# Anari (अनाड़ी) (1993 film)

**Anari** (अनाड़ी) is a 1993 Hindi-language romantic drama directed by K. Muralimohana Rao and produced by D. Rama Naidu under the Suresh Productions banner, starring Venkatesh Daggubati and [Karisma Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/karisma-kapoor).<sup>[1](https://hindiwikia.com/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%BC%E0%A5%80_%281993_%E0%A4%AB%E0%A4%BC%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%29)</sup> It marked the Bollywood debut of the Telugu star Venkatesh and was a commercial success at the Indian box office.<sup>[2](https://b4uentertainment.com/b4u-kadak-india/anari-1)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 26 March 1993 (India), Hindi language<sup>[1](https://hindiwikia.com/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%BC%E0%A5%80_%281993_%E0%A4%AB%E0%A4%BC%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%29)</sup> |
| Director / producer | K. Muralimohana Rao; D. Rama Naidu, Suresh Productions<sup>[1](https://hindiwikia.com/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%BC%E0%A5%80_%281993_%E0%A4%AB%E0%A4%BC%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%29)</sup> |
| Source | Remake of the 1991 Tamil film *Chinna Thambi*; the Telugu remake *Chanti* (1992) also starred Venkatesh<sup>[2](https://b4uentertainment.com/b4u-kadak-india/anari-1)</sup> |
| Leads | Venkatesh Daggubati as Rama; Karisma Kapoor as Raj Nandini<sup>[2](https://b4uentertainment.com/b4u-kadak-india/anari-1)</sup> |
| Music | Anand–Milind; lyrics by Sameer<sup>[3](https://www.moviebuff.com/anari)</sup> |
| Box office (Sacnilk) | India net ₹5.60 Cr, total gross ₹10.00 Cr, budget ₹2.75 Cr, verdict Hit<sup>[4](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Anari1993)</sup> |
| Box office (Bollywood Hungama) | Lifetime India net 6 cr, verdict Super-Hit<sup>[5](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/box-office-collections/filterbycountry/IND/1993/)</sup> |
| IMDb rating | 5.4/10 from 712 users<sup>[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106270/)</sup> |

## Spoilers

### Plot

The story is set among feudal landlords, or zamindars, whose word is law for the villagers who work their land.<sup>[8](https://www.indya101.com/c/movies/overview/id_1799/Anari)</sup> Raj Nandini (Karisma Kapoor) is the much younger sister of three wealthy, overprotective brothers; after an astrologer predicts that she will marry a man of her own choice, they keep her isolated and confined to the family home.<sup>[2](https://b4uentertainment.com/b4u-kadak-india/anari-1)</sup>

Rama (Venkatesh), a kind-hearted and naive villager raised by his widowed mother Savitri (Raakhee Gulzar), impresses the brothers with his innocence and strength and is hired as Nandini's bodyguard.<sup>[2](https://b4uentertainment.com/b4u-kadak-india/anari-1)</sup> In one detailed synopsis, Rama saves Nandini's life when a worker plots to kill her at the inauguration of the brothers' new factory; she falls in love with him and persuades the unsuspecting Rama to tie a mangalsutra, a wedding chain, around her neck, which in the eyes of God makes them married.<sup>[3](https://www.moviebuff.com/anari)</sup> When the brothers learn what has happened they react with violence, torturing Rama's mother to find him; Rama rescues her, and after Nandini attempts self-harm the brothers repent and the lovers are united.<sup>[8](https://www.indya101.com/c/movies/overview/id_1799/Anari)</sup>

## Production and background

The film was produced by D. Rama Naidu, who according to a retrospective on 1993 [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema) launched his son Venkatesh as a leading man in Hindi cinema with it; with what that account calls beginner's luck and hummable Anand-Milind tunes, the film co-starring Karisma Kapoor went on to be a hit.<sup>[7](https://newsindiatimes.com/1993-the-a-to-z-of-hindi-cinema-three-decades-ago/)</sup> The story was written by [P. Vasu](https://www.edgepedia.org/p-vasu), the dialogues by Kamlesh Pandey, and the screenplay credited to K. Muralimohana Rao; K. Ravindra Babu was the director of photography and K. A. Marthand the editor.<sup>[3](https://www.moviebuff.com/anari)</sup> Moviebuff lists [Yash Raj Films](https://www.edgepedia.org/yash-raj-films) as distributor and Tips Music as the music label.<sup>[3](https://www.moviebuff.com/anari)</sup>

*Anari* is a remake of the 1991 Tamil film *Chinna Thambi*.<sup>[2](https://b4uentertainment.com/b4u-kadak-india/anari-1)</sup> The same story had already reached [Telugu cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/telugu-cinema) as *Chanti* (1992), again with Venkatesh in the lead.<sup>[2](https://b4uentertainment.com/b4u-kadak-india/anari-1)</sup>

## Cast

The principal cast, with characters:<sup>[2](https://b4uentertainment.com/b4u-kadak-india/anari-1)</sup>

- Venkatesh Daggubati as Rama
- Karisma Kapoor as Raj Nandini Singh
- Raakhee Gulzar as Savitri, Rama's mother
- [Suresh Oberoi](https://www.edgepedia.org/suresh-oberoi) as Vikram Singh (Bhai Raja), the eldest brother
- [Adi Irani](https://www.edgepedia.org/adi-irani) as Mahendra Singh
- Gulshan Grover as Surendra Singh
- [Johnny Lever](https://www.edgepedia.org/johnny-lever) as Bablu
- Laxmikant Berde as Raghu

## Music

The soundtrack was composed by the duo Anand–Milind with lyrics by Sameer.<sup>[3](https://www.moviebuff.com/anari)</sup> Songs include "Phoolon Sa Chehra Tera" ([Udit Narayan](https://www.edgepedia.org/udit-narayan)), "Kya Mausam Aaya Hai" (Udit Narayan and [Sadhana Sargam](https://www.edgepedia.org/sadhana-sargam)), "Rona Chahe Ro Na Paye" (Udit Narayan), "Jane Jaan Jane Jaan" (Sadhana Sargam), "Chhoti Si Pyari Si" ([Alka Yagnik](https://www.edgepedia.org/alka-yagnik)), and "Pyar Mein Dil De Diya" (Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik).<sup>[9](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/movie/anari-1)</sup> One contemporary retrospective account describes the film as a musical success whose songs are remembered decades later.<sup>[8](https://www.indya101.com/c/movies/overview/id_1799/Anari)</sup>

## Box office

Sacnilk reports an India net collection of ₹5.60 Cr against a budget of ₹2.75 Cr, a total gross of ₹10.00 Cr with no recorded overseas earnings, and a verdict of Hit.<sup>[4](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Anari1993)</sup> Its day-wise data shows a first week of ₹0.61 Cr net, with the film's weekly takings peaking in week two at ₹2.31 Cr before declining.<sup>[10](https://www.sacnilk.com/news/Anari_1993_Box_Office_Collection_Day_Wise_Worldwide)</sup> Bollywood Hungama lists a lifetime India net of 6 cr and a verdict of Super-Hit.<sup>[5](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/box-office-collections/filterbycountry/IND/1993/)</sup> The two trackers differ on the exact figure and on the verdict label, and Sacnilk notes that its data are compiled from various sources and may differ from producer figures.<sup>[4](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Anari1993)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[5](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/box-office-collections/filterbycountry/IND/1993/)</sup>

## Reception and legacy

On IMDb the film holds a rating of 5.4/10 from 712 users.<sup>[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106270/)</sup> Rotten Tomatoes lists no Tomatometer reviews and fewer than 50 audience ratings, and notes the film streams on Prime Video.<sup>[11](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/anari)</sup>

The film shares its title with two earlier Kapoor-family films: Karisma Kapoor's grandfather [Raj Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/raj-kapoor) starred in an *Anari* 36 years before this film's release, and her great-uncle [Shashi Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/shashi-kapoor) did so 18 years before.<sup>[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106270/)</sup> Moviebuff records that Govinda was offered the film but turned it down.<sup>[3](https://www.moviebuff.com/anari)</sup>

## Release-date and runtime discrepancies

Sources disagree on several basic details. Most list the theatrical release as 26 March 1993,<sup>[1](https://hindiwikia.com/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%BC%E0%A5%80_%281993_%E0%A4%AB%E0%A4%BC%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%29)</sup> but IMDb gives May 26, 1993 (India)<sup>[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106270/)</sup> and Moviebuff gives 22 September 1993 as a wide theatrical release.<sup>[3](https://www.moviebuff.com/anari)</sup> Runtimes also vary: 2h 51m (171 min) on IMDb,<sup>[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106270/)</sup> 2h 59m on Indian Film History,<sup>[9](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/movie/anari-1)</sup> 3h 30m on Rotten Tomatoes,<sup>[11](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/anari)</sup> and 159 minutes on Box Office India.<sup>[12](https://boxofficeindia.com/movie-story.php?movieid=3933)</sup>

## References

1. [अनाड़ी (1993 फ़िल्म), Hindi Wikia](https://hindiwikia.com/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%BC%E0%A5%80_%281993_%E0%A4%AB%E0%A4%BC%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%29)
2. [ANARI, B4U Entertainment](https://b4uentertainment.com/b4u-kadak-india/anari-1)
3. [Anari, Moviebuff](https://www.moviebuff.com/anari)
4. [Anari (1993) – Review, Rating & Box Office Collection, Sacnilk](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Anari1993)
5. [Bollywood Box Office Verdicts India 1993, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/box-office-collections/filterbycountry/IND/1993/)
6. [Anari (1993), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106270/)
7. [1993: The A to Z of Hindi Cinema three decades ago, News India Times](https://newsindiatimes.com/1993-the-a-to-z-of-hindi-cinema-three-decades-ago/)
8. [Anari – Synopsis, Indya101](https://www.indya101.com/c/movies/overview/id_1799/Anari)
9. [Anari, Indian Film History](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/movie/anari-1)
10. [Anari Box Office Collection Day Wise, Sacnilk](https://www.sacnilk.com/news/Anari_1993_Box_Office_Collection_Day_Wise_Worldwide)
11. [Anari, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/anari)
12. [Anari – Movie, Box Office India](https://boxofficeindia.com/movie-story.php?movieid=3933)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Hindi films of the 1990s › Romance and drama films*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*

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