In a twist of fate, they find their ticket to wealth: Raveena Bajaj, a beautiful heiress fresh from London, searching for a husband in India. For Amar and Prem, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. And so begins the two’s clumsy rivalry as they stumble over each other in a series of outrageous, unpredictable attempts to win her heart.
What follows is a masterclass in Bollywood slapstick, complete with mistaken identities, improbable coincidences, and laugh-out-loud moments. Raveena (played by Raveena Tandon) has come to India to find someone who “thinks with their heart, not their head”, though she’s secretly swapped places with her secretary, Karishma (Karisma Kapoor). As Amar and Prem compete for her affection, they’re also drawn into the plot involving Raveena’s wealthy father, Ram Gopal Bajaj, and his criminal twin, Teja, both played with wicked charm by Paresh Rawal.
Teja, a scheming con man, has his eyes set on the family fortune, and he’s willing to send his motley crew of henchmen to eliminate Raveena if that’s what it takes. But when Prem and Amar unknowingly end up as her unlikely protectors, a comedy of errors ensues, leading to a climax: part heist, part rescue mission, and pure Bollywood chaos. The scene pays homage to the 1972 film Victoria No. 203.
Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, Andaz Apna Apna was originally anything but a success. But what it lacked in initial returns, it gained over time, finding a second life through television reruns and home video. Today it’s adored by fans for its quirky charm and humour. Shakti Kapoor’s “Crime Master Gogo,” portrayed with a perfect blend of menace and comedy as the “nephew” of Mogambo from Mr. India, has since become one of the most iconic characters in Bollywood history.
The film is also filled with cheeky references to Sholay, jokes that Prem’s father wrote Sholay, a wink to the fact that Salim Khan, Salman’s father, actually co-wrote the film with Javed Akhtar. Aamir mimics Dharmendra’s famous line asking Basanti’s name, and Jagdeep’s Bankeylal Bhopali echoes his Soorma Bhopali role in the 1975 classic.
The ensemble cast is full of memorable oddballs. Viju Khote as Robert and Shehzad Khan as Bhalla are Teja’s hilariously clueless henchmen, who steal scenes with their idiotic loyalty and bungling attempts at evil. Khote’s Robert remains one of the film’s most memorable side characters with his hapless “Galti se mistake ho gaya!” line. Khote even reprised his role in Santoshi’s 2009 film Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani. These secondary characters are where Andaz Apna Apna shines brightest.
The genius of the film lies in its loose structure and improvisational feel. Much of the film was famously unscripted; actors would riff on set, and scenes were often filmed and re-filmed until Santoshi felt they hit the right note. The result is a film that feels spontaneous and alive, where jokes aren’t constrained by the plot but allowed to breathe, build, and loop back on themselves. This unscripted chaos becomes part of its charm.
The film’s soundtrack is also unforgettable combining classic Bollywood romance with the film’s chaotic, whimsical tone. From the catchy “Do Mastane Chale Zindagi Banane” to the dreamlike “Yeh Raat Aur Yeh Doori,” the music is iconic in its own right.