] equivalent to ₹366 crore (US$56.2 million) when adjusted for inflation as of 2017.[lower-alpha 1]

Awards and nominations[edit | edit source]

Award Category Nominee Result References
41st National Film Awards Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment Yash Chopra Won [18]
39th Filmfare Awards Best Comedian Anupam Kher Won [19]
Best Cinematography Manmohan Singh Won
Best Director Yash Chopra Nominated
Best Villain Shah Rukh Khan Nominated
Best Music Director Shiv-Hari Nominated
Best Lyricist Anand Bakshi for "Jaadu Teri Nazar" Nominated
Best Male Playback Singer Udit Narayan for "Jaadu Teri Nazar" Nominated

Remakes[edit | edit source]

It was remade in Kannada as Preethse, starring Upendra as Chandu (Rahul), Shiva Rajkumar as Surya (Sunil) and Sonali Bendre playing Kiran.[20] The film also partially inspired the 2005 Tamil film Chinna. The Telugu film Tapassu also borrowed some scenes from Darr.[citation needed]

The teaser trailer for an intended five-part web series Darr 2.0 was released on YouTube on August 30, 2016. It was set to be a retelling of the film in a contemporary setting, portraying cyber-stalking and digital crimes. The web series was set to be produced by Ashish Chopra under the banner of Y-Films and directed by Vikash Chandra. Screenplay and dialogues are by Nikhil Taneja and Shubham Yogi.[21][22] The series was shelved.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Audience and the critics appreciated Shah Rukh Khan's dialogue: "I love you, K-k-k- Kiran" which still remains iconic.[23]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Inflation rate of 17.17 times: ₹10.74 crore domestic net equivalent to ₹184.4 crore (US$28.32 million).[1]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Darr – Movie – Box Office India". boxofficeindia.com. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  2. ↑ "Saahil Chadha recalls being replaced from Darr after Yash Chopra took over the film, says Aditya Chopra offered him Shah Rukh Khan's part". The Indian Express. 20 July 2023.
  3. ↑ "24 years of Darr: We bet you didn't know these 7 unknown facts about Shah Rukh Khan's film". India TV. 24 December 2017. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  4. ↑ "'Baahubali' to 'Baghban': Films rejected by Sridevi". The Times of India. 29 August 2018. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  5. ↑ "'Yash Chopra wanted to cast Aishwarya Rai for Darr, didn't work out because of Miss World pageant,' recalls Neeta Lulla". The Indian Express. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  6. ↑ "Did You Know: Aamir Khan got Divya Bharti replaced with Juhi Chawla in Darr due to THIS reason?". Pinkvilla. 12 April 2020. Archived from the original on 12 April 2020.
  7. ↑ "Not Shah Rukh Khan, this actor was first choice of Yash Chopra for Darr, rejected the role due to..., name is..." India.com. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  8. ↑ "Movies that Ajay Devgn rejected". The Times of India. 1 May 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  9. ↑ "Aamir Khan BREAKS SILENCE on losing Darr to Shah Rukh Khan: "I said yes, but I was fired from the film because…" :". Bollywood Hungama. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  10. ↑ "Did you know Rishi Kapoor had turned down 'Darr' and suggested Shah Rukh Khan's name?". The Times of India. 12 May 2020. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  11. ↑ "Honey Irani revisits Shah Rukh Khan–Sunny Deol fallout; reveals Sunny was first offered SRK's iconic role in Darr but he declined". The Times of India. 3 February 2026. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  12. ↑ "Music Hits 1990–1999 (Figures in Units)". Box Office India. 22 January 2009. Archived from the original on 15 February 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  13. ↑ "Making Music Like Ne'er Before". Outlook. 13 March 1996. Archived from the original on 10 December 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  14. ↑ "India Today". India Today. 19: iv. 1994. DARR
    Music Director: Shiv-Harl
    Lyricist: Anand Bakshi
    Sales: 40 lakh tapes
    Value: Rs 10.8 crore
  15. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named pb
  16. ↑ "Box Office 1993". Boxofficeindia.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  17. ↑ "Top Overseas Grossers 1993". Box Office India. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  18. ↑ Gopalakrishnan, K.; Aggarwal, Semugha. 41st National Film Festival (PDF). Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. pp. 18–19.
  19. ↑ "Filmfare Awards Winners 1994: Complete list of winners of Filmfare Awards 1994". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  20. ↑ Rajitha (8 December 1999). "Sonali takes over from Juhi". m.rediff.com. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  21. ↑ Dixit, Mini (31 August 2016). "Shah Rukh's Darr is getting a creepy, stalker-ish, web series makeover". India Today. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  22. ↑ Ramachandran, Nama (30 August 2016). "Early Shah Rukh Khan Film 'Darr' Revived as Indian Web Series". Variety. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  23. ↑ Mishra, Himanshu (2 January 2023). "Favourite Villains: When Shah Rukh Khan Made Us Weep For The Anti-Hero In Darr". www.filmcompanion.in. Retrieved 8 September 2024.

Further reading[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

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