After 37 years in limbo, the Hindi film Hum Mein Shahenshah Kaun, featuring an ensemble cast including Rajinikanth, Hema Malini, and Shatrughan Sinha, is finally set for a nationwide theatrical release. The film, a multi-starrer produced by Raja Roy Films and directed by the late Harmesh Malhotra, was originally shot in 1989.
Hum Mein Shahenshah Kaun boasts a stellar cast of prominent figures from the golden era of Hindi cinema, including Anita Raj, Prem Chopra, Sharat Saxena, Sharad Saxena, and the late Amrish Puri and Jagdeep. The film's creative team included dialogue writers Salim-Faiz, the legendary music composer duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal, lyricist Anand Bakshi, and choreographer Saroj Khan. The film was shot on 35 mm Eastman Colour stock, a classic film stock known for its rich visual quality.
The film's journey to release has been fraught with challenges. After principal photography, producer Raja Roy relocated to London and faced the personal tragedy of losing his young son, which halted the film's progress. Further delays were caused by the untimely death of director Harmesh Malhotra. Despite these setbacks, Raja Roy returned to India determined to complete the project.
Leveraging modern technology, Hum Mein Shahenshah Kaun has undergone AI-assisted restoration, 4K remastering, and 5.1 surround sound mastering to meet contemporary theatrical standards. According to Aslam Mirza, AI tools were used with restraint, focusing on visual smoothing and audio enhancement while preserving the original performances and narrative integrity. Raja Roy emphasized that the aim was to enhance the viewing experience without compromising the film's soul, embracing new-generation techniques while retaining the essence of the original.
Raja Roy expressed his gratitude that the film will finally meet its audience, acknowledging the grief, setbacks, and long silence it has endured. He stated that the film's release feels like destiny fulfilled. Associate producers Aslam Mirza and Shabana Mirza played a key role in restoring and completing the project using modern technology.
