Ishaqzaade

<p>In the town of Almor, the Chauhans and the Qureshis are rival political families with a history of hostility. Parma Chauhan, the wayward grandson of political patriarch Surya Chauhan, struggles for validation in his family due to his reputation as a troublemaker. Zoya Qureshi, the spirited and assertive daughter of Aftab Qureshi, aspires to enter politics but is discouraged by her conservative family. During a heated election campaign, Parma and Zoya clash repeatedly but gradually develop mutual attraction. They fall in love and , with Parma converting to Islam and assuming the name Parvez. After a staged marriage ceremony, the two their relationship. Parma later reveals that the wedding was a ruse designed to dishonor Zoya and avenge an earlier humiliation. Heartbroken, Zoya attempts to retaliate but is stopped by Parma’s mother, Parvati, who urges her son to honor his actions. When Parvati tries to protect the couple, Surya fatally shoots her, prompting Parma to turn against his family and protect Zoya. Forced to flee, the couple seeks refuge in a managed by Chand Bibi. Although Zoya initially suspects Parma of betrayal, she begins to forgive him as he expresses remorse. They eventually reconcile and marry in a legitimate ceremony. Hoping for reconciliation, Zoya brings Parma to her home, but her father threatens to kill her. The couple escapes once again, planning to flee to . However, their families join forces to track them down, viewing their union as a threat to both political legacies and religious boundaries. Cornered on a college rooftop during , Parma and Zoya engage in a final standoff with their pursuers. With no escape and few bullets left, they choose to shoot each other, dying in each other’s arms. Their families depart, believing the matter settled. The film concludes with a message highlighting the tragic consequences faced by interfaith and intercaste couples in contemporary India. In late 2011, it was announced that would make his acting debut in . Initially slated to debut in , another project, Kapoor’s launch was realigned after that film was shelved. was developed specifically to introduce him under the Yash Raj banner. , who had made her screen debut the previous year in (2011), was cast opposite Kapoor. -winning choreographers Rekha and , known for their work in (2008), were brought on to choreograph the film’s musical sequences. Veteran action director Sham Kaushal was responsible for staging the action scenes. Filming began on 15 October 2011. A major part of the film was shot in Lucknow, and at other sites near . Principal photography for commenced on 15 October 2011. A significant portion of the film was shot on location in and around and in the Indian state of . The music for was composed by , marking his first collaboration with . The lyrics were written by , with the exception of the track “Chokra Jawaan,” which was penned by the film’s writer-director, . The soundtrack album, which includes remixes of “Pareshaan” and “Jhallah Wallah” by , was released on 13 April 2012 under the YRF Music label. The film’s background score was composed by . opened to strong box office performance across India, with theater occupancy ranging between 70% and 90% on its first day. The film collected ₹45.4 million (US$540,000) nett on its opening day, followed by ₹51.5 million (US$610,000) and ₹62.2 million (US$740,000) on its second and third days, respectively. It earned ₹159 million (US$1.9 million) nett over its first weekend and ₹257 million (US$3.0 million) by the end of its first week. The film broke the record for the highest first-week collections for a Hindi non-star cast film, previously held by (2008). It continued to perform well in subsequent weeks, collecting ₹73.8 million (US$870,000) in its second weekend and ₹125 million (US$1.5 million) in its second week. The film earned an additional ₹43.4 million (US$510,000) during its third weekend, solidifying its status as a commercial success. It concluded its theatrical run with a domestic net total of approximately ₹453.9 million (US$5.5 million) and a worldwide gross of ₹613 million (US$7.5 million) against a budget of ₹160 million (US$2 million). received positive reviews from critics, with widespread praise for ’s performance. of rated the film 3.5 out of 5 stars, describing it as “a volatile and intense story with ample doses of fanatical romance,” and praised its performances, music, and mainstream appeal. Mrigank Dhaniwala of also gave it 3.5 stars, noting that the film was “an entertaining fare” that relied on its strong first half and engaging performances. of echoed similar sentiments, calling it a film that “gets under your skin… and rocks.” Rachit Gupta of rated the film 3 out of 5, referring to it as a “fantastic Indian adaptation of ,” and appreciated its exploration of love as a force beyond life and death. awarded the film 3 stars, citing its performances, unconventional climax, and intense chemistry between the leads as highlights, though it noted that the political backdrop might be less relatable to metropolitan audiences. Shomini Sen of commended director ’s depiction of small-town life and its cultural nuances. Blessy Chettiar of noted that while the film had a slow start, it picked up significantly and praised Chopra’s performance as scene-stealing. appreciated the precision in the storytelling and the leads’ performances, stating that ” does provide half a good time. How many films can you say that for?” Trisha Gupta of acknowledged the film’s sharply drawn characters and Chopra’s standout performance, though she criticized the film’s ending and thematic execution.</p>