English Babu Desi Mem(1996)
English Babu Desi Mem is a 1996 Hindi-language romantic comedy film directed by Praveen Nischol. The film stars Shah Rukh Khan in a triple role as Gopal Mayur and his sons Hari and Vikram, alongside Sonali Bendre as Bijuriya. The story follows Vikram, a British-raised Indian businessman, who travels to Mumbai to claim custody of his orphaned nephew Nandu from his caring aunt Bijuriya. The film explores themes of cultural identity, family bonds, and love overcoming prejudice. It is loosely based on the American film It Started in Naples (1960). The film released on 26 January 1996 and is now owned by Red Chillies Entertainment.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Netflix
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 1996
- Director
- Praveen Nischol
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 46m
- Rating
- 4.9/10
Storyline
A wealthy British-Indian businessman Vikram Mayur must travel to Mumbai to bring his orphaned nephew back to London. But the boy's loving aunt Bijuriya will do anything to keep him. Vikram must choose between his cold, Western life and the warm, chaotic family he finds in India.
“Love knows no borders.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for English Babu Desi Mem
Cast reunions in this film: Kiran Kumar & Saeed Jaffrey (5 films together), Kiran Kumar & Mushtaq Khan (4 films together), Kiran Kumar & Sudhir Dalvi (3 films together), Shahrukh Khan & Sonali Bendre (2 films together), Shahrukh Khan & Kiran Kumar (2 films together), and Shahrukh Khan & Vivek Vaswani (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film was originally titled 'Vikram' after the lead character, but was changed to 'English Babu Desi Mem' before release.
- This was the only film directed by Praveen Nischol, who was better known as an actor in the 1970s.
- The movie's soundtrack, composed by Nikhil-Vinay, was a commercial hit, with the song 'Kya Kare Kya Na Kare' becoming popular.
- Shah Rukh Khan played a dual role, portraying both the lead character Vikram and his deceased brother Hari.
- The film's plot was noted for its focus on the conflict between Indian family values and a Western lifestyle.
- Actress Sonali Bendre, who played the female lead, was a former Miss India and this was one of her early film roles.
- Despite its star cast, the film did not perform well at the box office upon its initial release.