Dil Aashna Hai is mostly associated today with Shah Rukh Khan's name, as it was one of his earliest films, and how can anyone not wonder what this phenomenal film star was like way before the craze that followed soon after. But it is is also the first directorial venture of Hema Malini, herself a huge star and one of the most popular actresses in Indian films. And sadly, it was also one of the last films starring the young and talented Divya Bharti.
Dil Aashna Hai leaves one wishing for more. As mentioned above, Hema Malini was a successful mainstream star but she experimented with serious cinema as well well in several films directed by Gulzar, such as Khushboo, Kinara, and Meera, as well as other attempts with Rihaee, Ek Chadal Maili Si, and the likes. Sadly, unlike Rekha or Dimple Kapadia, she never got due recognition for these efforts to leave a mark as an actor. And neither does this film.
Knowing of Malini's experimental acting choices, one wishes Dil Aashna Hai had more depth, but instead we are presented with a most formulaic script and a rather typical star-studded product which lacks originality and offers nothing new in story or execution. The film has multiple subplots, but every story is too repetitive although the concept of one girl looking for her biological mother from a sea of options is not too bad.
Given the extraordinary number of famous faces, the film might have been quite an attraction back when it opened, and rightly so. The trio of Dimple Kapadia, Amrita Singh and Sonu Walia is very good since all three of them have great screen presence even if some are better where strinctly acting is concerned. Kapadia is obviously given more importance but all three are good. Jeetendra and Mithun Chakraborty replay the romantic heroes they played countless times back when they were younger.
The only source of freshness in an otherwise dull story which lacks originality is in the lead pair of Divya Bharti and Shah Rukh Khan. Bharti is the film's main protagonist, and she is very enrgetic and convincing as the young orphan looking for her roots. Khan, in one of his early films, is not given enough scope or the freedom to let himself go wild at the camera as he would do so famously later on, but he is good enough within the framework of the film and is good support for Bharti.
Dil Aashna Hai is actually much better than expected at the end of the day. Despite its lack of ideas, it works to a considerable extent. The story flows well, and Hema Malini's direction is not bad at all. The film's many stars give the film a sort of energy and interest not warranted by the script, and those fond of Hindi films always like their heroes and heroines gathered together in one film, so those looking for some nostalgic entertainment might want to give it a try, at their own cost.
Dil Aashna Hai leaves one wishing for more. As mentioned above, Hema Malini was a successful mainstream star but she experimented with serious cinema as well well in several films directed by Gulzar, such as Khushboo, Kinara, and Meera, as well as other attempts with Rihaee, Ek Chadal Maili Si, and the likes. Sadly, unlike Rekha or Dimple Kapadia, she never got due recognition for these efforts to leave a mark as an actor. And neither does this film.
Knowing of Malini's experimental acting choices, one wishes Dil Aashna Hai had more depth, but instead we are presented with a most formulaic script and a rather typical star-studded product which lacks originality and offers nothing new in story or execution. The film has multiple subplots, but every story is too repetitive although the concept of one girl looking for her biological mother from a sea of options is not too bad.
Given the extraordinary number of famous faces, the film might have been quite an attraction back when it opened, and rightly so. The trio of Dimple Kapadia, Amrita Singh and Sonu Walia is very good since all three of them have great screen presence even if some are better where strinctly acting is concerned. Kapadia is obviously given more importance but all three are good. Jeetendra and Mithun Chakraborty replay the romantic heroes they played countless times back when they were younger.
The only source of freshness in an otherwise dull story which lacks originality is in the lead pair of Divya Bharti and Shah Rukh Khan. Bharti is the film's main protagonist, and she is very enrgetic and convincing as the young orphan looking for her roots. Khan, in one of his early films, is not given enough scope or the freedom to let himself go wild at the camera as he would do so famously later on, but he is good enough within the framework of the film and is good support for Bharti.
Dil Aashna Hai is actually much better than expected at the end of the day. Despite its lack of ideas, it works to a considerable extent. The story flows well, and Hema Malini's direction is not bad at all. The film's many stars give the film a sort of energy and interest not warranted by the script, and those fond of Hindi films always like their heroes and heroines gathered together in one film, so those looking for some nostalgic entertainment might want to give it a try, at their own cost.