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””’Chameli Ki Shaadi””’ ({{translation|Chameli’s wedding}}) is a 1986 [[Hindi]]-language [[comedy film]] directed by [[Basu Chatterjee]], starring [[Anil Kapoor]], [[Amrita Singh]], [[Om Prakash]], [[Amjad Khan (actor)|Amjad Khan]], [[Pankaj Kapur|Pankaj Kapoor]], [[Annu Kapoor]] and [[Bharati Achrekar]].
””’Chameli Ki Shaadi””’ ({{translation|Chameli’s wedding}}) is a 1986 [[Hindi]]-language [[comedy film]] directed by [[Basu Chatterjee]], starring [[Anil Kapoor]], [[Amrita Singh]], [[Om Prakash]], [[Amjad Khan (actor)|Amjad Khan]], [[Pankaj Kapur|Pankaj Kapoor]], [[Annu Kapoor]] and [[Bharati Achrekar]].
==Plot==
==Plot==
== Themes ==
== Themes ==
Vandana Saini wrote that the film shows life in small-town [[India]], and its inhabitants in a lighthearted manner.<ref name=”:2″ /> Similarly, Arushi Jain termed the film “light, despite presenting a commentary on an issue as serious as the [[caste system in India]].”<ref name=”:1″ />
Vandana Saini wrote that the film shows life in small-town [[India]], and its inhabitants in a lighthearted manner.<ref name=”:2″ /> Similarly, Arushi Jain termed the film “light, despite presenting a commentary on an issue as serious as the [[caste system in India]].”<ref name=”:1″ />
About Chameli, Jain said that instead of being a [[damsel in distress]], “she takes her own decisions, acts upon them and never gives up, something you won’t expect from an 80s [[Bollywood]] heroine.”<ref name=”:1″ /> Similarly, Amit Karn described her as “assertive, outspoken and headstrong.”<ref name=”:6″ />
Chameli Jain said that instead of being a [[damsel in distress]], “she takes her own decisions, acts upon them and never gives up, something you won’t expect from an 80s [[Bollywood]] heroine.”<ref name=”:1″ /> Similarly, Amit Karn described her as “assertive, outspoken and headstrong.”<ref name=”:6″ />
== Reception ==
== Reception ==
1986 film by Basu Chatterjee
Chameli Ki Shaadi (transl. Chameli’s wedding) is a 1986 Indian Hindi-language comedy film directed by Basu Chatterjee, starring Anil Kapoor, Amrita Singh, Om Prakash, Amjad Khan, Pankaj Kapoor, Annu Kapoor and Bharati Achrekar.
Charandas aka Charan, a fledgling wrestler under the tutelage of Mastram, lives with his brother and sister-in-law. According to his brother, Bhajandas, Charan should marry and start a family of his own. But Charan is determined to become a wrestler and vows to remain a bachelor until the age of 40 as per the norms of Mastram. One day, however, when Charan’s sister-in-law sends him to buy coal from Kallumal’s coal depot, he meets Chameli, Kallumal’s daughter, and starts having second thoughts about his vow. He realizes that to marry her, he may have to leave Mastram’s akhada.
Charan does so and seeks help of advocate Harish, a close friend of his brother. Harish appreciates Charan’s love and is ready to help him. Anita, Chameli’s best friend is also approving of their relationship. Charan confess his love to Chameli and the couple starts to meet secretly. One day, however, a relative of Chameli, who spots the duo in a restaurant, reveal their meeting to her parents.
Chameli’s family make it clear that they won’t allow inter-caste marriage. Chameli is kept under house arrest and her parents decide to have her marry one of their acquaintances. Chameli’s mother, Champa also calls in the help of her rogue brother Chhadam Lal aka Chhadmi.
Charan learns of these developments. He frees Chameli from her house arrest and together they go to Harish’s house. Chameli’s parents proceed to the place where Charan and Chameli are going to get married. Meanwhile, Bhajandas also comes with his men to disrupt the marriage. However, both of the parties arrive late, as they are legally married now. They vent their ire on Harish, who, according to them, is responsible for corrupting the couple. Harish takes Kallumal aside and explains that if the marriage is permitted by him, he will garner votes from both of the castes in the upcoming election, that he had decided to participate in, and that his son-in-law is the leader of all the young people and also has support from the akhadas, therefore guaranteeing a win.
Convinced, Kallumal relents; similarly, Harish tells Bhajandas that Kallumal is sure to win the elections, and that if Bhajandas accepts the marriage, he will get special perks, like getting coal and cement at a subsidized rate from Kallumal. Bhajandas also relents. Charan and Chameli get blessings from both of their families.
Pankaj Kapoor was 29 when he played Amrita Singh‘s father, only four years older than her, and three years older than Anil Kapoor.[1]
The film’s running time is 136 minutes.[2][3] It has been described as a comedy film.[4][5][6][7]
The music was composed by Kalyanji–Anandji and lyrics by Prakash Mehra and Anjaan.
Vandana Saini wrote that the film shows life in small-town India, and its inhabitants in a lighthearted manner.[3] Similarly, Arushi Jain termed the film “light, despite presenting a commentary on an issue as serious as the caste system in India.”[2] Despite its lightness, Devesh Sharma asserts that, “the film made a stand against casteism.”[8]
Chameli was called “a feminist heroine” by Sharma.[8] Jain said that instead of being a damsel in distress, “she takes her own decisions, acts upon them and never gives up, something you won’t expect from an 80s Bollywood heroine.”[2] Similarly, Amit Karn described her as “assertive, outspoken and headstrong.”[7]
The film was a box-office hit, grossing ₹4.50 crore (equivalent to ₹61 crore or US$7.2 million in 2023) against a production budget of ₹1.50 crore (equivalent to ₹20 crore or US$2.4 million in 2023).[9][10][3]
The film has since gained a cult following.[9][7][6][5][4][11][12]
- ^ “Pankaj Kapur was just 29 when he played Amrita Singh’s father in Chameli Ki Shaadi, started doing TV soon after”. Hindustan Times. 26 May 2022. Archived from the original on 24 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ^ a b c Jain, Arushi (9 February 2022). “A millennial watches Amrita Singh’s Chameli Ki Shaadi: An entertaining drama that takes on caste system”. The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 24 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ^ a b c Saini, Vandana (23 August 2025). “2 घंटे 16 मिनट की मस्त फिल्म, जिसने 75 दिनों तक हिलाकर रखा बॉक्स ऑफिस, 39 साल बाद अब यूट्यूब-OTT पर जमाया कब्जा”. Zee News. Archived from the original on 24 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ^ a b “Anil Kapoor is ‘Petrified’ of Old Friend and Co-Star Amrita Singh”. NDTV. 30 September 2016. Archived from the original on 24 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ^ a b “Chameli Ki Shaadi once more”. Tribune India. 28 January 2016. Archived from the original on 24 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ^ a b Tripathi, Ritu (6 February 2020). “मां अमृता सिंह के चुलबुले अंदाज में नजर आएंगी सारा! इस फिल्म की रीमेक में हुई एंट्री”. Zee News. Archived from the original on 24 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ^ a b c Karn, Amit (25 January 2016). “Will Sonakshi Sinha play Amrita Singh’s role in ‘Chameli Ki Shaadi’ remake?”. Mid Day. Archived from the original on 24 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ^ a b Sharma, Devesh (22 May 2020). “Filmfare recommends: Top romantic films of Anil Kapoor”. Filmfare. Archived from the original on 24 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ^ a b “Happy birthday Amrita Singh: Rare photos of the Chameli Ki Shaadi actor”. The Indian Express. 9 February 2018. Archived from the original on 24 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ^ “Parineeti Chopra, Diljit Dosanjh to star in Chameli ki Shaadi remake?”. The Indian Express. 14 July 2016. Archived from the original on 24 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ^ Sharma, Sampada (5 June 2020). “Best Basu Chatterjee films you can watch online”. The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 24 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ^ Roychoudhury, Amborish (2018). In a Cult of Their Own: Bollywood Beyond Box Office. Rupa. ISBN 978-8129151353.
