Raja Hindustani

Raja Hindustani is a Hindi-language romance and action drama released in 1996. It follows a small-town taxi driver and a rich, dreamy young woman whose love grows across the divide of class. The film opened on November 15, 1996, and runs 182 minutes, a long-breathed Bollywood melodrama.

At its center are Aamir Khan as the cab driver Raja and Karisma Kapoor as Aarti, the daughter of a wealthy family, with Johnny Lever and Farida Jalal among the supporting names. The script took its inspiration from the 1965 film Jab Jab Phool Khile, which starred Shashi Kapoor and Nanda. Critics praised the chemistry of the lead pair, and a much-discussed kissing scene added to the buzz. Kapoor's performance as Aarti is regarded as the turning point of her career and earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.

Dharmesh Darshan directed from a screenplay by Robin Bhatt, with Cineyug producing, music by Nadeem-Shravan and lyrics by Sameer. Made for about 5.75 crore rupees, the film grossed 76.34 crore worldwide and topped the year's earnings. At the Filmfare Awards it took five prizes, including Best Film. A Kannada remake, Naanu Naane, followed in 2002 and was later dubbed into Telugu as Prema Bandham.