''We Are Family'' is a 2010 Indian

family drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-gen ...

directed by Siddharth Malhotra and produced by Hiroo Yash Johar and

Karan Johar Karan Johar (born Rahul Kumar Johar; 25 May 1972), often informally referred to as KJo in the Hindi Film Industry, is an Indian filmmaker and television personality, who primarily works in Hindi cinema. He has launched the careers of several su ...

under

Dharma Productions Dharma Productions Pvt. Ltd., commonly known and doing business as Dharma Productions, is an Indian film production and distribution company established by Yash Johar in 1979. It was taken over in 2004, after his death, by his son, Karan Joh ...

, with

Sony Pictures Entertainment Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Sony Pictures or SPE, and formerly known as Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc.) is an American diversified multinational mass media and entertainment studio Conglomerate (company), conglom ...

and UTV Motion Pictures handling the distribution rights. The film features

Kajol Kajol Devgan (née Mukherjee; born 5 August 1974), known mononymously as Kajol, is an Indian actress. Described in the media as one of the most successful actresses of Hindi cinema, she is the recipient of numerous accolades, including six ...

Kareena Kapoor Kareena Kapoor Khan (; ''née'' Kapoor; born 21 September 1980) is an Indian actress who appears in Hindi films. She is the daughter of actors Randhir Kapoor and Babita, and the younger sister of actress Karisma Kapoor. Noted for playing a va ...

and

Arjun Rampal Arjun Rampal (born 26 November 1972) is an Indian actor, model, film producer and television personality who works in Hindi films. He made his acting debut in Rajiv Rai's romance film '' Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat'' (2001) and has since gone on t ...

in the lead roles, and is an official Indian adaptation of '' Stepmom'' (1998), starring

Susan Sarandon Susan Abigail Sarandon (; née Tomalin; born October 4, 1946) is an American actorMcCabe, Bruce"Susan Sarandon, the 'actor'" ''Boston Globe''. April 17, 1981. Retrieved January 21, 2021. and activist. She is the recipient of various accolades, ...

Julia Roberts Julia Fiona Roberts (born October 28, 1967) is an American actress. Known for her leading roles in films encompassing a variety of genres, she has received multiple accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and th ...

and

Ed Harris Edward Allen Harris (born November 28, 1950) is an American actor and filmmaker. His performances in ''Apollo 13'' (1995), '' The Truman Show'' (1998), '' Pollock'' (2000), and '' The Hours'' (2002) earned him critical acclaim and Academy Award ...

. ''We Are Family'' was originally scheduled for release on 10 September 2010, but was rescheduled to release on 3 September to avoid clashing with the

Salman Khan Abdul Rashid Salim Salman Khan (; 27 December 1965) is an Indian actor, film producer, and television personality who works in Hindi films. In a film career spanning over thirty years, Khan has received numerous awards, including two Nation ...

-starrer ''

Dabangg ''Dabangg'' () is a 2010 Indian Hindi-language action comedy film directed by Abhinav Singh Kashyap and produced by Malaika Arora Khan and Arbaaz Khan under Arbaaz Khan Productions with Dhilin Mehta under Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision. Kha ...

''. It proved to be an underwhelming success at the box office. However, it received positive reviews from critics upon release, with particular praise directed towards Kajol and Kapoor's performances. At the 56th Filmfare Awards, Kapoor won Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film.

Plot

Maya is a former book publisher and a perfect mother whose life revolves around her three children, Aaliya, Ankush, and Anjali. Despite being divorced from Aman, Maya has ensured that they remain a happy family unit. However, things take an unexpected turn when Aman's girlfriend, Shreya Arora, a career-oriented fashion designer with a lot to learn about children, joins the family. When Aman introduces Shreya at Anjali's birthday party, she accidentally drops Anjali's birthday cake, which leads the children to perceive her as evil. At a fashion show, Anjali helps Shreya with one of the outfits for the models. When Shreya goes to get ice cream for the children, Aaliya tells her siblings that she is using them so she can take their father away, and Anjali goes missing after. At the police station, Anjali is found and Aman tells Shreya that she cannot go near the children without Maya's permission. Maya finds out that she has

cervical cancer Cervical cancer is a cancer arising from the cervix. It is due to the abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Early on, typically no symptoms are seen. Later symptoms may include abnormal ...

and tells Aman, which prompts him to move back in with the family and leave Shreya. However, he is unable to forget her, which Maya notices. Maya tells their children that she has cancer and Aaliya retaliates by going to a party with an older boy. Maya then tells Shreya that she has cancer, and tells her she wants her to take care of the kids after she's gone, as they'll need a mother in their lives. Shreya refuses at first, not believing herself to be the ‘mom type,’ but agrees to move in and leave her career. In the following days, the children develop an attachment towards Shreya but when Maya and Shreya have an argument, it is revealed that Shreya is an

orphan An orphan (from the el, ορφανός, orphanós) is a child whose parents have died. In common usage, only a child who has lost both parents due to death is called an orphan. When referring to animals, only the mother's condition is usuall ...

. After the argument, Aman tells Maya that they should not be competing with each other for the children's love. Maya faints and is brought to the hospital, where the doctor tells her that she has only a few days left. Shreya decides to take care of the children while Aman tends to Maya. When Shreya and the children go to visit Maya at the hospital, the two women have a private conversation. Shreya admits that the children need their real mother, not her. Maya bequeaths guardianship of the children to Shreya and confesses a mistake she made that almost killed Anjali. She explains to Shreya that not every mother is perfect but that she needs to keep trying. Maya tells Aman she wants to return home for

Diwali Diwali (), Dewali, Divali, or Deepavali ( IAST: ''dīpāvalī''), also known as the Festival of Lights, related to Jain Diwali, Bandi Chhor Divas, Tihar, Swanti, Sohrai, and Bandna, is a religious celebration in Indian religions. It is ...

as the last chance to see her house before she dies. During the festival, the children hold a special event for her, replaying the memories they had together. When they take a family photograph, Maya asks Shreya to join, as she is now family. After that, Maya died, Aman married Sherya, and she became the children's stepmother. Ten years later, it is Aaliya's wedding and Shreya gifts her a bracelet which belonged to Maya. Shreya speaks to the family photo and says that Maya was right in that she eventually became the mom type. During the marriage rounds, Shreya looks at the sky and recalls Maya saying she had the children's yesterday while Shreya has their tomorrow, and smiles.

Cast

as Maya, Aman's ex wife, Aaliya, Ankush and Anjali's mother *

as Shreya Arora / D ('Daayan' (witch)), Aman's girlfriend turned wife, Aaliya, Ankush and Anjali's step-mother *

as Aman, Shreya's husband, Maya's ex-husband, Aaliya, Ankush and Anjali's father *

Aanchal Munjal Aanchal Munjal is an Indian film and television actress, acting in both Hindi and Tamil films. Career Munjal started acting as a child. Munjal's first television role was as Sameera in '' Dhoom Machaao Dhoom'' in 2008. Her breakthrough perf ...

as Aaliya, Aman and Maya's eldest daughter, Shreya's step-daughter *Nominath Ginsberg as Ankush, Aman and Maya's only son, Shreya's step-son *Diya Sonecha as Anjali, Aman and Maya's youngest daughter, Shreya's step-daughter * Iravati Harshe as Dr. Rati Malhotra, Maya's doctor * Amrita Prakash as elder Aaliya (cameo) * Ankit Malik as elder Ankush (cameo) * Dingy Vira as elder Anjali (cameo)

Production

Karan Johar decided to adapt ''Stepmom'' for the Indian audience with a working title ''Love You Maa''. Although he initially intended to buy the rights to the film, he eventually opted to co-produce it with

Sony Pictures Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Sony Pictures or SPE, and formerly known as Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc.) is an American diversified multinational mass media and entertainment studio conglomerate that produces, acq ...

. The film was shot in

Sydney, Australia Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and List of cities in Oceania by population, Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metro ...

and

Mumbai Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...

from November 2009 to April 2010. According to Siddharth Malhotra, several scenes involving racial prejudice against the children were cut to avoid the appearance of using the controversy over violence against Indians in Australia to promote the film.

Soundtrack

The album has six original songs composed by

Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy () is an Indian musical trio consisting of Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa. They have composed music for over 50 soundtracks across five languages: Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and English. Amongst t ...

and lyrics by

Irshad Kamil Irshad Kamil (born 5 September 1971) is an Indian poet and lyricist. His songs appear in Bollywood films including ''Jab We Met'', '' Chameli'', '' Love Aaj Kal'', ''Rockstar'', ''Aashiqui 2, Raanjhanaa, Highway, Tamasha,'' and ''Jab Harry Met ...

and Anvita Dutt Guptan, including a tribute to Elvis Presley's " Jailhouse Rock". # "Ankhon Mein Neendein" –

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Rahat Fateh Ali Khan ( Punjabi, ; born 9 December 1974) is a Pakistani Singer, primarily of Qawwali, a form of Sufi devotional music. Khan is one of the biggest and highest paid singers in Pakistan. He is the nephew of Nusrat Fateh Ali Kha ...

Shreya Ghoshal Shreya Ghoshal (born 12 March 1984) is an Indian singer and television personality. One of the highest-paid and most well-established playback singers of Indian cinema, she has received four National Film Awards, four Kerala State Film Awar ...

(5:02) # "Dil Khol Ke Let's Rock" –

Anushka Manchanda Anushka Manchanda aka Kiss Nuka (born 11 February 1984) is a singer, music producer, composer, creative entrepreneur, actor, activist, and former VJ of Indian origin. She came to prominence as a member of the Indipop girl group Viva!. Manchand ...

Akriti Kakkar Akriti Kakar is an Indian singer. Her songs, "Saturday Saturday" from the film '' Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania'' and "Iski Uski" from '' 2 States'' became popular. Akriti was a judge on Zee Bangla's ''Sa Re Ga Ma Pa: Li'l Champs'' and was going t ...

Suraj Jagan Suraj Jagan (born 11 May 1967) is an Indian playback singer. He is noted for the song ''Give Me Some Sunshine'' from the award-winning movie 3 Idiots. The song received the "Best Emerging Male Performer" award in the Max Stardust Award. Jaga ...

(03:57) # "Reham O Karam" –

Vishal Dadlani Vishal Dadlani (born 28 June 1973) is an Indian singer, songwriter and music composer. He is one half of the duo Vishal–Shekhar, Front Man and vocalist of one of India's leading rock bands called Pentagram. As a singer he has sung various h ...

Shankar Mahadevan Shankar Mahadevan (born 3 March 1967) is an Indian singer and composer who is part of the Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy trio that writes music for Indian films. Personal life and early career Shankar Mahadevan was born in Chembur, Mumbai into a Tami ...

(05:47) # "Hamesha & Forever" –

Sonu Nigam Sonu Nigam (born 30 July 1973) is an Indian singer, music director and actor. He has been described in the media as one of the most popular and successful playback singers of Hindi Cinema and Kannada Cinema. He has been honoured by the Govern ...

& Shreya Ghoshal (04:51) # "Sun Le Dua Yeh Aasmaan (Theme Slow Version)" –

Bela Shende Bela Shende is an Indian playback singer. She performed several songs in Bollywood and regional films. "Mann Mohana" from the film ''Jodhaa Akbar'', "Su Che" from the film '' What's Your Raashee?'', "Wajle Ki Baara" and "Apsara Aali" from ''Nat ...

(03:53) # "We Are Family (Theme)" – (02:48)

Reception

Critical response

Upon release, ''We Are Family'' received positive reviews from critics, with particular praise directed towards Kajol and Kapoor's performances. ''IANS'' rated the film 4 out of 5 saying, ''We Are Family'' is equally appealing from the outside and at the heart". ''The Hindustan Times'' gave it two out of five stars. India Today's reviewer glibly stated, "Kajol cries, Kareena cries, the kids cry, and even Rampal sheds an artful tear. We weep for the loss of two hours."

Box office performance

The film grossed about ₹27 million on opening day and collected a total of ₹205 million at the end of its second week. At the end of its theatrical run, it grossed ₹220 million and was eventually declared "average". ''We Are Family'' performed well overseas, particularly in the UK. The movie was declared a "semi-hit" by ''Box Office India''.

Awards & nominations

56th Filmfare Awards

Won

* Best Supporting Actress –

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:We Are Family 2010s Hindi-language films 2010 films Indian remakes of American films Films shot in Sydney Films shot in Mumbai Films scored by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy UTV Motion Pictures films Hindi remakes of English films Sony Pictures films Columbia Pictures films Sony Pictures Networks India films