Salaam Namaste is a Hindi film that was released on 9 September 2005. It was directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Aditya Chopra and Yash Chopra under the banner of Yash Raj Films. The film was the first Indian film to be shot entirely in Australia. It tells the story of two young and modern Indians, Nick and Ambar, who have left their homes to make a life on their own in Melbourne. They fall in love, but face many challenges in their relationship, especially when Ambar becomes pregnant and Nick is not ready to be a father.
The film features Saif Ali Khan and Preity Zinta in their fourth film together. They play the roles of Nikhil "Nick" Arora, a chef who dreams of opening his own restaurant, and Ambar "Amby" Malhotra, a radio jockey who wants to become a surgeon. The film also stars Arshad Warsi as Ranjan "Ron" Mathur, Nick's best friend and a dentist; Tania Zaetta as Cathy R. Mathur, Ambar's best friend and Ron's wife; Jugal Hansraj as Jignesh Pandya, Nick's landlord and a software engineer; Jaaved Jaaferi as Jaggu, Nick's rival chef; and Abhishek Bachchan as the narrator. The music of the film was composed by Vishal-Shekhar, while the lyrics were written by Jaideep Sahni. The film had six songs, including the title track "Salaam Namaste", which became a chartbuster. The cinematography was done by Sunil Patel, while the editing was done by Ritesh Soni.
The film begins with Nick being interviewed by Ambar on her radio show 'Salaam Namaste'. However, Nick oversleeps twice and misses the interview, which annoys Ambar. She insults him on-air, without knowing his identity. Later, they meet at a wedding where Nick is the caterer and Ambar is a guest. They are attracted to each other, but soon realize that they are the same people who had a spat on the radio. They decide to forget their differences and start dating. They move in together without getting married, which shocks their friends and families. They enjoy their freedom and independence, but also face some problems in their relationship. They argue over trivial matters, such as household chores, finances, and personal space. They also have different views on marriage and parenthood. When Ambar discovers that she is pregnant, she decides to keep the baby, but Nick is not ready to take the responsibility. He asks her to abort the baby or move out of his apartment. Ambar chooses the latter option and leaves him.
Nick realizes his mistake and tries to reconcile with Ambar, but she refuses to forgive him. He also faces trouble at his restaurant, where Jaggu tries to sabotage his reputation. He loses his customers and his staff, and is forced to close down his restaurant. He decides to leave Melbourne and go back to India. However, on his way to the airport, he hears Ambar's voice on the radio. She announces that she is going to deliver her baby soon and that she still loves Nick. Nick rushes to the hospital where he finds Ambar in labor. He apologizes to her and expresses his love for her and their baby. He also proposes to her with a ring that he had bought earlier. Ambar accepts his proposal and gives birth to twins: a boy and a girl. They name them Zeke Zidaan Ali Khan (Zizi) and Padam Bhushan (Pappu). The film ends with Nick and Ambar getting married in a traditional Indian ceremony, surrounded by their friends and family.
Salaam Namaste was a commercial success at the box office. It grossed 752 million worldwide (equivalent to 2.5 billion or US$32 million in 2023), making it the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2005 in India, and the highest-grossing Indian film in the overseas market that year . It received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances of the lead actors, the music, the humor, and the fresh and modern take on romance. The film was also appreciated for its portrayal of live-in relationships, which was a taboo topic in Indian society at that time. The film was nominated for several awards, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress at various ceremonies. Preity Zinta received high praise for her role as Ambar and earned nominations for Best Actress at the Filmfare Awards, IIFA Awards, Star Screen Awards and Zee Cine Awards . The script of the film was invited to be included in the Margaret Herrick Library, which is operated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences .
Salaam Namaste is a film that celebrates life and love in a fun and quirky way. It showcases the joys and struggles of two young and independent Indians who try to find their own identity and happiness in a foreign land. It also explores the themes of commitment, responsibility, and compromise in a relationship. The film is a refreshing and entertaining watch that will make you laugh, cry, and cheer for Nick and Ambar.
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