Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein

Plot

The story starts with narration by Maddy (R. Madhavan) himself. Maddy is the son of a music shop owner (Anupam Kher) who hopes that Maddy will someday take over his shop. Instead, Maddy is a total brat, not serious about studies and notorious in his college. He harasses the girls in his college. In contrast to him is his arch rival Sam (Saif Ali Khan), a model student, with whom Maddy is at constant loggerheads. The enmity goes so far that Maddy even tries to frame Sam. Sam challenged Maddy for one-on-one fight, to which Maddy happily agreed. But the fight was interrupted in between by the professors. Later at Sam's graduation party, Maddy again tries to challenge Sam, but this time, Sam denies. Sam graduates and leaves the college, but promises Maddy that one fine day, he will complete what was started (i.e., the fight).

Two years later, Maddy has taken a job as software instructor at a private company. His attitude has mellowed a lot, but not changed. He and his college cronies attend a wedding of another classmate, where Maddy spots Reena (Dia Mirza). Maddy is smitten and tries to learn more about her, but in vain. However, destiny makes them meet again. Soon he learns that Reena plans to marry Rajeev Samra, an old friend who is now an NRI. Maddy also learns that Reena doesn't know how Rajeev looks like now.

On persuasion of his friends and specifically by his father (aka DD), Maddy decides to pretend to be Rajeev. Reena, who previously liked him only as a friend, falls in love with him too. Everything goes well until Rajeev's parents call and tell them that the real Rajeev is coming to meet them. On learning this, everyone is shocked and Maddy's secret is revealed. Reena decides to call off her relationship with Maddy. Maddy tries to convince Reena about his true intentions but she refuses to talk to him. Frustrated , Maddy decides to threaten the real Rajeev to back off from the marriage.

Maddy is shocked to see that Rajeev is none other than Sam. Sam is even more infuriated to learn his impostor is actually his old rival in college whom he hated. Rajeev and Reena's parents decide to get them married as soon as possible. Here, Maddy goes into depression and starts drinking. Reena is no better off without him either, as she finds it very difficult to forget him. Though the enmity between Sam and Maddy is renewed, Sam cannot help but notice that Reena is marrying him only because she is mad at Maddy.

Finally, Rajeev confronts Reena and asks her whether she loves him or Maddy. In the meantime, Maddy decides to go to San Francisco, California, taking an offer made to him by his current employer, which initially he had declined. When Rajeev realizes that Reena still loves Maddy, he takes her to the airport. Rajeev and Maddy spot each other. Maddy thinks that Rajeev has come to rebuke him once more. Rajeev hands Reena over to Maddy, upon which the duo confess their feelings for each other. Rajeev is heartbroken, but feigns his old attitude towards Maddy saying that "we can never be friends" and leaves them.

Cast

Production

The success of the Tamil film Minnale led to producer Vashu Bhagnani signing Gautham Menon on to direct the Hindi language remake of the film with Rajshri Productions, Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein, which also featured Madhavan. Though Richa Pallod was initially considered for the leading female role, Diya Mirza and Saif Ali Khan were added to the film. Menon was initially apprehensive but said it took "half an hour" to agree and against his intentions, the producer opted against retaining the technical crew of the original. He changed a few elements, deleted certain scenes and added some more for the version. The team shot for the film in South Africa and shot scenes at Durban Beach and in Drakensberg, with production executive Raakesh Maharaj arranging the unit's stay in the country.

Release

In comparison to Minnale (2001), the film gained mixed reviews with a critic citing that "the presentation is not absorbing" though stating that the director " handled certain sequences with aplomb"; the film subsequently went on to become a below average grosser at the box office. A critic from The Hindu wrote it "is not a bad bargain at the end of a long day" and "there are parts where you would actually enjoy the courting game between a game hero and a gorgeous heroine" with "fine one-liners and good gestures", before adding "a part does not a whole make". The failure of the film left the director disappointed, with Menon claiming in hindsight that the film lacked the simplicity of the original with the producer's intervention affecting proceedings.

However, the film belatedly gained popularity through screenings on television and subsequently developed a cult following amongst young audiences. In 2011, the producer of the film approached him to remake the film with the producer's son Jackky Bhagnani in the lead role, but Menon was uninterested with the offer. On the fifteenth anniversary of the film's release, actors Madhavan and Diya Mirza met up and released a video thanking the film's admirers for their adulation.

Soundtrack

The score and songs were composed by Harris Jayaraj, with lyrics written by Sameer. The last three tracks were bonus tracks and did not feature in the film. Upon release "Zara Zara" and "Sach Keh Raha Hai" topped the Bollywood music charts and the album received positive reviews from critics. All tunes except 'Mujhe Rehna Rehna' and 'Dil Ko Tumse' are from the original Tamil soundtrack.