Cheeni Kum

 

Two extremes... in age, character and attitude, meet and against all odds fall in love. Cheeni Kum, R Balki's debut movie released in 2007 focuses on Buddhadev Gupta/Gaspus (Amitabh Bachchan), Nina Verma/Chicken Thagda (Tabu) and Sexy(Swini Khara)

Grouchy, uptight 64-year-old Buddhadev Gupta lives a fairly wealthy lifestyle in London, England with his widowed TV- and wrestling-addicted mom (Zohra Sehgal). His only friend and confidante is his 9-year-old neighbour, 'Sexy' (Swini Khara), who is diagnosed with cancer. Buddha is arrogant and egocentric, often rude to his chefs and sarcastic to those around him.

He is the owner of Spice 6, one of London's top restaurants that specializes in Indian dishes. One day a customer, Nina Verma, complains about the zafrani pulao which had sugar in it, and Buddhadev does not take it well, only to find out that the pulao was indeed imperfect. Buddhadev Gupta believes that he runs the best Indian restaurant in London, so when attractive Nina Verma sends his zafarani pulao back to the kitchen, he gives her a piece of his mind. She irritates him again a couple of days later by sending round the dish properly cooked.

He decides to make amends to Nina and lends her his umbrella during a rainy day. Both subsequently become friends, fall in love, and decide to get married. She is introduced to Buddhadev's mom, who instantly approves of her. Nina, who lives in Delhi with her widower dad, cuts short her visit when her dad gets sick. Buddhadev and his mom also travel to India so that Buddhadev can ask for Nina's hand from her now-fully-recovered dad. Buddhadev does meet with Nina's dad and, after considerable hesitation, does manage to ask for Nina's hand and is abruptly refused--for Nina is only 34, and Buddhadev is six years older than Nina's dad. When Nina and Buddhadev insist on getting married, her Gandhian dad decides to undertake a fast unto death (satyagraha).

Buddha leaves their home feeling heartbroken and as once suggested by Nina puts his hand around kutubminar's Ashoka Pillar make a wish , only to find out that Sexy has now passed away from cancer. He is heartbroken and curses himself for being selfish and not asking for Sexy's life. In the meantime, Omprakash has begrudgingly agreed to Buddha and Nina's relationship, at which an overjoyed Nina comes to find Buddha at the Qutub Minar, where she finds out about Sexy as well. She consoles Buddha while he grieves his best friend and gently lets him know that her father has changed his mind.

The final scene shows Buddha and Nina having brought Buddha's mother and Nina's father to Spice 6, and Buddha bonding with Omprakash promising a ticket at the Lord's for a Test cricket match playing near them.