Paheli, Shahrukh Khan’s 2005 movie about a ghost or spirit is one of my all time favorite Shahrukh Khan movies, even if it is not one of his blockbusters. It’s not a scary Halloween movie (like maybe Darr, which is more creepy than scary), but it does have a ghost! Paheli means riddle.
Fantasy film seem to be unusual in Hindi cinema, and in this film Shahrukh Khan plays both a number counting merchant husband, and a bhoot, or a ghost or spirit (sort of a genie, really) who takes his place. Rani Mukerji is the bride who captivates the Ghost, with Amitabh as a wise shepherd in a cameo. It’s a fable that is also about women’s empowerment, and the scene where SRK tells Rani he’s a ghost is one of my all-time favorites. She laughs at first, because it sounds ridiculous! But her real husband barely noticed her, and wouldn’t sleep with her on their wedding night, but this ghost is obsessed with her every since he saw her at the well he haunted.
He could have lied and just taken her in the guise of her husband, but he loves her enough to give her the choice. Swoon!
Rani and SRK have always had great chemistry, but man do they smolder in Paheli. Yowza.
The costumes are just stunning, and the music in the film is just fantastic:
Amitabh Bachchan has a fun cameo as the wise shepherd who must solve the riddle of the two husbands. Juhi Chawla, who co-produced the film, plays Rani’s sister-in-law whose husband (Sunil Shetty) had disappeared. Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak play puppet narrators and of course Anupam Kher is the father.
I love Shahrukh in double roles and these two roles he makes completely separate people. The husband is comedic and obtuse, and the ghost playful and sultry.
Plus, I love the idea of a ticklish ghost! Paheli has been overlooked but I love it. And I love its message of female empowerment and choice.
Pardesi Reviews 
You’ve almost convinced me to go back and give this one another try! I just find the ending so unsatisfying, I’ve never really been able to enjoy the rest of it.
LikeLike
This has been on my ‘to watch’ list since I read your review (either here or through Letterboxd). I finally watched it the other night and thought it was pretty great! The story was very interesting and, in a way, reminded me a bit of Meet Joe Black- in a good way. I thought the songs and visuals and all of the performances were fantastic.
I even kind of liked the ending. It seems to be a bone of contention with the movie. I was pretty distraught when I thought that the fun, ghost Shah Rukh was stuck in that flask forever. By inhabiting the body of Rani’s actual husband, would the ghost completely kill the real soul? I thought that maybe the two spirits could merge, and create an even husband for Rani. The bhoot wasn’t perfect either, he was a bit too carefree and flighty, so maybe the boring merchant’s spirit could bring some responsibility and a more sensible, grounded quality to the man. They could balance each other out. A lot of people seem to hate the ending, though, so maybe I missed something. It was about two in the morning when I finished it!
An enjoyable way to spend an evening and a somewhat hidden gem of Shah Rukh’s (and Rani’s) filmography.
LikeLike
I’m glad you watched it, and I agree it is a bit of a hidden gem. I like your interpretation that the two souls merged to make a more perfect husband for Rani. I don’t really understand people being upset by the ending.
LikeLike