Heroine(2012)
Heroine is a 2012 Indian Hindi-language psychological drama film directed by Madhur Bhandarkar. It stars Kareena Kapoor as Mahi Arora, a Bollywood superstar, with supporting roles by Arjun Rampal, Randeep Hooda, and Shahana Goswami. The story follows Mahi's rise to fame and her subsequent fall due to addiction, betrayal, and media scrutiny. Set in the glamorous but ruthless world of Bollywood, the film explores the dark side of stardom. Heroine was noted for Kareena Kapoor's intense performance and its unflinching look at the film industry. It received mixed reviews from critics but was a commercial success, grossing over ₹43 crore worldwide. The film was released on 21 September 2012.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 21 September 2012
- Director
- Madhur Bhandarkar
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 28m
- Rating
- 4.8/10
Storyline
Mahi Arora is a top Bollywood actress who has everything—fame, money, and a cricketer boyfriend. But her temper and ego start destroying her career. She loses her lover to a younger actress and her films to a rising star. As she spirals into alcohol and despair, Mahi must decide if she can find happiness beyond the spotlight.
“Behind every star is a struggle.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Heroine
Cast reunions in this film: Arjun Rampal & Kareena Kapoor (4 films together), Arjun Rampal & Shahana Goswami (3 films together), Salim-Sulaiman & Kareena Kapoor (2 films together), Divya Dutta & Arjun Rampal (2 films together), Divya Dutta & Ranvir Shorey (2 films together), and Mugdha Godse & Madhur Bhandarkar (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film was originally written for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, but she dropped out due to pregnancy.
- Kareena Kapoor replaced Aishwarya and reportedly lost weight to look like a 'heroine' on screen.
- The film's poster was inspired by the iconic Hollywood film 'All About Eve' from 1950.
- It was the first Bollywood film to be screened at the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2012.
- Madhur Bhandarkar is known for realistic films, and he met many actresses to research for this movie.
- The film faced legal issues for using the title 'Heroine' as it was already registered by someone else.
- Despite mixed reviews, the film was a commercial success, earning over 50 crore rupees in India.