Humshakal (transl. Lookalike) is a 1974 Hindi-language film directed by Jambulingam. The film stars Rajesh Khanna, Moushumi Chatterjee, Tanuja in lead roles. The music was by R. D. Burman and lyrics were by Anand Bakshi. The film was a remake of the 1970 Kannada film Baalu Belagithu, which was also remade in Telugu as Manchivadu (1973) and in Tamil as Oorukku Uzhaippavan (1976).
The songs of the film were extremely popular, with the Kishore-Asha duet song "Hum Tum Gum Sum" topping the charts for more than a year. The tune of the Rafi-Lata duet "Kahe Ko Bulaya" was even adapted as a religious song in subsequent decades. Kishore Kumar considered the song "Rasta Dekhe Tera Vyakul Man Mera" as close to his heart.
As per the review by The Hindu newspaper, the box office collections of India, it is R. D. Burman who stands out with some delightful compositions and the box office status is mentioned as average hit."
Contents
Cast
Rajesh Khanna as Ram / Laxman (Double Role)
Moushumi Chatterjee as Radha
Tanuja as Lalita
Aruna Irani as Vimla
Asrani as Chakram
Jagdeep as Biharilal
David as Judge
Ramesh Behl as Sagar
Plot
Radha (Moushumi Chatterjee) is a poor girl and lives with her ailing mother. Once, when she is out to purchase medicine for her mother a goon, tries to outrage her modesty and follows her till her house. Laxman (Rajesh Khanna) is also a poor youth. Incidentally, he comes across Radha and saves her from the clutches of the goon. On the request of the dying old lady Laxman promises to take care of her daughter.
Sagar is a gang leader and forces young girls to blackmail rich men. While the gang leader was charging a young girl for not performing her duty well, his informer tells him about two Arab merchants (Rajesh Khanna and Asrani) who will be present in a ball room party. Sagar reaches the ball room with his man. He asks his man to sit with a revolver and keep eye on the two merchants to find out their real intentions. One of the Arab merchants (Rajesh Khanna) dances with a lady (Aruna Irani) and shows her a photograph of three sisters. This lady is also in the photograph. The Arab merchant whispers into her ear that he had promised her dying sister to find out the murderer and thus needs her help. She is about to divulge information about the murderer when the man, who is keeping eye on them, shot her dead.
Laxman, in order to keep his promise to the old lady, takes care of Radha. However, soon society starts questioning about their relationship. In a fit of rage, Laxman marries Radha in a temple. The newly-wedded woman knows nothing about her husband and thus asks him about his work and designation. He tells her that he works in Ratan Mahal in different positions according to the demand of the situation, except for the position of the boss.
In Ratan Mahal, all the servants greet their boss on his arrival. The six-year-old daughter of the boss called Rani comes out of a room and expresses her anger to her dad for being absent for many days from Ratan Mahal. She also wants to know when he is bringing her mother Lalita (Tanuja) home. However, she is not aware that her mother is suffering from mental illness and thus is staying at an asylum. In the meantime, the search for the murderer is on by the two people, who this time, impersonate as jewellery merchants.
A few years later, new developments take place. Radha gives birth to a baby boy and Lalita recovers from her mental illness. However, the doctor warns her that any kind of shock would affect her health again. After returning home, Lalita insists on visiting a temple on the occasion of Shivratri Puja with her husband and daughter. Inside the temple premises, Rani gets lost and coincidentally, Radha takes her back to her mother Lalita, who keeps waiting near the car on the road while Rani's dad keeps searching for her. For this act of kindness, Lalita develops a friendship with Radha and invites her to Ratan Mahal. Both the ladies also talk about their respective husbands. Things take a shocking turn when Radha's baby is ill and reaches Ratan Mahal to find her husband Laxman playing Ram, the husband of Lalita and the boss of the Ratan Mahal. She accuses him of cheating both the women. After recalling the doctor's warning about not giving any shock to Lalita, he denies playing a double role. He tells Radha that he is Ram and doesn't know anything about her.
Songs
All lyrics written by Anand Bakshi.