The Prelude
I was in Mumbai last week, fortunately at a time when there was a premiere screening of Andaz Apna Apna on the occasion of its re-release. The trend of re-releases is rising fast, and what better movie to bring back than one of the cult classics—Andaz Apna Apna, which recently completed 30 years since its release.
Andaz Apna Apna happens to be one of my most favourite and re-watchable movies (I think that’s true for most people of my generation as well). So when I was contemplating starting a blog on Movie Memories, I couldn’t think of a better film to begin with.
My First Memory of Watching It
It’s a distant memory, but still a clear one. I was in Standard 5 at St. Xavier’s School, Sahibganj, and living in the school hostel. We had weekly holidays on Tuesdays and Sundays, so Wednesday nights were our movie nights in the hostel. It was one of those Wednesdays when we were shown this movie.
I don’t remember much of the whole experience except that we laughed out loud—and that the music felt a bit dated, more from the previous generation than ours.
How It Became a Cult
This is a tough question to answer, but the film’s re-watchability is one of the biggest factors. Ironically, it didn’t do well at the box office initially for various reasons—the cult status came slowly and gradually.
The USP of this movie was its situational comedy and how it resonated with audiences—something you just never get bored of. All the characters, big or small, had well-defined roles and perfectly fit their parts. In hindsight, the casting was spot on!
YouTube and, more recently, social media helped it gain ground as a cult movie. For those who love comic movie clips, mimic famous dialogues, or create memes—this film offered endless opportunities. From the opening scene with Aamir and Juhi to the chaotic finale, each moment had its own re-watchable humour.
What’s Intriguing About It
First and foremost: why did it fail initially? A similar thing happened to another cult classic—Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro—which also gained its cult status a few years after release. Many say Andaz Apna Apna was ahead of its time, but the main reason seems to be the haphazard release timing, which impacted marketing efforts.
Another surprising fact: despite the fantastic on-screen chemistry, the lead actors reportedly weren’t even on speaking terms—whether it was Salman and Aamir or Karishma and Raveena! That speaks volumes about their acting because you’d never guess it while watching the film.
Will Gen Z Like It?
That’s a bit difficult to say. Still, as a hardcore AAA fan, I’d urge them to experience the madness of this film on the big screen. I’m sure they won’t be disappointed! And for fans like me, watching it in theatres again is nothing short of magical.
You won’t be disappointed!
Over to You
Do share your own memories of this movie and why you love it—if you do! I’d love to read them.
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