What follows is a comedy of errors as Raja struggles to act rich and arrogant, while the real Chhote Thakur returns at the worst possible moment. The two lookalikes eventually collide, leading to a chaotic climax where identities are swapped, love triangles form, and villains get their just desserts.
A Classic Case of Mistaken Identity
Pardesi Babu is not a great film by any critical standard, but it is an of late-90s Bollywood. For fans of Govinda’s comic energy and dance moves, it’s a treat. The film leans entirely on his ability to make you laugh with a single raised eyebrow or a sudden pelvic thrust.
Raja is in love with the bubbly (Shilpa Shetty), while Chhote Thakur is set to marry the fiery Karishma (Raveena Tandon). When Chhote Thakur refuses his marriage and runs away, his wealthy father (Kader Khan) makes a desperate deal: he hires the penniless Raja to impersonate the missing son and marry Karishma to save the family’s honor.
Title: Pardesi Babu Release Year: 1998 Director: Manoj Agrawal Cast: Govinda (Dual Role), Raveena Tandon, Shilpa Shetty, Kader Khan, Satish Kaushik
Govinda switches between the two characters effortlessly, often within the same frame (using clever 90s split-screen technology). His physical comedy—the way Raja trips over his own feet versus how Chhote Thakur kicks doors open—is a highlight.
Pardesi Babu is a quintessential 90s Bollywood masala film, blending comedy, romance, and action with a generous dash of confusion. The story follows two identical-looking men: (Govinda), a spoiled, arrogant landlord’s son from a small town, and Raja (Govinda), a poor but kind-hearted lookalike living in the city.
★★½ (2.5/5) – Watch it for Govinda’s double act and the nostalgic music.