R... Rajkumar
R... Rajkumar is a 2013 Indian Hindi-language action romantic comedy film directed and written by Prabhu Deva.[1] Produced by Viki Rajani and Sunil Lulla under the banner of Next Gen Films, the movie features Shahid Kapoor in the lead role as Romeo Rajkumar, an aimless young man drawn into a world of drug lords and rivalries, alongside Sonakshi Sinha as Chanda and Sonu Sood as the villainous Boss.[1] Released theatrically on 6 December 2013, it blends high-energy action sequences, romantic elements, and comedic undertones, with a runtime of 146 minutes.[2] The plot centers on Romeo Rajkumar, an aimless youth who starts working for the drug lord Shivraj Gurjar and is tasked with killing his rival drug lord Manik Parmar. He falls in love with Chanda, Parmar's niece, without knowing her connection, leading to conflicts between loyalty and romance.[3] The soundtrack, composed by Pritam Chakraborty, includes popular tracks such as "Gandi Baat" and "Saree Ke Fall Sa", which contributed significantly to the film's buzz and cultural impact.[1] Despite receiving mixed critical reception—with praise for its energetic performances and action but criticism for predictable storytelling—R... Rajkumar achieved commercial success, collecting approximately ₹66.1 crore nett in India and over ₹101 crore worldwide.[4][5] It earned nominations at events like the BIG Star Entertainment Awards and marked a notable box-office milestone for Shahid Kapoor, reinforcing Prabhu Deva's reputation for mass-appeal entertainers.[6]Synopsis
Plot
The film is set in the opium-growing town of Dhartipur, dominated by two warring drug lords, Shivraj and his rival Manik Parmar, whose longstanding feud controls the local underworld.[7][8] Romeo Rajkumar, a carefree and aimless young man without purpose, arrives in the town and joins Shivraj's gang as a skilled henchman, embracing a life of petty crime and revelry.[3][1] Shivraj, impressed by Rajkumar's fighting prowess, assigns him the critical mission of assassinating Parmar to consolidate power in the region.[4][8] While on this assignment, Rajkumar encounters Chanda, a bold and independent young woman from the village, and instantly falls in love, pursuing her with persistent charm despite her initial resistance.[9][10] Unbeknownst to him at first, Chanda is Parmar's niece and lives under his protection.[1][4] Complicating matters, Shivraj also becomes enamored with Chanda and proposes an arranged marriage to her as a strategic alliance to end the bloody rivalry with Parmar, who reluctantly agrees for the sake of peace in Dhartipur.[7][10] Learning of the forced betrothal, a devastated Rajkumar confronts his boss, torn between his loyalty to Shivraj and his deepening romance with Chanda, who reciprocates his feelings amid the growing danger.[9][11] Defying orders, Rajkumar sabotages the alliance by challenging Shivraj to a showdown, vowing to marry Chanda himself on the same day as the planned wedding, igniting a personal vendetta that escalates the gang war.[7] He shifts from a reluctant enforcer to a determined protector, engaging in intense action sequences against Shivraj's henchmen and navigating betrayals within the rival factions.[10][9] In the climax, Rajkumar storms the wedding venue in a high-stakes confrontation, battling waves of armed goons from both sides using agile, dance-infused combat techniques honed from his streetwise background.[10] He ultimately defeats Shivraj and Parmar, dismantling their empires and freeing Chanda from the coercive union.[9][8] With the threats eliminated, Rajkumar completes his transformation into a heroic figure driven by love and retribution, uniting with Chanda in a triumphant resolution that restores order to the town.[9][10]Cast
The principal cast of R... Rajkumar features Shahid Kapoor in the lead role as Romeo "R..." Rajkumar, a street-smart and action-oriented protagonist known for his roguish charm and ability to shift from affable to intimidating in an instant.[12][13] Sonakshi Sinha portrays Chanda, the spirited love interest affiliated with a rival faction in the film's central conflict.[12][10] In a key supporting role, Sonu Sood plays Shivraj Gurjar, the primary antagonist and a powerful drug lord driven by ruthless ambition to dominate the opium trade.[12][10] Mukul Dev appears as Qamar Ali, a loyal henchman of Shivraj entangled in the escalating rivalries.[12][8] Ashish Vidyarthi embodies Manik Parmar, another formidable gangster whose familial ties heighten the interpersonal tensions.[12][10] The ensemble is rounded out by veteran actor Govardhan Asrani as the astrologer (also referred to as Pandit or Guruji), providing comic relief through his eccentric advisory role.[12] Notable special appearances include director Prabhu Deva in the song "Sapna Jahan" and Charmy Kaur as the item girl in the sequence "Gandi Baat."[12]Production
Development
The development of R... Rajkumar began with director Prabhu Deva's original concept for a high-energy masala entertainer that fused intense action sequences, romantic elements, and comedic interludes, drawing inspiration from his earlier success with the 2009 film Wanted, which had revitalized the genre in Bollywood.[14] Deva envisioned the story as a fast-paced narrative centered on a young man's entanglement in the drug trade, highlighting stark contrasts between rural simplicity and urban corruption to drive the plot's conflicts and character arcs. The project was backed by producers Viki Rajani and Sunil Lulla under the Next Gen Films banner, with initial announcements referring to the film as Rambo Rajkumar to evoke a rugged, action-hero vibe akin to the iconic Rambo series.[15] However, due to copyright concerns raised by the holders of the Rambo franchise, the title was altered to R... Rajkumar prior to release, shifting the emphasis to the protagonist's name while retaining the film's core identity.[16] Scripting was led by Prabhu Deva, who contributed the story and initial screenplay, collaborating with Sunil Kumar Agrawal and Ravi S. Sundaram on the full screenplay, while Shiraz Ahmed penned the dialogues to infuse the narrative with punchy, colloquial flair suitable for a commercial entertainer. This collaborative process emphasized a tight structure that balanced high-stakes drug cartel intrigue with lighter romantic and humorous beats, ensuring broad appeal without delving into overly complex subplots. Casting aligned with Deva's vision for dynamic performers capable of handling the film's multifaceted demands. Shahid Kapoor was selected for the titular role of Rajkumar, leveraging his established versatility in action and dance-heavy projects following recent commercial hits. Sonakshi Sinha was chosen as the female lead Chanda, capitalizing on her rising stardom from the Dabangg franchise, where she had demonstrated strong screen presence in mass-appeal roles. Sonu Sood was cast as the antagonist Shivraj Gurjar, drawing on his prior experience portraying menacing villains in Bollywood and South Indian cinema to anchor the film's central conflict.Filming
Principal photography for R... Rajkumar commenced in early 2013 and concluded in late October 2013, spanning approximately eight months. The production utilized diverse locations, including Wai in Maharashtra for key outdoor sequences and Mumbai studios for interiors, while the song "Saree Ke Fall Sa" was filmed in the white salt desert of the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat.[17][18] The filming process presented several logistical challenges, particularly in coordinating the picturization of elaborate song sequences amid the demands of action-oriented shoots. Lead actor Shahid Kapoor sustained multiple injuries during the production, including burns to his back and shoulder from a fire stunt mishap and strains from rigorous dance rehearsals, necessitating reshoots to maintain perfection in the performance-heavy numbers.[19][20][21] Key action sequences, featuring intense fight scenes with Shahid Kapoor and dynamic stunts involving vehicles, were choreographed by director Prabhu Deva, who drew on his background as a dancer to blend high-energy combat with rhythmic elements. Dance choreography for the film's musical numbers was overseen by a team including Prabhu Deva, Ganesh Acharya, Caesar Gonsalves, and Bosco Martis, emphasizing synchronized group performances and Shahid Kapoor's lead routines.[12][22] Cinematographer Mohana Krishna captured the film's vibrant aesthetic, employing a bold color palette to heighten the comedic and romantic tones amid the action-driven narrative.[12]Music
Soundtrack
The soundtrack of R... Rajkumar was composed by Pritam Chakraborty and consists of five principal vocal tracks, supplemented by film versions and a remix, totaling seven songs on the album released by Eros Music on 7 November 2013. The lyrics, penned by a team including Anupam Amod, Mayur Puri, Ashish Pandit, and Nilesh Mishra, emphasize playful romance in tracks like "Saree Ke Fall Sa" and bold bravado in numbers such as "Gandi Baat" and "Kaddu Katega," aligning with the film's high-energy masala action-comedy tone.[23] The album was re-released in 2023 by Sony Music India. The recording took place in Mumbai studios from 2010 to 2013, with Pritam collaborating closely with the vocalists to infuse the songs with infectious rhythms and hooks tailored for the movie's dance sequences. Notably, "Gandi Baat" emerged as an early hit single, topping music charts shortly after its teaser release in October 2013 due to its catchy folk-infused beat and Mika Singh's energetic delivery.[24]Track listing
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Lyricist(s) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Gandi Baat" | Mika Singh, Kalpana Patowary | Anupam Amod | 4:09 |
| 2 | "Saree Ke Fall Sa" | Nakash Aziz, Antara Mitra | Mayur Puri | 4:00 |
| 3 | "Dhokha Dhadi" | Arijit Singh, Palak Muchhal | Nilesh Mishra, Swanand Kirkire | 4:09 |
| 4 | "Mat Maari" | Kunal Ganjawala, Sunidhi Chauhan | Ashish Pandit | 4:22 |
| 5 | "Kaddu Katega" | Antara Mitra | Ashish Pandit | 3:31 |
| 6 | "Gandi Baat (Film Version)" | Nakash Aziz, Ritu Pathak | Anupam Amod | 4:26 |
| 7 | "Saree Ke Fall Sa (Remix)" | Nakash Aziz, Antara Mitra | Mayur Puri | 3:49 |