Rahul Jaykar

Aashiqui 2 (transl. Romance 2) is a 2013 Indian Hindi-language musical romantic drama film directed by Mohit Suri, and produced by Bhushan Kumar and Mukesh Bhatt under the T-Series Films and Vishesh Films production banners. It is a spiritual successor to the 1990 musical film Aashiqui. The film stars Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor, with Shaad Randhawa and Mahesh Thakur in supporting roles. The film centers on a turbulent romantic relationship between a failing singer, Rahul Jaykar, and his protege, aspiring singer Aarohi Keshav Shirke, which is affected by Rahul's issues with alcohol abuse and temperament. It is an adaptation of both the original 1937 version and the 1976 remake of A Star is Born. There were initially several concerns in the Indian media that it could not live up to the high standards and success of the original. Production of the film began in 2011, with the principal photography taking place in Cape Town, Goa and Mumbai on a budget of ₹15 crore (US$1.6 million). Aashiqui 2 was released on 26 April 2013 in India, and became a commercial success at the box-office despite featuring newcomers, and was one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of 2013, earning over ₹100 crore (US$10 million) and within the first four weeks, ending both Kapur's and Kapoor's early years of struggle for recognition. Eventually, it became the highest grossing production for the Bhatt brothers and the Vishesh Films banner. Since its release in 2013, it has gained cult status among audiences, with its soundtrack album topping the charts and proving to be a phenomenal success, marking a career breakthrough for Arijit Singh as a leading singer. The film was remade in Telugu as Nee Jathaga Nenundali (2014).