User reviews

Shah Rukh Khan earned most of his fame for the romantic potboilers he often did but critics and moviegoers always liked him more when he played the ordinary middle-class guy. Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Yes Boss, and even earlier, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, had him playing exactly that character archetype and oh well he is so good at it. While this film got neither the tremendous acclaim of Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, indeed a great classic, not the mainstream recognition of Yes Boss, it is a good, good film which is definitely worth watching.

Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman shares many plot elements with Raj Kapoor's all-time classic Shree 420 (1955). Here too we see a young, educated man arriving in the big city in the hopes of finding a job and a better future. He meets a wonderful young woman who supports him all through but loses himself in the big world in spite of the great financial and professional success he attains. Indeed, Khan is Raj Kapoor to Chawla's Nargis, and Amrita Singh is the modern, less stereotypical answer to Nadira's vicious Maya in Shree 420.

This film is directed by Aziz Mirza, that competent director who never got his due but who gave Khan some brilliant opportunities which far outrank the many blockbusters he appeared in (which weren't bad but just not as good). The film is interesting, authentic and involving, and the story keeps one's interest all through. It feels very much like middle-of-the-road cinema - a mainstream film which provides a message on the social structure of the times. I wish more films had adopted a similar format back in the day.

Khan is excellent. Playing that ordinary man in search of happiness and opportunities, he's devoid of all the mannerisms that he would become so famous for and is utterly convincing in a sensibly restrained and realistic performance. He just seems to have a feeling for this type of characters, and his charismatic presence only helps. The more I watch Juhi Chawla, the more I appreciate her wonderful presence. Chawla according to me always formed the best romantic pairing with Khan, and she's very credible here. Her persistent touch of comic timing does well to elevate her role.

Among the supporting actors, Nana Patekar is fantastic as he always is with his great delivery. Amrita Singh, also an actress with great screen presence, does well as she did in most of her films in a negative role which is not a caricature. Other attractions in this film include Jatin-Lalit's music, particularly that beautiful song "Kehti Hai Dil Ki Lagi", which I like till today. Indeed, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman holds nostalgic value, for sure, but it's a good film in and of itself, which boasts of great performances, a well-written script, and altogether an engaging, thought-provoking film.

Good film as mentioned above. Users please get back to me on how good the story idea is , given todays erosion of ethics and the madness to make money in a capitalistic world.The rat race for success and riches of today. Please get back to me on this. Thanks a ton

Last year I remember watching Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman for the first time. I liked it very much but for some strange reason I seemed to enjoy it a whole lot more when I saw it the second time! RBGG is basically about Raju, (Shahrukh Khan) a young man who comes to Bombay in hopes of becoming an engineer. There he meets Renu, (Juhi Chawla) who helps him get a job and they fall in love with each other over time. Raju continues to climb the ladders of success until he is framed for the collision of a newly constructed bridge in the area. He is then taken to court where a case is filed against him. What will happen next? Watch RBGG to find out....

This film was surely a genuine treat to watch. I must say that SRK and Juhi make one of the sweetest on screen couples! I just love watching all of the films they have made together; their on-screen chemistry is just so amazing! Moving on to the music... RBGG's music was so wonderful! The best songs in the movie would have to be "Loveria" and "I Love You." Not to mention the entire cast of the film made outstanding performances! An excellent and very-well made film, but not better than Yes Boss!

Overall Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman deserves a 9/10!!!

I watched this movie when I didnt know who Shah Rukh was (and didnt have even remotest idea that he was going to rule the Bollywood screen soon). Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman is about a young engineer who comes to Bombay to realize his dreams of making it big. How he lands among a group of good guys living in a 'chawl' and share his happiness and sorrow with them is beautifully picturised. Nana Patekar steals the show whenever he appears on screen. One scene that really moved me comes near the end of the movie, when Shah Rukh is totally drunk (symbolically, drowned in the magic of lucre!!)and shouting at the ever-cute Juhi, and Nana carries him away from the scene. Music is good. A very good movie and very well made.

Highly Recommended....

Watched the complete movie recently & loved the simple yet engaging story. The way they covered poor & middle class section of India in 90s is commendable. It looked so real mostly because of wonderful screenplay & brilliant performances by all the actors. It's really hard to believe it was Shahrukh khan's first movie. So sad to see the industry only offered him useless rom-coms & masala movies in his following career. Juhi Chawla was natural & real & all her scenes with Shahrukh were effortless. Today's female actors need to learn real acting doesn't only mean hitting hard lines with no make-up but also look effortless in throwing simple lines. Amrita singh played her part so well & so did Nana Patekar. Music was an asset & most songs were there as per situation. Overall this movie was way better than 90s masala movies which took over later decade.