Bareilly Ki Barfi(2017)
'Bareilly Ki Barfi' is a 2017 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy-drama directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari. The film stars Kriti Sanon, Ayushmann Khurrana, and Rajkummar Rao in lead roles, with Pankaj Tripathi and Seema Pahwa in supporting parts. It is based on Nicolas Barreau's French novel 'The Ingredients of Love'. The story follows Bitti Mishra, a free-spirited young woman in the small town of Bareilly who discovers a book that mirrors her own life. She becomes determined to find the mysterious author, setting off a chain of romantic deceptions and self-discoveries. The film was praised for its heartwarming narrative, strong performances, and authentic portrayal of small-town India. It was a commercial success, grossing over ₹60 crore worldwide against a ₹20 crore budget. It won several awards, including the Filmfare Award for Best Director for Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Best Supporting Actor for Rajkummar Rao. The film was theatrically released on 18 August 2017 and was re-released in theatres on 7 February 2025.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Zee5, Prime Video, Netflix
- Theatrical Release
- 18 August 2017
- Director
- Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 1h 55m
- Rating
- 7.3/10
Storyline
Bitti Mishra is a tomboyish girl from Bareilly who feels trapped by her family's pressure to get married. After running away, she finds a book that describes her perfectly. She becomes obsessed with meeting the author, who she believes is the only person who understands her. But the author is not who he seems, and a web of lies begins to form.
“Finding love in the pages of a book.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Bareilly Ki Barfi
Cast reunions in this film: Kriti Sanon & Rajkummar Rao (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title is a playful nod to the famous Indian sweet 'Barfi', but the story is actually based on the French novel 'The Ingredients of Love' by Nicolas Barreau.
- Ayushmann Khurrana, who plays a dual role, had to gain weight and then lose it quickly to portray both the lean Pritam and the heavier Chirag convincingly.
- The movie was shot extensively in real locations in Bareilly, including the iconic 'Bareilly ka Clock Tower', to capture the authentic small-town vibe.
- Director Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari insisted on using actual local residents as background actors in many scenes to add realism to the setting.
- Kriti Sanon's character Bitti was written as a modern, independent woman who smokes, a detail kept to challenge typical small-town heroine stereotypes in Bollywood.
- The film's soundtrack includes a song called 'Ladki Beautiful Kar Gayi Chull', which became a popular dance number despite the movie's moderate box office performance.
- Rajkummar Rao, who plays the shy Pritam, prepared for his role by observing the mannerisms of quiet, bookish people in real life to make his performance more authentic.