HOUSEFULL (2010)

Summary:

Housefull is a chaotic romantic comedy that follows Aarush, an orphan who believes he is cursed with bad luck, bringing misfortune to everyone he cares about. After a series of personal tragedies, he moves to London, where he lives with his best friend Bob and Bob's wife Hetal, who are secretly struggling financially and trying to maintain appearances for Hetal's wealthy father, Batuk Patel. Aarush falls in love with Soundarya (Sandy), but her overprotective military brother, Major Krishna Rao, disapproves of Aarush's perceived bad luck and instability.

To win Krishna's approval, Aarush fabricates an elaborate lie, pretending to be wealthy and successful, leading to a hilarious and increasingly complicated web of deceit involving multiple characters, mistaken identities, and slapstick situations. The film explores themes of love, friendship, family expectations, and the belief in luck, all wrapped in a high-energy comedic package with a large ensemble cast navigating a series of farcical misunderstandings and an unexpected visit from a wild animal.

Keywords: Housefull, 2010, Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Deepika Padukone, Lara Dutta, Jiah Khan, Arjun Rampal, Comedy, Romance, Action.

Plot:

The story introduces Aarush (Akshay Kumar), an Indian orphan living in London, who firmly believes he is cursed with bad luck. This supposed curse manifests repeatedly, causing misfortunes for anyone close to him. His first love, Devika (Jiah Khan), leaves him after a series of calamitous events, including her father's untimely death and a disastrous wedding ceremony where the priest suffers a heart attack. Dejected, Aarush moves in with his best friend Bob (Riteish Deshmukh) and Bob's wife Hetal (Lara Dutta) in London. Bob and Hetal are struggling financially but are desperate to hide their poverty from Hetal's wealthy father, Batuk Patel (Boman Irani), who believes Bob is a successful banker. Their lives are a constant charade of pretending affluence.

Aarush soon meets Soundarya Bhagyalakshmi Venkateshwari Basappa Rao, affectionately known as Sandy (Deepika Padukone), a beautiful dancer. He falls deeply in love with her, but his persistent bad luck hinders his attempts to propose. After a series of comical mishaps, including a misunderstanding where Sandy believes Aarush is proposing to her dog, she eventually accepts his proposal. However, Sandy has an extremely protective older brother, Major Krishna Rao (Arjun Rampal), a strict and disciplined military officer who is fiercely suspicious of Aarush's instability and perceived bad luck. Krishna's disapproval becomes the primary obstacle to Aarush and Sandy's marriage.

To gain Krishna's approval, Aarush concocts an elaborate lie, claiming to be a wealthy businessman. This initial deception rapidly spirals out of control, creating a chain reaction of increasingly complicated and absurd lies. Aarush pretends that Hetal's father, Batuk Patel, is his own affluent father. Coincidentally, Batuk Patel arrives in London for a visit, expecting to see his daughter and son-in-law living a lavish life, which forces Bob and Hetal to maintain their own pretense of wealth. The situation becomes even more convoluted when a random old man (Randhir Kapoor), whom Aarush had briefly encountered and helped, shows up at their doorstep, claiming to be Aarush's long-lost father, further complicating the already fragile web of lies.

Adding to the chaos, Devika, Aarush's ex-girlfriend, reappears with her new husband, Paramveer Singh (Manoj Pahwa). Paramveer is also pretending to be a wealthy prince, but he is, in fact, a cunning conman, and Devika is his accomplice, aiming to exploit the situation for financial gain. The entire ensemble – Aarush, Sandy, Bob, Hetal, Krishna, Batuk, the fake father, Devika, and Paramveer – converges at a grand mansion, where they are all forced to maintain multiple, contradictory lies simultaneously. The house itself becomes a stage for farcical encounters and near-discoveries, with each character trying to outwit or deceive the others to protect their secrets.

The situation escalates dramatically with the unexpected escape of a lion from a nearby circus, which finds its way into the mansion, adding an element of genuine danger and slapstick horror to the comedic proceedings. Aakhri Pasta (Chunky Pandey), a quirky Italian restaurant owner and a recurring character, also becomes entangled in the madness, providing additional comic relief. Major Krishna, growing increasingly suspicious of Aarush's inconsistent stories and the strange occurrences around him, begins his own investigation, slowly uncovering the truth about Aarush's humble background and the elaborate charade.

The climax of the film is a high-octane sequence of chases, misunderstandings, and confrontations. Paramveer attempts to steal a significant sum of money, further exposing his true intentions and Devika's involvement. The various lies begin to unravel, leading to a dramatic revelation of all the truths to Krishna, Batuk, and the other characters. Aarush, despite his initial deceptions, eventually proves his sincerity, courage, and genuine love for Sandy, particularly during the chaotic struggle against Paramveer and the escaped lion. He demonstrates that his character and intentions are pure, regardless of his financial status or perceived bad luck.

In the end, Aarush's genuine nature and heroic actions win over Krishna, who finally gives his blessing for Aarush and Sandy's marriage. The film concludes with Aarush and Sandy happily married, suggesting that Aarush's "curse" has finally lifted, and his luck has turned for the better. The various characters find resolution, with Bob and Hetal coming clean to Batuk Patel, and the con artists Paramveer and Devika getting their just deserts. The film wraps up with a celebratory and optimistic tone, emphasizing the power of love and honesty over pretense and superstition.

Cast (Lead Roles):

• Akshay Kumar as Aarush
• Riteish Deshmukh as Babu Rao / Bob
• Arjun Rampal as Major Krishna Rao
• Lara Dutta as Hetal Patel
• Deepika Padukone as Soundarya Bhagyalakshmi Venkateshwari Basappa Rao (Sandy)
• Jiah Khan as Devika
• Boman Irani as Batuk Patel
• Chunky Pandey as Aakhri Pasta

Crew:

• Director: Sajid Khan
• Producer: Sajid Nadiadwala
• Writers: Sajid Khan, Robin Bhatt, Akhilesh Jaiswal, Nirej Kumar (Screenplay); Anvita Dutt Guptan (Dialogue)
• Music Director: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
• Cinematography: Vikas Sivaraman
• Editor: Rameshwar S. Bhagat

Release Info:

• Original Release Date: April 30, 2010
• Language: Hindi
• Genre: Comedy, Romance, Action
• Running Time: 160 minutes
• Accolades:
  • Stardust Award for Best Film - Comedy/Romance
  • IIFA Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role (Riteish Deshmukh)
  • Nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Akshay Kumar)
  • Nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Comedian (Riteish Deshmukh)