Hero Hiralal(1988)
Hero Hiralal is a 1988 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film directed by Ketan Mehta. The lead roles are played by Naseeruddin Shah and Sanjana Kapoor. The story follows a poor Hyderabadi auto-rickshaw driver who dreams of becoming a film star and falls in love with a wealthy film heroine. The film blends humor with social commentary on class divides. It is known for its popular punchline 'Phata Poster Nikla Hero'. The music was composed by Babla Shah with lyrics by Hriday Lani. The film was released in 1988 in India.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Prime Video, YouTube, Ultra Play
- Theatrical Release
- 21 February 1988
- Director
- Ketan Mehta
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 25m
- Rating
- 5.1/10
Storyline
A poor auto-rickshaw driver in Hyderabad dreams of becoming a film star. When he falls in love with a rich film heroine, he pretends to be a successful actor. His lie threatens to destroy everything. He must choose between his fake identity and his true self.
“Phata Poster Nikla Hero”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Hero Hiralal
Cast reunions in this film: Rohini Hattangadi & Naseeruddin Shah (8 films together), Naseeruddin Shah & Amitabh Bachchan (6 films together), Naseeruddin Shah & Satish Shah (6 films together), Deepa Sahi & Ketan Mehta (6 films together), Kiran Kumar & Saeed Jaffrey (5 films together), and Kiran Kumar & Naseeruddin Shah (4 films together).
Trivia
- The film was originally titled 'Hero Hiralal' but was also released in some regions as 'Hero Hiralal Ki Kahani'.
- It marked the debut of actress Rupa Ganguly, who later became famous for her role in the TV series 'Mahabharat'.
- The movie is a satire on the obsession with Bollywood and the common man's dream of becoming a film star.
- Director Ketan Mehta is known for his offbeat films, and this was one of his few mainstream commercial attempts.
- The film's soundtrack, composed by Rajkamal, did not achieve major commercial success upon release.
- Naseeruddin Shah's character, an auto-rickshaw driver, was noted for its blend of comedy and pathos.
- The movie was shot in both Rajasthan and Mumbai, contrasting small-town life with the glamour of Bombay.