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Humraaz (transl. Confidant) is a 2002 Indian Hindi-language romantic thriller film directed by the duo Abbas–Mustan. The film stars Bobby Deol, Akshaye Khanna, and Ameesha Patel and marks the third collaboration between Deol and the director duo.
The film is loosely inspired by the 1998 American film A Perfect Murder, which itself was a remake of Alfred Hitchcock's film Dial M for Murder (1954), based on Frederick Knott's 1952 stage play of the same name. Humraaz was later remade in Tamil language as Girivalam. Its soundtrack, composed by Himesh Reshammiya, was among the highest-selling Bollywood albums of the year.
Humraaz was released on 5 July 2002 and received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its suspenseful plot, music, and performances, with particular praise directed towards Khanna's performance. The film emerged as a commercial success at the box office, grossing approximately ₹29.7 crore worldwide against a budget of ₹15 crore, ranking as the seventh-highest-grossing Hindi film of the year.
Humraaz received 12 nominations at the 48th Filmfare Awards, including Best Film, Best Director (Abbas–Mustan), Best Actor (Deol), Best Actress (Patel), and Best Performance in a Negative Role (Khanna), but did not win in any category. At the 4th IIFA Awards, Khanna won Best Performance in a Negative Role, while Patel was nominated for Best Actress.
Eventually Priya and Raj marry, and Priya lies about her past and refuses to consummate for one month as suggested by Karan. Then, another dancer from the troupe, Harry, discovers the couple's scheme and begins blackmailing Karan. It is revealed that Jojo's death was deliberate. Karan murders Harry to protect the scheme, but before dying, Harry manages to leave a voicemail for Raj, exposing the truth. Meanwhile, Priya begins to develop genuine feelings for Raj, especially after he shows deep care following an accident. She decides not to proceed with the divorce, angering Karan.
Seeking revenge, Karan manipulates Raj into believing that Priya still loves him and is conspiring to steal his money. Raj, now aware of the truth, confronts Karan and forces him to attempt to murder Priya, planning to catch him in the act. Simultaneously, Priya records a confession and switches the tape with a cassette in Raj’s car, asking him to call her if he forgives her. As Raj unknowingly delays hearing the tape, Karan attacks Priya when Raj calls their home. Upon hearing her screams, Raj rushes to save her. At the scene, it is revealed that Priya survived and Karan had killed another man to stage the attack. Karan then blackmails Raj with a recording of their prior meeting, demanding a divorce and a large alimony.
Raj goes to meet Karan at a decided spot where he says he is ready to go to prison, but only after Karan is killed. The two men fight. The two men fight as Karan prepares to kill Raj until Priya catches up and steps in, exposing her realization of Karan's murderous nature. Karan subsequently shoots Priya, and Raj runs to kill Karan. Karan tries to kill Raj, but it turns out Priya is still alive and shoots Karan and saving Raj, and Karan dies. Raj and Priya are finally reunited.
Arjun Rampal and Abhishek Bachchan were initially considered to portray the negative lead in the film. However, things could not materialize, and the role was eventually played by Akshaye Khanna.
The song "Bardaasht Nahi Kar Sakta" was reused as "Nee Yaaro Nee Yaaro" in the Tamil remake Girivalam (2005) and was the only track from the original soundtrack to be retained in the remake.
Vivek Fernandes of Rediff.com remarked that "The directors do take their time establishing the scheme of things, spoonfeeding the audience at times. Also, the experience would have been more riveting had the film been a little shorter. But such minor flaws, we shall let pass. Humraaz, definitely, merits a dekho." A reviewer for Sify commented, "Except that having watched a lot of Hitchcockian plots, one feels let down at the way our filmmakers end a good plot." Chitra Mahesh of The Hindu observed, "Though the end is filmy and long drawn out, the suspense is tangible."
| Zee Cine Awards | 11 January 2003 | Best Performance in a Negative Role | Akshaye Khanna | ||
| Screen Awards | 19 January 2003 | Best Director | Abbas–Mustan | ||
| Best Actor in a Negative Role | Akshaye Khanna | ||||
| Best Editing | Hussain A. Burmawala | ||||
| Best Art Direction | R. Varman | ||||
| Filmfare Awards | 21 February 2003 | Best Film | Humraaz | ||
| Best Director | Abbas–Mustan | ||||
| Best Actor | Bobby Deol | ||||
| Best Actress | Ameesha Patel | ||||
| Best Performance in a Negative Role | Akshaye Khanna | ||||
| Best Performance in a Comic Role | Johnny Lever | ||||
| Best Music Director | Himesh Reshammiya | ||||
| Best Lyricist | Sudhakar Sharma for "Sanam Mere Humraaz" | ||||
| Sudhakar Sharma for "Tune Zindagi Mein Aake" | |||||
| Best Male Playback Singer | KK for "Bardaasht Nahi Kar Sakta" | ||||
| Kumar Sanu for "Sanam Mere Humraaz" | |||||
| Best Female Playback Singer | Alka Yagnik for "Sanam Mere Humraaz" | ||||
| Sansui Viewer's Choice Awards | 27 March 2003 | Best Director | Abbas–Mustan | ||
| Best Actress | Ameesha Patel | ||||
| Best Performance in a Negative Role | Akshaye Khanna | ||||
| Bollywood Movie Awards | 3 May 2003 | Best Film | Humraaz | ||
| Best Actor in a Negative Role | Akshaye Khanna | ||||
| Best Actor in a Comic Role | Johnny Lever | ||||
| Best Costume Design | Rocky Star | ||||
| Best Editing | Hussain A. Burmawala | ||||
| IIFA Awards | 17 May 2003 | Best Actress | Ameesha Patel | ||
| Best Performance in a Negative Role | Akshaye Khanna |
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