FILM · 1999 · INDIA
Jaanwar
30 archived facts 3 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (30)
- #001
Jaanwar was Akshay Kumar's first hit film after ten consecutive flops between 1996 and 1999.
- #002
The film was remade in Bengali in 2004 as Mastan.
- #003
Akshay Kumar's look was based on the Greek composer Yanni.
- #004
The film was inspired by the life of actor Mahesh Anand and his relationship with his estranged son.
- #005
Seventeen years later, Airlift, another of Kumar's niche patriotic box-office hits, was made tax-free in Bihar, where he has a large fan base.
- #006
Karishma Kapoor replaced Juhi Chawla.
- #007
Jaanwar was the first collaboration between actor Akshay Kumar and director Suneel Darshan, who went on to have a long partnership and delivered other hits such as Ek Rishtaa (2001) and Andaaz (2003).
- #008
Because of Akshay Kumar's run of failures, no distributor was willing to back the film.
- #009
The song "Mera Yaar Dildar Bada Sohna" from the 1999 film Jaanwar, starring Akshay Kumar, is a reworking of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's qawwali "Nit Khair Mangan Sohnya Main Teri." Hans Raj Hans recorded a cover version of the song, and the same song also appeared in the film Raid. A different version of the same song featured on Bally Sagoo's Magic Touch album as Nusrat Fateh Ali's "Sahnoon Rog Laan Walia."
- #010
Akshay Kumar was given the look of actor Mahesh Anand, with long hair and a branded moustache.
- #011
Suneel Darshan had last worked with Anand Milind.
- #012
Shilpa Shetty, who was Akshay Kumar's girlfriend at the time, also appeared in the film, but not as the romantic lead opposite Akshay.
- #013
Suneel Darshan pitched Jaanwar to Sunny Deol, who agreed to do the film. Darshan and Sunny Deol then parted ways over a misunderstanding concerning the shelved film London; Darshan was one of the film's producers and lost time and money when it was shelved.
- #014
The film was released in cinemas in Canada.
- #015
The film Mela (2000) was first titled "Jaanwar" in 1995 and starred Sunny Deol, Shilpa Shetty, Sanjay Dutt and Namrata Shirodkar; the cast and title were later changed.
- #016
Sharad Kapoor was the first choice for Mohnish Behl's role.
- #017
Kajol signed the film but withdrew because of her marriage; Shilpa Shetty was signed afterwards.
- #018
The song "Mera Yaar Dildaar Bada Sona" was adapted from Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's qawwali "Nit Khair Manga."
- #019
It was Huma Khan's last known film.
- #020
Suneel Darshan spoke to Ajay Devgan about the film on a Friday; he heard the story and verbally agreed, and the two were to meet on Monday to sign the legal papers. On Sunday, Darshan received a call from Akshay Kumar, who said he really wanted to work with him, that all his films had failed and that he needed help. With a heavy heart, Darshan informed Ajay that he would choose Akshay instead.
- #021
Akshay Kumar's father-in-law, Rajesh Khanna, also appeared in a film titled Jaanwar, released in 1982.
- #022
The story resembled Kabuliwala and Mere Lal.
- #023
Sunny Deol was confirmed for the lead role. However, after an ugly argument with Sunil Darshan, he backed out.
- #024
Ajay Devgan had nearly completed the film. But over a weekend he received a phone call from Akshay Kumar saying he wanted to do the film, at a time when Akshay's career was not going well. Suneel Darshan had never met Akshay Kumar before and knew that casting him would not earn him much more money from the film. But he saw his dedication to the film and chose him.
- #025
Kajol dropped out of the project as she was preparing to get married.
- #026
Rajat Bedi claims the film was offered to him in early 1998. Pravin Shah, who brought it to release, offered him a large fee that Suneel Darshan was unwilling to pay.
- #027
The film was Akshay's 5th release of 1999 and was a success.
- #028
It was partly inspired by Mehmood's own directorial film "Kunwara Baap" (1974), in which he adopts the son of an unknown couple.
- #029
Suneel Darshan stated that the story of Bajrangi Bhaijaan was inspired by Jaanwar.
- #030
Suneel Darshan claimed that Akshay Kumar did not remember his lines and told assistants to stand with placards, and that this trend perhaps began with this film.
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