Why ‘Andaz Apna Apna' is a gift that keeps giving

India Today

25-04-2025

Aamir Khan reminisces Andaz Apna Apna at India Today Conclave.
Film faced challenges like co-stars' discord and punctuality issues.
Initially a box-office flop, it became a cult classic over time.
As Aamir Khan walked down the memory lane at this year's India Today Conclave in a special session celebrating his turning 60 and some of his most iconic films, he had fond memories of the 1994 cult comedy Andaz Apna Apna. 'It was a lovely time but also a tough time I was the only actor who used to come on time,' he said with a chuckle and to the amusement of the audience. 'Koi time pe nahin aata tha (No one would come to set on time).'
Not just that, Aamir revealed that co-stars Karisma Kapoor and Raveena Tandon were at odds back then, making him worried as to how the film would ever be completed.
Finish it did alas the Raj Kumar Santoshi-directed film, featuring Aamir and Salman Khan as the eternal rivals, Amar and Prem, was in Aamir's own words a 'disaster' at the box-office. 'I was flummoxed because I thought it was a great film I always believed in it,' he said. 'I found the sense of humour wacky and mad.'
Audiences would share his sentiment, for gradually Andaz Apna Apna got a new lease of life on home entertainment where it tickled the hearts of audiences. Its peak quirk quotient, memorable characters like Crime Master Gogo (played by Shakti Kapoor), Teja (Paresh Rawal), Robert and Bhalla (Viju Khote and Shehzad Khan) and quotable dialogues like 'Main toh kahoonga aap purush hi nahin, mahapurush hain', 'Galti se mistake ho gaya', 'Teja main hoon, mark idhar hai' and 'Aankhein nikal ke gotiyaan kheloonga' have only added to its legend. On its 30th anniversary, the film re-released in theatres on April 25.The makers will be hoping that the film finds not just an audience that loves nostalgia-tripping as they revisit a classic but also a new generation which will be curious to understand why the film is such an integral part of Bollywood pop culture that has resulted in viral clips and memes galore. Such is the fandom around the film that even politician Shashi Tharoor found himself caught up in the frenzy after a few eagle-eyed fans saw a lookalike in the background in one of the scenes.
Part of Andaz Apna Apna's appeal is how it never loses sight of the fact that its two leads are fools whose inflated sense of self leads to much laughs. That Aamir and Salman agreed to play parts where they often are the butt of jokes makes it all the more enjoyable. On paper, the film is essentially an ego clash between two good-for-nothing young men who are both greedy to win over the rich man's daughter. One is nave (Salman), the other too cocky (Aamir), and the lengths they stoop to outsmart each other are hilarious.
To Santoshi goes the credit of creating iconic set-pieces, such as the football sequence played out with sherbet glasses or the climax which is a delightful exercise in tomfoolery. The film doesn't miss its humourous beat even during songs such as Dil Karta Hai Tere Paas Aaaon and Yeh Raat Aur Yeh Doori. To think that the film was made when Aamir and Salman themselves are said to have had a rough relationship on the set and still turn out the way it did is even more commendable.
Whether the film is second-time lucky, as Tumbbad (2018) and Sanam Teri Kasam (2016), were in their re-releases remains to be seen, but count a bunch of millennials flocking to the cinemas to revisit a film that revels in its silliness and doesn't lose its punch with repeated viewings.
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As Aamir Khan walked down the memory lane at this year's India Today Conclave in a special session celebrating his turning 60 and some of his most iconic films, he had fond memories of the 1994 cult comedy Andaz Apna Apna. 'It was a lovely time but also a tough time I was the only actor who used to come on time,' he said with a chuckle and to the amusement of the audience. 'Koi time pe nahin aata tha (No one would come to set on time).'
Not just that, Aamir revealed that co-stars Karisma Kapoor and Raveena Tandon were at odds back then, making him worried as to how the film would ever be completed.
Finish it did alas the Raj Kumar Santoshi-directed film, featuring Aamir and Salman Khan as the eternal rivals, Amar and Prem, was in Aamir's own words a 'disaster' at the box-office. 'I was flummoxed because I thought it was a great film I always believed in it,' he said. 'I found the sense of humour wacky and mad.'
Audiences would share his sentiment, for gradually Andaz Apna Apna got a new lease of life on home entertainment where it tickled the hearts of audiences. Its peak quirk quotient, memorable characters like Crime Master Gogo (played by Shakti Kapoor), Teja (Paresh Rawal), Robert and Bhalla (Viju Khote and Shehzad Khan) and quotable dialogues like 'Main toh kahoonga aap purush hi nahin, mahapurush hain', 'Galti se mistake ho gaya', 'Teja main hoon, mark idhar hai' and 'Aankhein nikal ke gotiyaan kheloonga' have only added to its legend. On its 30th anniversary, the film re-released in theatres on April 25.The makers will be hoping that the film finds not just an audience that loves nostalgia-tripping as they revisit a classic but also a new generation which will be curious to understand why the film is such an integral part of Bollywood pop culture that has resulted in viral clips and memes galore. Such is the fandom around the film that even politician Shashi Tharoor found himself caught up in the frenzy after a few eagle-eyed fans saw a lookalike in the background in one of the scenes.
Part of Andaz Apna Apna's appeal is how it never loses sight of the fact that its two leads are fools whose inflated sense of self leads to much laughs. That Aamir and Salman agreed to play parts where they often are the butt of jokes makes it all the more enjoyable. On paper, the film is essentially an ego clash between two good-for-nothing young men who are both greedy to win over the rich man's daughter. One is nave (Salman), the other too cocky (Aamir), and the lengths they stoop to outsmart each other are hilarious.
To Santoshi goes the credit of creating iconic set-pieces, such as the football sequence played out with sherbet glasses or the climax which is a delightful exercise in tomfoolery. The film doesn't miss its humourous beat even during songs such as Dil Karta Hai Tere Paas Aaaon and Yeh Raat Aur Yeh Doori. To think that the film was made when Aamir and Salman themselves are said to have had a rough relationship on the set and still turn out the way it did is even more commendable.
Whether the film is second-time lucky, as Tumbbad (2018) and Sanam Teri Kasam (2016), were in their re-releases remains to be seen, but count a bunch of millennials flocking to the cinemas to revisit a film that revels in its silliness and doesn't lose its punch with repeated viewings.
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