The 'delicious mess' of a thriller that dared to be audacious
In short: In 2001, a Hindi-language thriller attempted to tackle a theme so bold it was deemed difficult for Indian audiences to absorb. While critics called it a 'shoddy' mess of over-the-top acting and bizarre logic, it remains a fascinating case study of a niche thriller that almost was.
Directed by Abbas-Mustan and produced by Vijay Galani, Ajnabee (Stranger) was released on September 21, 2001. Acting as a non-authorised version, the movie mirrored the 1992 US suspense piece Consenting Adults. It cast Akshay Kumar and Bobby Deol in lead roles, featuring Bipasha Basu in her debut and Kareena Kapoor as Priya Malhotra. Despite its mixed critical reception, the film was a moderate commercial success, grossing ₹31 crore against a budget of ₹17 crore. It notably earned Kumar his first Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role and Basu her Best Female Debut.
The narrative follows Raj and Priya, a couple who move to Switzerland and become close friends with their neighbors, Vicky and Sonia. The plot centers on a complex web of manipulation involving wife-swapping and a murder. Vicky, a struggling musician, orchestrates a plan to kill his wealthy wife, Sonia Bajaj, to claim a $100 million insurance policy. He attempts to frame Raj for the crime by exploiting their friendship and Raj's trust. The film's climax, shot on the Indian-owned cruise liner Ocean Majesty, involves a high-stakes confrontation where Raj eventually exposes Vicky's scheme and transfers the money back to the insurance company.
Retrospectively, the film is often remembered for its 'performative dialogues' and 'half-witted' schemes, yet it holds a unique place in Indian cinema history. It featured a soundtrack by Anu Malik, which included the first slow romantic song by Sunidhi Chauhan and the career-launching hit 'Mehbooba Mehbooba' by Adnan Sami. While critics at the time lamented that the filmmakers lacked the 'bravado' to execute the niche thriller successfully, the film's 20th-anniversary reviews highlight its status as a 'chuckle-worthy' and 'delicious mess' that continues to captivate viewers with its sheer audacity.
The production also faced interesting hurdles; Shah Rukh Khan was initially offered the role of the villain, Vikram, but declined because he was not keen on playing a negative character. This shift allowed Bobby Deol to take on the role of the philandering murderer, a performance that significantly marked a shift in his career. The film's legacy is one of 'what could have been'—a bold attempt at a provocative, international-style thriller that remains a distinct, if eccentric, chapter in 2000s Bollywood.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Ajnabee (2001 film)
- Also: www.britannica.com — Ajnabee | film by Abbas-Mustan [2001] | Britannica
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