Shuddh Desi Romance

Raghu Ram, a in , supplements his income by working as a rented for Goyal, a local . Nervous about his impending , Raghu travels to the venue accompanied by a hired wedding procession, which includes Gayatri, a spirited and independent woman. During the journey, Raghu and Gayatri share a spontaneous kiss, prompting Raghu to flee his wedding before the ceremony. Weeks later, Raghu and Gayatri reconnect, begin dating, and eventually start living together. Due to around , they pretend to be siblings to avoid suspicion. Their relationship faces interference from a nosy neighbor, but they overcome the misunderstanding and decide to get married. However, on the day of the wedding, Gayatri abandons Raghu, leaving him heartbroken. Later, Raghu reconnects with Tara, the woman he was originally supposed to marry. They begin spending time together, and Raghu plans to propose. However, at a wedding they attend, he unexpectedly reunites with Gayatri. Assigned to pick up the wedding priest together, they share a tense car ride during which Gayatri attempts to reconcile. That evening, Tara and Gayatri meet at dinner, where Tara reveals she has invited Gayatri. When Tara discovers Raghu and Gayatri embracing, she quietly exits, realizing she no longer harbors feelings for him. Encouraged by Goyal, Raghu and Gayatri decide to marry once more. On their wedding night, however, they both attempt to escape. Encountering each other at the gate, they realize that while they love each other, they are not ready for marriage. The film ends with the couple resuming their live-in relationship on mutual terms. The screenplay for was written by , known for his work on films such as (2002), (2005), (2006) and (2007). Set in , , the film aimed to contrast traditional values with emerging modern perspectives in smaller Indian cities. The location was chosen to highlight how conservative social norms coexist with evolving attitudes toward love, relationships, and marriage in semi-urban India. took place largely in and around Jaipur. The song “Shuddh Desi Romance” was filmed at and in the streets and palaces of , Rajasthan. Choreography for the musical sequences was handled by . The film’s soundtrack was composed by Sachin–Jigar, with lyrics written by . Released on 19 August 2013 by YRF Music, the album features four vocal tracks alongside several instrumental pieces. The music is noted for its incorporation of elements blended with and influences. began promotions for with the unveiling of its poster and digital motion poster on 17 June 2013. The was launched at ‘s to reflect the film’s setting and themes. On 1 August 2013, the song “Gulabi” was launched at a media event, where formally introduced debutante . The title track “Shuddh Desi Romance” was released on 18 August 2013. The cast—Rajput, , and Kapoor—promoted the film through appearances on television shows such as , , and , where Rajput performed with . Additionally, the core team, including director and writer , participated in a discussion hosted by as part of a session to explore the film’s themes and development. was released on 6 September 2013. It was mainly a multiplex release on approximately 1100 screens. A of was attached to the prints. It has an investment of (US$3.0 million) including marketing and release costs. In India, opened to strong numbers, grossing ₹295 million (US$3.5 million) in its first five days. It netted ₹362.7 million by the end of its first week. The second weekend saw a drop, with a ten-day total of ₹420 million. The film earned ₹85.8 million in its second week, bringing the two-week total to ₹450 million. By the end of its third week, the film’s domestic net total stood at approximately ₹463 million (US$5.5 million). Internationally, the film earned US$1.08 million (₹70.4 million) during its opening weekend. It collected US$1.7 million in its first ten days and surpassed US$2 million by the end of its third week. received generally positive reviews, particularly for the performances of , , and . In India, of rated the film 3.5 out of 5 and noted that it “caters to and reflects the mindset of a lot of youth in modern society.” of also gave 3.5 stars, writing that it “reinvents the wheel as far as Bollywood rom-coms go” and praising its non-formulaic characters. ‘s Tushar Joshi described it as “refreshing, breezy, and engaging.” Mohar Basu of gave it 3.5 stars, calling it “a heartfelt, true take on real contemporary relationships.” of echoed that sentiment and praised its pacing. of rated it 3 stars, complimenting Chopra’s performance and the film’s first half. of awarded 4 stars, stating it “is a dose of adrenaline,” though she noted it loses steam in the second half. gave it 3 stars, calling it “engaging” but critiquing the plot as “confused.” Rachit Gupta of called the film “crazy, witty, and soulful.” Not all reviews were entirely favorable. Reshma Sengar of gave it 2.5 stars, stating it was vibrant but “a onetime watch.” Overseas, Mohammad Kamran Jawaid of praised the film’s innovation and technical aspects but critiqued its portrayal of relationships as lacking alignment with South Asian family values.