Raja Hindustani (transl. Raja, the Indian) is a 1996 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film directed by Dharmesh Darshan. It tells the story of a cab driver from a small town who falls in love with a rich young woman.[2] Aamir Khan and Karisma Kapoor play the lead roles. Released on 15 November 1996, this film's plot was inspired from the 1965 film Jab Jab Phool Khile, starring Shashi Kapoor and Nanda.[3] The film's music was composed by Nadeem-Shravan, with lyrics by Sameer.[4] It went on to win five Filmfare Awards, including the awards for Best film and Best Actors,[5] and seven Screen Awards.[6]

Raja Hindustani was the third most commercially successful Hindi film of the 1990s in terms of net gross.[7] Made on a budget of ₹57.5 million, the film went on to gross ₹763.4 million worldwide,[1] becoming the highest-grossing film of the year,[8] and the fourth highest-grossing film in India of the 1990s behind Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai .[7] The film's music became popular and was successful, especially in the central and eastern states of India.[9] Karisma Kapoor was complimented for her looks and performance as Aarti: a rich, beautiful, sensitive, young woman full of dreams and desires.[10] It is Kapoor's biggest commercial success till date and is regarded as one of her best performances; it was a major turning point in her career.[11][12][13][14] She won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her role.[10][15] The chemistry between the lead pair of Aamir Khan and Karishma Kapoor was praised and there was a much talked about kissing scene.[16][17][18] The film was remade in Kannada as Naanu Naane in 2002, starring Upendra and Sakshi Shivanand in lead roles and in Odia as Priya Mo Priya in 2005.