Fiza
2000 film directed by Khalid Mohammed
title: "Fiza" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2000-films", "2000s-hindi-language-films", "films-set-in-1993", "films-set-in-1999", "films-about-islamic-terrorism-in-india", "films-about-jihadism", "films-set-in-mumbai", "films-about-women-in-india", "films-scored-by-a.-r.-rahman", "films-scored-by-anu-malik", "films-scored-by-ranjit-barot", "films-about-siblicide", "indian-crime-thriller-films", "hindi-language-crime-thriller-films", "films-about-religious-violence-in-india", "indian-interfaith-romance-films"] description: "2000 film directed by Khalid Mohammed" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiza" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary 2000 film directed by Khalid Mohammed ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox film"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Fiza |
| image | Fiza poster.jpg |
| caption | Theatrical release poster |
| director | Khalid Mohammed |
| producer | Pradeep Guha |
| writer | Khalid Mohammed |
| Javed Siddiqui (dialogue) | |
| narrator | Karisma Kapoor |
| starring | Karishma Kapoor |
| Hrithik Roshan | |
| Jaya Bachchan | |
| music | Songs: |
| Anu Malik | |
| Guest Composers: | |
| A. R. Rahman | |
| Ranjit Barot | |
| Score: | |
| Ranjit Barot | |
| cinematography | Santosh Sivan |
| editing | A. Sreekar Prasad |
| studio | The Culture Company |
| UTV Motion Pictures | |
| distributor | UTV Motion Pictures |
| released | |
| runtime | 171 minutes |
| country | India |
| language | Hindi |
| budget | |
| gross | |
| :: |
| name = Fiza | image = Fiza poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Khalid Mohammed | producer = Pradeep Guha | writer = Khalid Mohammed Javed Siddiqui (dialogue) | narrator = Karisma Kapoor | starring = Karishma Kapoor Hrithik Roshan Jaya Bachchan | music = Songs: Anu Malik Guest Composers: A. R. Rahman Ranjit Barot Score: Ranjit Barot | cinematography = Santosh Sivan | editing = A. Sreekar Prasad | studio = The Culture Company UTV Motion Pictures | distributor = UTV Motion Pictures | released = | runtime = 171 minutes | country = India | language = Hindi | budget = | gross =
Fiza, elaborately known as Fiza: In Search Of Her Brother, is a 2000 Indian Hindi-language action-thriller film written and directed by Khalid Mohamed, and produced by Pradeep Guha. The film stars Karisma Kapoor in the title role, alongside Hrithik Roshan and Jaya Bachchan, with supporting performances by Manoj Bajpayee, Bikram Saluja, and Isha Koppikar. Set in the aftermath of the 1993 Bombay riots, the narrative follows Fiza Ikramullah’s search for her brother Amaan, who had gone missing during the riots. When she finally reunites with him years later, she discovers that he has joined a militant organization, forcing her to confront painful decisions about family, morality, and justice.
Fiza was shot across various locations in India, with cinematography by Santosh Sivan and production design by Sharmishta Roy. The soundtrack was composed by Anu Malik with lyrics by Gulzar and Mehboob, and featured playback singers such as Alka Yagnik, Udit Narayan, and A. R. Rahman (for one track).
Released theatrically on 8 September 2000, Fiza received positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for its storyline, thematic treatment, music, and performances—especially those of Kapoor and Bachchan. The film emerged as a commercial success, grossing ₹322 million (US$7.17 million) worldwide. At the 46th Filmfare Awards, it earned seven nominations, including Best Actor (Roshan), and won Best Actress (Kapoor) and Best Supporting Actress (Bachchan). The film also received recognition at the IIFA Awards, the Zee Cine Awards, and the Screen Awards for its performances and social relevance.
Plot
During the 1993 Bombay riots, Amaan Ikramullah, a young man, goes missing after witnessing the brutal murder of his friend Firoz. His mother, Nishatbi, and older sister, Fiza, are left devastated but continue to hope for his return. By 1999, after six years of uncertainty, Fiza grows weary of waiting and resolves to search for her brother. She turns to legal avenues, the media, and political contacts in her quest, encountering a wide range of people and revelations along the way. She discovers that Amaan had once pleaded with a police officer for help, only to be dismissed and told to go to Pakistan—a remark that left a lasting impression on him. He was later assaulted but managed to escape. Meanwhile, his former girlfriend Shehnaaz, who had remained hopeful for his return, is eventually compelled to marry another man, Salim, under familial pressure.
Through a lead from her friend Anirudh Roy—who suspects a link between Amaan and a suspected militant near the Rajasthan border—Fiza locates her brother. She is shocked to learn that Amaan has joined a terrorist organization. Amaan recounts the trauma of the riots and his recruitment by Murad Khan, who had rescued him during his time of distress. Persuaded by Fiza’s emotional plea, Amaan agrees to return home and is reunited with Nishatbi.
Back in Mumbai, Amaan learns of Anirudh’s affections for Fiza and his desire to marry her and support their family. Grateful, Amaan gives them his blessing. Attempting to reintegrate into society, he searches for employment but is repeatedly rejected due to his past. Disheartened, he considers returning to Murad’s network. After intervening when two men harass Fiza, Amaan reveals his past affiliations to his family and the police. The revelation shatters Nishatbi, who, unable to bear the loss of her son’s innocence, dies by suicide.
Encouraged by Murad, Amaan agrees to carry out an assassination mission targeting two politicians known for inciting communal hatred—ironically, the same figures who had once tried to exploit Fiza during her search. After completing the killings, Amaan is betrayed by his own group and barely escapes. Fiza tracks him down, and as the police close in, Amaan, overwhelmed by guilt and believing he has no future, pleads with Fiza to end his life. In a final act of compassion and sorrow, she complies, shooting her brother to grant him what he perceives as a dignified death.
Cast
- Karisma Kapoor as Fiza Ikramullah
- Hrithik Roshan as Amaan Ikramullah
- Jaya Bachchan as Nishatvi Ikramullah
- Shabana Raza as Shehnaz Sulaiman
- Manoj Bajpayee as Murad Khan
- Sushmita Sen as Reshma (special appearance)
- Asha Sachdev as Ulfat Jaan
- Isha Koppikar as Geetanjali Malhotra
- Bikram Saluja as Anirudh Roy
- Shivaji Satam as Kunal Sawant
- Anup Soni as a goon
- Johnny Lever as the Laughing Club Comic (special appearance)
- Savita Prabhune as a policewoman (special appearance)
- Jaya Bhattacharya as a job Interviewer (special appearance)
- Sanjay Narvekar as a police officer (special appearance)
Production
Development
Fiza was originally envisioned by writer-director Khalid Mohamed as a more artistic and issue-driven film. He initially wanted Ram Gopal Varma to direct the project. The tone of the script emphasized the psychological and emotional fallout of the 1993 Bombay riots. However, due to commercial pressure from distributors, Mohammed adapted the film to include broader appeal, integrating song sequences and comedic elements to meet audience expectations.
Casting
Urmila Matondkar was Mohammed’s first choice for the role of Fiza, but the part eventually went to Karisma Kapoor. Hrithik Roshan was cast as Amaan, Fiza’s younger brother, although he is five months older than Kapoor in real life. Roshan’s role was initially minor, but following the breakout success of his debut film Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000), released earlier the same year, Mohammed significantly expanded his role. Additional scenes, including a workout montage and an extra song, were incorporated to showcase Roshan’s newfound star power.
Filming
To accommodate the film’s shift from art-house to mainstream sensibility, certain commercial elements were added during production. This included a dance number for Kapoor and a comedic park sequence featuring Johnny Lever.
Soundtrack
| name = Fiza | type = soundtrack | artist = Anu Malik, A. R. Rahman & Ranjit Barot | cover = blank | alt = | released = 8 September 2000 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = Feature film soundtrack | length = 48:35 | label = Tips Music Films | producer = Anu Malik | chronology = Anu Malik | prev_title = Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega | prev_year = 2000 | next_title = Refugee | next_year = 2000 | misc = {{Extra chronology | artist = A. R. Rahman | type = soundtrack | prev_title = Kandukondain Kandukondain | prev_year = 2000 | title = Fiza | year = 2000 | next_title = Rhythm | next_year = 2000
Initially, A. R. Rahman was approached to compose the music for Fiza, but he declined due to scheduling conflicts. However, he agreed to contribute one track to the film, resulting in the spiritual song "Piya Haji Ali." The remainder of the soundtrack was composed by Anu Malik. Rahman would later collaborate with director Khalid Mohamed on his next film, Tehzeeb (2003). For the film’s background score, Rahman recommended his associate Ranjit Barot, who composed the incidental music.
The album featured a mix of romantic, devotional, and dance numbers, with popular tracks including "Aaja Mahiya," "Aankh Milaoongi," "Tu Fiza Hai," and "Mehboob Mere." The latter was performed on screen as an item number by Sushmita Sen. The soundtrack was among the most popular of the year and received a nomination for Best Music Director (Anu Malik) at the 46th Filmfare Awards.
According to Box Office India, the album sold approximately 2.5 million units, making it one of the highest-selling Bollywood soundtracks of 2000. ::data[format=table]
| # | Song | Singer(s) | Composer | Lyricist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Aaja Mahiya" | Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik | Anu Malik | Gulzar |
| 2 | "Mehboob Mere" | Sunidhi Chauhan, Karsan Sargathia | Anu Malik | Tejpal Kaur |
| 3 | "Tu Fiza Hai" | Alka Yagnik, Sonu Nigam, Prashant Samadhar | Anu Malik | Gulzar |
| 4 | "Gaya Gaya Dil" | Sonu Nigam | Anu Malik | Sameer |
| 5 | "Piya Haji Ali" | A. R. Rahman, Kadar Ghulam Mushtafa, Murtaza Ghulam Mushtafa, Srinivas | A. R. Rahman | Shaukat Ali |
| 6 | "Na Leke Jao" | Jaspinder Narula | Anu Malik | Gulzar |
| 7 | "Mere Watan: Amaan's Fury" | Zubeen Garg | Ranjit Barot | Sameer |
| 8 | "Aankh Milaoongi" | Asha Bhosle | Anu Malik | Sameer |
| :: |
Reception
Box office
Fiza was released theatrically on 8 September 2000 and emerged as a commercial success. Made on a budget of ₹55 million, the film earned approximately ₹322 million (US$7.17 million) worldwide. Its box office performance was bolstered by strong critical reception and Hrithik Roshan’s surging popularity following the success of Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai earlier the same year.
In May 2010, Fiza was one of 14 Hindi films selected by the Film Society of Lincoln Center to be screened as part of a curated section titled Muslim Cultures of Bombay Cinema, which aimed to "celebrate and explore the rich influence of Muslim cultural and social traditions on the cinema of Bombay to the present."
The film was banned from screening in Malaysia.
Critical response
Fiza received critical acclaim upon release, with praise directed at its lead performances, soundtrack, and treatment of socio-political themes. Karisma Kapoor was particularly lauded for her role, widely regarded as one of the strongest performances of her career.
Vinayak Chakravorty of Hindustan Times rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, stating, "It is about Kapoor proving a point as an actress of some substance. It is about Hrithik Roshan establishing that he doesn't need maximum footage or glitz to impress. It is about the return after a hiatus of the ever-delightful Jaya Bachchan."
Mimmy Jain of The Indian Express described Fiza as "the kind of movie that every critic prays will never come his way," adding that it "offers little scope for criticism." She praised Kapoor's performance as "superbly flawless." Suman Tarafdar of Filmfare and Chaya Unnikrishnan of Screen echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the maturity of the film and the strength of its performances.
Sanjeev Bariana of The Tribune called the film "only a little above average" but expressed strong appreciation for the cast’s acting. Dinesh Raheja of India Today praised the portrayal of the central family dynamic but felt the film's broader themes remained underdeveloped, writing that "the big picture it wants to capture remains underdeveloped."
Accolades
Main article: List of accolades received by Fiza
The film received several accolades, including four Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards, two Filmfare Awards, two IIFA Awards, and two Zee Cine Award.
References
References
- "Fiza - Movie - Box Office India".
- Iqbal, Murtuza. (2019-06-25). "Birthday Special: Top performances of Karisma Kapoor".
- (2017-06-25). "Happy birthday Karishma Kapoor: Raja Babu to Fiza, 10 films which show how she carved a niche for herself in Bollywood".
- "Fiza Movie: Showtimes, Review, Songs, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos {{!}} eTimes".
- "Fiza - Movie - Box Office India".
- (25 June 2018). "From Zubeidaa to Fiza, a look at Karisma Kapoor's iconic performances on her 44th birthday".
- "Fiza - Movie".
- "Greatest Women Oriented Bollywood Movies – Skin, Hair, Weight Loss, Health, Beauty and Fitness Blog".
- (5 February 2022). "Khalid Mohammed {{!}} Outlook India Magazine".
- [http://www.boxofficeindia.com/music2000.htm boxofficeindia.com] {{webarchive. link. (8 August 2007)
- "Music Hits 2000–2009 (Figures in Units)". [[Box Office India]].
- "Box Office 2000". BoxOfficeIndia.Com.
- "Reviews Bollywood".
- "Muslim Cultures of Bombay Cinema - Film Society of Lincoln Center".
- (13 May 2010). "The Week Ahead: May 16 — 22". The New York Times.
- (2000). "Malaysia bans Fiza". Hindustan Times.
- [http://www.indiafm.com/movies/review/6577/index.html indiafm.com] {{webarchive. link. (10 August 2007)
- [http://www.rediff.com/movies/2000/sep/07fiza.htm Rediff review]. Rediff.com (7 September 2000). Retrieved on 2017-07-08.
- [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010118/main7.htm#3 The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Glitz 'n' glamour]. Tribuneindia.com (18 January 2001). Retrieved on 2017-07-08.
- Chakravorty, Vinayak. "Fiza". [[Hindustan Times]].
- Jain, Mimmy. (16 September 2000). "Return to reality". The Indian Express.
- (2000). "Fiza". [[The Times Group]].
- Unikrishnan, Chaya. (29 September 2000). "Fiza: A promising start and a slow finish". [[Screen India]].
- Bariana, Sanjeev. (9 September 2000). ""Fiza" with a nip". [[The Tribune (Chandigarh).
- (2000). "Fiza: In search of the bigger picture". India Today.
- "46th Filmfare Awards 2001 Nominations". [[Times Internet.
- "2nd IIFA Awards 2001 Winners". [[MSN]].
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