Zeher
Zeher (transl. Poison) is a 2005 Indian Hindi-language mystery thriller film directed by Mohit Suri in his directorial debut and produced by Mukesh Bhatt under the Vishesh Films banner.[1][2] The film stars Emraan Hashmi as police officer Siddharth Mehra, Shamita Shetty as his wife and fellow officer Sonia, and Udita Goswami as his lover Anna Mathur.[3][2] It centers on Siddharth's extramarital affair with Anna, the abused wife of a drug lord, which spirals into chaos when she dies in a fire, making Siddharth the prime suspect in a murder case investigated by Sonia.[2] Released theatrically on 25 March 2005, Zeher is a remake of the 2003 American film Out of Time starring Denzel Washington.[4] The screenplay, written by Mahesh Bhatt, draws from the original film's tense narrative of embezzlement, infidelity, and deception, adapted to a Goa setting with Bollywood sensibilities.[1] The film's soundtrack, featuring compositions by Anu Malik and Mithoon Sharma, became one of its highlights, with the song "Woh Lamhe" sung by Atif Aslam gaining widespread popularity and critical acclaim for its emotional depth.[5][6] Upon release, Zeher received mixed reviews, praised for its suspenseful plot and performances by Hashmi and Shetty but criticized for predictable twists and loose pacing, earning a 5.6/10 rating on IMDb from over 2,500 users.[2] Commercially, it performed moderately at the box office, collecting approximately ₹7.34 crore nett in India against a budget of ₹5 crore, qualifying as an average grosser.[7][8] The film marked an early success for Suri and contributed to Hashmi's rising stardom in the mid-2000s through his string of thriller roles.[1]Background
Development
The story for Zeher was originally conceived and written by Mahesh Bhatt, who served as the screenwriter for the project. The film is an adaptation of the 2003 American thriller Out of Time, directed by Carl Franklin, retaining core plot elements such as a mistaken identity crisis and an elaborate insurance scam while relocating the action to a coastal Goa setting to suit Indian sensibilities.[4] In 2024, actor Deepak Tijori claimed that Mohit Suri stole the idea for Zeher after Tijori pitched an adaptation of Out of Time to Mahesh Bhatt, with Suri present; Tijori alleged no credit was given.[9] Zeher marked the directorial debut of Mohit Suri, a newcomer from the Bhatt family, and was produced by Mahesh Bhatt and his brother Mukesh Bhatt under their established banner Vishesh Films.[2] The script was developed and finalized in late 2004, paving the way for production to begin in early 2005 ahead of its March release.[1] With a total budget of ₹5 crore, the pre-production planning prioritized the film's suspenseful thriller framework and its musical components, including a soundtrack composed by Mithoon Sharma, Roop Kumar Rathod, and Anu Malik, to enhance emotional depth.[10]Casting
Emraan Hashmi was cast in the lead role of Siddharth Mehra, selected for his rising popularity in the thriller genre following the commercial success of Murder (2004). Shamita Shetty portrayed Sonia Mehra, marking her return to feature films after a brief hiatus from major projects since her debut in Mohabbatein (2000), with her casting emphasizing her capacity to convey emotional complexity in intense narratives. Udita Goswami took on the role of Anna Verghese, representing her transition from a successful modeling career to one of her first prominent acting roles in a seductive thriller setup.[11] In supporting roles, Sameer Kochhar played Inspector Rajeev Mathur, Amria appeared as Meera, and Sudesh Berry featured in a key part, contributing to the ensemble's dynamic.[12] The casting process involved auditions held in Mumbai and chemistry tests between Hashmi and Shetty to ensure on-screen compatibility.[13]Narrative
Plot summary
The story is set in Goa, where Siddharth Mehra serves as the chief of police while navigating a strained marriage with his wife, Sonia, who has initiated divorce proceedings.[14] Despite the marital discord, Siddharth begins an extramarital affair with Anna Varghese, a nightclub owner diagnosed with terminal cancer.[14] Desperate to cover her escalating medical expenses, Siddharth impulsively steals ₹25 lakh seized during a recent drug bust and hands it over to Anna.[14] Soon after, a fire engulfs Anna's residence, leaving her presumed dead amid the wreckage, with forensic evidence and the missing funds directly implicating Siddharth in arson and murder.[14] As internal affairs launches an investigation—with Sonia, now his estranged wife and a fellow officer, leading the probe—Siddharth faces mounting pressure to prove his innocence while concealing his affair.[14] The narrative unravels with revelations that Anna orchestrated the fire to fake her death and claim a substantial insurance payout, having exploited Siddharth's affections from the start.[14] In a climactic confrontation, Sonia intervenes and shoots Anna, enabling Siddharth to retrieve the pilfered money.[14] Siddharth ultimately exonerates himself, returns the funds, and reconciles with Sonia, restoring their relationship.[14]Themes and style
Zeher explores the consequences of infidelity as a central theme, portraying how an extramarital affair unravels the life of its protagonist, a police officer entangled in deception and murder. The film delves into moral ambiguity within law enforcement, highlighting the ethical dilemmas faced by Siddharth, who compromises his integrity to cover up his involvement, blurring the lines between duty and personal failings. Redemption emerges through the pursuit of truth, as characters confront their secrets, ultimately seeking reconciliation and justice amid escalating tension. These themes underscore the destructive "poison" of hidden desires, drawing from the narrative's core conflicts to examine relational fragility.[15][16] Stylistically, Zeher incorporates neo-noir influences, evident in its moody atmosphere and suspenseful pacing, which build psychological tension rather than relying on graphic violence. Mohit Suri's directorial debut emphasizes emotional intimacy within the thriller framework, using a gripping script to weave personal drama with mystery elements, resulting in a slick, stylized execution that balances intensity and melodrama. The film's 132-minute runtime is structured to gradually escalate suspense, culminating in key twists that heighten the stakes. This approach marks Suri's early style of blending romantic undertones with thriller tropes, creating an engaging yet predictable narrative flow.[17][18][16] Visually, the film employs Goa's idyllic beaches and vibrant landscapes as motifs contrasting the characters' dark secrets, symbolizing the hidden dangers lurking beneath seemingly perfect relationships. This genre blend of mystery-thriller and romantic drama amplifies the thematic depth, focusing on internal conflicts and deceit to drive the story forward without overt action sequences. The neo-noir aesthetic, including shadowy lighting and deliberate pacing, enhances the sense of impending doom, reinforcing the film's exploration of moral and emotional peril.[15][17]Production
Principal photography
Principal photography for Zeher commenced in early 2005 and wrapped prior to the film's March release, allowing for a swift production timeline on a modest budget. The majority of the exterior scenes were filmed in Goa to evoke the story's sultry, coastal atmosphere, with beaches and clubs in North Goa providing the backdrop for intimate and nightlife scenes depicting the central affair, while interior shots, including dialogues and domestic settings, were captured in Mumbai studios to facilitate controlled environments.[12] Cinematographer Fuwad Khan employed natural lighting to highlight Goa's vibrant yet ominous ambiance, enhancing the thriller's mood of underlying tension. Despite potential logistical hurdles from the region's weather patterns, the shoot concluded on schedule without major delays. Editor Akiv Ali contributed to the production by preparing preliminary cuts of action sequences during filming, enabling efficient integration of quick-paced edits that amplified the film's suspenseful rhythm.[12]Post-production
The editing of Zeher was handled by Akiv Ali, who assembled the final 132-minute cut of the film. The process emphasized non-linear flashbacks to build suspense and maintain narrative tension throughout the thriller.[12][1] The film was awarded a U/A rating by the Central Board of Film Certification owing to its portrayal of mature themes, including romance, infidelity, and violence.[19]Release
Theatrical distribution
Zeher was theatrically released in India on 25 March 2005, distributed by Vishesh Films across 275 screens nationwide.[20][10][1][21] The film's marketing campaign featured trailers that emphasized its thriller elements and leveraged the rising star power of Emraan Hashmi to attract audiences, with promotions closely tied to the soundtrack launch on 25 February 2005.[19][22] Internationally, Zeher received limited releases in markets including the UK (April 25, 2005) and other regions, distributed by NH Studioz.[20][23][24][25] For home media, the DVD edition was issued in 2006, while as of November 2025, the film is accessible via streaming on platforms including Netflix in select regions.[26][27][28][29]Box office performance
Zeher earned a nett collection of ₹7.34 crore in India, translating to a gross of ₹10.19 crore domestically.[7] Overseas, the film grossed ₹0.53 crore, leading to a worldwide total of ₹10.72 crore according to Bollywood Hungama, though Box Office India reports a slightly higher worldwide gross of ₹11.06 crore.[7][10] Alternate estimates place the worldwide figure closer to ₹10.69 crore.[30] The film opened with a worldwide weekend collection of ₹3.14 crore and accumulated ₹5.22 crore in its first week globally.[10] Produced on a budget of ₹5 crore, Zeher achieved a return of approximately 114-121% on its investment based on worldwide gross earnings.[10][7] Box Office India classified the film as an "Average" performer, while some analyses describe it as a semi-hit.[10] The film's commercial performance received a boost from robust soundtrack sales, which ranked fourth among Bollywood albums that year, alongside the rising popularity of lead actor Emraan Hashmi.[31]Music
Soundtrack development
The soundtrack for Zeher was primarily composed by Anu Malik, who handled the majority of the tracks to blend melodic romanticism with the film's tense thriller atmosphere, while additional compositions came from Mithoon, Roop Kumar Rathod, Jal (the Pakistani band), and Naresh Sharma.[6] The lyrics were penned by Sayeed Quadri and Shakeel Azmi, whose words emphasized emotional depth to complement the narrative's themes of love and deception.[32] Recording sessions occurred throughout 2004 in Mumbai studios, with Mithoon creating an initial demo of his track "Woh Lamhe Woh Baatein" in just two days using his bedroom setup before refining it professionally with the production team.[33] A pivotal decision in the soundtrack's development was the adaptation of the Pakistani band Jal's existing song "Woh Lamhe" for the film, which Mithoon reworked under the guidance of producer Mukesh Bhatt; this marked 19-year-old singer Atif Aslam's debut as a Hindi playback artist, selected for his raw emotional delivery that suited the thriller's intensity.[32] The opportunity arose when Bhatt approached Naresh Sharma (Mithoon's father and a veteran composer) for the project, but Sharma recommended his son, leading to swift approval after the demo presentation to director Mohit Suri and the team.[33] Quadri and Azmi's lyrics for tracks like "Woh Lamhe Woh Baatein" were rewritten from the original to better align with the film's Hindi context, ensuring a seamless fusion of cross-border musical influences.[33] The album comprises eight tracks and was released on 25 February 2005 by T-Series, ahead of the film's theatrical premiere.[34] Composers and lyricists focused on syncing the songs with key emotional beats in the plot, such as using "Agar Tum Mil Jao" (composed by Anu Malik) to underscore scenes of illicit romance and longing between the protagonists.[6] This integration was achieved during post-production sound mixing, where musical cues were precisely timed to heighten the thriller's suspenseful undertones without overpowering the romantic core.[32]Track listing and commercial success
The soundtrack of Zeher consists of eight tracks, blending romantic ballads, remixes, and instrumental pieces composed by Mithoon, Anu Malik, Roop Kumar Rathod, Jal, and Naresh Sharma.[22]| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Agar Tum Mil Jao (Female)" | Shreya Ghoshal | 4:47 |
| 2 | "Woh Lamhe Woh Baatein" | Atif Aslam | 5:04 |
| 3 | "Right Here Right Now" | Jal | 3:53 |
| 4 | "Ye Dooriyan" | Roop Kumar Rathod | 5:23 |
| 5 | "Dheere Dheere" | Alka Yagnik, Sonu Nigam | 5:16 |
| 6 | "Jaane Ja Jaane Ja" | Udit Narayan, Shreya Ghoshal | 5:12 |
| 7 | "Aye Bekhabar" | Sunidhi Chauhan | 5:56 |
| 8 | "Woh Lamhe Woh Baatein (Remix)" | Atif Aslam | 3:56 |