Jun. 24, 2005|India|141 Min.|n/A
Genre: Bollywood;Drama;Fantasy;Romance
Description: The 2005 film “Paheli,” narrated by puppets voiced by Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah, tells the story of Lachchi, played by Rani Mukerji, who marries Kishan, portrayed by Shah Rukh Khan. Kishan is the son of a wealthy merchant, Bhanwarlal, played by Anupam Kher. Despite being a devoted son, Kishan leaves for a business trip the day after his wedding, abandoning his new wife. Lachchi is heartbroken, but her sister-in-law Gajrobai, played by Juhi Chawla, attempts to console her, as her own husband has also disappeared.
Shortly after, a ghost appears, taking on Kishan’s form and voice, drawn by his affection for Lachchi. This ghost, embodying all Lachchi’s desires, wins over everyone in the family, including Bhanwarlal, by producing magical gold coins. However, the ghost’s only mistake is mistreating a messenger, Bhoja, who becomes confused and offended by the strange events.
Lachchi begins a new life with this version of Kishan, finding happiness until the real Kishan returns four years later upon hearing rumors of Lachchi’s pregnancy. He discovers the ghost impersonating him, leading to a confusing situation where the family cannot determine who is the true Kishan. To resolve the dilemma, they seek the king’s judgment to identify the real Kishan.
Cast director: Amol Palekar
Cast actor: Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Anupam Kher, Aditi Gowitrikar, Rajpal Yadav, Dilip Prabhavalkar, Palak Jain, A.K. Hangal, Ratna Pathak, Naseeruddin Shah
Original name: पहेली