Kabir Singh is a 2019 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film co-written, co-edited and directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga in his Hindi cinema debut, and jointly produced by Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar under T-Series Films and Murad Khetani and Ashwin Varde under Cine1 Studios. A remake of Vanga's own Telugu film Arjun Reddy (2017), it stars Shahid Kapoor as the titular protagonist, a surgeon, who spirals into self-destruction when his girlfriend, played by Kiara Advani, is forced to marry someone else. Principal photography for Kabir Singh began in October 2018 and ended in March 2019. The film was theatrically released on 21 June 2019 and received mixed reviews. Criticism was directed at the film for its themes of self destruction and substance abuse, while Kapoor's performance and the soundtrack received praise. Grossing over ₹379 crore, it became the second highest-grossing Hindi film of 2019, and Kapoor's highest grossing solo-lead release.
Plot Kabir Rajdheer Singh is the youngest son of a business tycoon Rajdheer Singh and studies at the Delhi Institute of Medical Sciences. He has a rebellious personality with anger issues that gained him the title of a bully. After having a brawl with the members of the opposing team in an inter-college football match, the dean asks him to either apologize or leave the college, Kabir chooses to leave but he stays back after meeting with first year student, Preeti Sikka. Kabir and his friends announce to the student body that Kabir has exclusively claimed Preeti. Initially timid, she adjusts to his overbearing attitude and eventually reciprocates his feelings, developing a romantic and physical relationship with him. Kabir graduates with an MBBS degree and moves to Mussoorie for further education. Despite the distance, their relationship strengthens over the next few years. After Preeti graduates, she introduces Kabir to her conservative parents, but her father Harpal catches them kissing and throws Kabir out. Harpal continues to oppose their relationship, despite Kabir's attempts to explain their love. Enraged, Kabir demands Preeti to choose between him and her family within the next six hours, or he will end their relationship. Preeti is later unable to reach him in time; feeling abandoned, Kabir injects himself with excessive morphine and remains unconscious for the next two days. Upon gaining consciousness, he learns that Preeti is being forced into an arranged marriage and gatecrashes the wedding party; Harpal has him beaten and arrested. After Kabir is released, Rajdheer ostracises him from the family for his antics. With his friend Shiva's help, Kabir finds a rented flat and joins a private hospital as a surgeon. To cope with his emotions, he abuses drugs and alcohol and names his new pet dog Preeti. Within months, he becomes a successful surgeon and a high-functioning alcoholic both respected and feared by the hospital staff. His self-destructive behaviour and obsession worry his friends. While hungover on a day off, Kabir is called in to perform an emergency surgery for which he unwillingly agrees. During the procedure, he collapses from dehydration. Suspicious, the hospital staff takes his blood samples, which contain traces of alcohol and cocaine. A case is filed against him and during an in-house hearing, a broken Kabir admits to alcoholism and violation of medical ethics. As a result, his medical licence is suspended for five years and he is evicted from his flat. The next morning, he learns of his grandmother’s death; at the funeral, he and his father reconcile. Kabir also resolves to quit his habits. Some days later, Kabir spots a pregnant but dejected Preeti sitting in a park. He approaches and offers to raise the child with her if she is unhappy in her marriage. Initially silent, she bursts into angry tears, berates him for discarding her, and orders him to leave. Shiva then describes Kabir's obsession and self-destructive habits, which she was unaware of. Shocked, she confesses that she left her husband three days after the marriage and has been working in a clinic to support herself. Overcome with anger, especially after hearing about his casual affairs, she had refused to contact him. She reveals that her marriage was never consummated and that the child is Kabir's. They marry and reunite with their families, with Harpal apologising to them and the families coming together. The film ends showing Kabir and Preeti on a beach with their baby.
Cast
Production
Development After the success of his debut, the 2017 Telugu film Arjun Reddy, writer and director Sandeep Reddy Vanga wanted to remake it in Hindi with Ranveer Singh. Vijay Devarakonda, who starred as Arjun in the original, was also initially considered for the Hindi remake, but turned down the offer. When talks with Singh didn't materialize either, Vanga approached Shahid Kapoor. However, producers Murad Khetani and Ashwin Varde of Cine1 Studios, who acquired the remake rights for Hindi, wanted Arjun Kapoor to play the male lead. Disappointed, Vanga said, "I've come to know that the remake rights of Arjun Reddy have been sold and it would star Arjun Kapoor. I am caught in a dilemma, as I've already locked Shahid for the role. It's a very embarrassing situation for me. I don't know how I'll face Shahid." In April 2018, however, it was officially announced that Shahid Kapoor would star, with Vanga set to direct. Bhushan and Krishan Kumar of T-Series also produced the film. The dialogue was written by Siddharth–Garima. Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran was selected as the cinematographer and Aarif Sheikh as editor. Vanga was confident that the remake would be even more hard-hitting than the original: "When I made Arjun Reddy, I wasn't sure where to draw the line in terms of representation of certain things. I don't think I'd have to restrict myself when it comes to the Hindi version. I believe I'll have more freedom in Bollywood." The film's title Kabir Singh was announced on 25 October 2018.
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