New Delhi: In 1982, the film Nikaah, directed by BR Chopra—renowned for his adaptation of the Mahabharata—was released featuring actress-singer Salma Agha alongside actors Raj Babbar and Deepak Parashar. The film garnered significant media attention prior to its release and became embroiled in over 34 lawsuits.
Nikaah explored the complex and sensitive issue of triple talaq. Despite facing numerous legal challenges concerning its title and subject matter, it ultimately achieved commercial success, performing well at the box office.
Original Title and Inspiration
BR Chopra’s adaptation was based on a short story titled “Tohfa,” written by Achala Nagar, published in the well-known women’s magazine Madhuri. According to reports, Achala presented her story to Chopra on the film’s set, which piqued his interest. He initially intended to title the film Talaq, Talaq, Talaq; however, due to the controversies that arose, he was compelled to alter it to Nikaah.
Achala Nagar’s inspiration for “Tohfa” stemmed from a news article she encountered regarding the divorce of Sanjay Khan and Zeenat Aman, which mentioned the term ‘Halala.’ Confused about its meaning, she sought clarification from a family friend of her father, the legendary writer Amritlal Nagar. The emotional weight of understanding the issue struck her deeply, prompting her to write the story.
Title Change and Community Response
Following its release, Nikaah faced significant backlash, with over 34 cases filed against it. Just four days post-release, leaders from the Muslim community began protesting. In an effort to address the concerns, BR Chopra organized a special screening for Muslim scholars to clarify that the film was based on societal issues rather than religious ones, particularly focusing on women’s rights.
A notable account from the Bengali daily Ei Samay featured a Muslim friend of Chopra’s who expressed concern over the film’s original title: “Chopra Sahib, there’s a problem. I won’t be able to ask my wife to watch the film. She’ll have a heart attack when she asks which film I’m asking her to watch (which was Talaq Talaq Talaq).” This feedback resonated with BR Chopra, ultimately leading him to change the film’s title to Nikaah.
Upon its release, the film proved to be a considerable commercial success, generating a profit of 225% on its budget and ranking among the highest-grossing films of the year.
