A restless college dropout in Gujarat decides the fastest way to earn respect is to become as rich as industrialist Dhirubhai Ambani. He stakes everything on a run of get-rich schemes that keep outpacing his common sense. What starts as a comic hustle turns into a lesson about ambition and its cost.
Aapne To Dhirubhai landed in 2014, the same season Gujarati cinema's urban revival was finding its feet, and it took a cheeky swing at the biggest success story in the state's imagination. The film follows a restless college dropout who decides the fastest route to respect is to get as rich as Dhirubhai Ambani, then bets everything on schemes that keep outrunning his common sense. It is a satire about ambition dressed as a broad comedy, using one of Gujarat's most quoted rags to riches legends as both its punchline and its cautionary tale.
Directing duties fell to Haritrushi, with JMJ Motion Pictures backing the production and Mayur Jadeja producing. The casting leans on familiar comic faces, most notably Vrajesh Hirjee, whose Hindi film timing gives the lead stretch of jokes their rhythm, supported by Ashish Bhatt, Rittesh Mobh, Jayesh More and Morli Patel. The Times of India carried a review at release, and the film built a warm word of mouth that shows up in its steady 7.2 audience score on IMDb, respectable for a mid budget regional comedy that never chased a wide national footprint.
Watched today it plays as a modest, good natured farce rather than a landmark. The premise is sharper than the execution, the plotting stays predictable, and at well over two hours the middle sags. It also had the bad luck of sharing 2014 with Bey Yaar, the film that stole the year's attention. Still, for viewers tracing how urban Gujarati comedy learned to laugh at its own aspirations, this is a likeable, lightly pointed footnote worth a look.
Verdict
A likeable, lightly satirical Gujarati comedy that mines the Dhirubhai Ambani dream for laughs. The premise outshines the execution, but Vrajesh Hirjee keeps it watchable.
What works
- Vrajesh Hirjee anchors the comedy with practiced timing
- A satirical hook riffing on the Dhirubhai Ambani success myth
- Part of the early urban Gujarati comedy wave of 2014
- Family-friendly farce with a clear moral arc
What holds it back
- Overshadowed by the same year's Bey Yaar
- Familiar, predictable rags-to-riches plotting
- Sags across a long 2h 15m runtime
- Limited critical footprint beyond Gujarat
Cast & crew
Cast: Vrajesh Hirjee (Dhirendra), Ashish Bhatt (Parekh), Rittesh Mobh (Bhupendra), Jayesh More (Jacki dada), Morli Patel
Producers: Mayur Jadeja
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore Comedy Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Aapne To Dhirubhai worth watching?
A likeable, lightly satirical Gujarati comedy that mines the Dhirubhai Ambani dream for laughs. The premise outshines the execution, but Vrajesh Hirjee keeps it watchable. Kevu Che rates it 3.5 out of 5.
What is Aapne To Dhirubhai about?
A restless college dropout in Gujarat decides the fastest way to earn respect is to become as rich as industrialist Dhirubhai Ambani. He stakes everything on a run of get-rich schemes that keep outpacing his common sense. What starts as a comic hustle turns into a lesson about ambition and its cost.
What is the IMDb rating of Aapne To Dhirubhai?
Aapne To Dhirubhai (2014) holds an IMDb rating of 7.2 out of 10.