Shabd (film)

Shabd is a 2005 Indian Hindi-language mystery thriller film directed by Leena Yadav. It stars Sanjay Dutt, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Zayed Khan.

The film revolves around the lives of a celebrated writer, Shaukat Vashisht (Sanjay Dutt), his wife Antara Vashisht (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan), and a university professor, Yash Agnihotri (Zayed Khan). Shaukat is struggling with writer's block and becomes obsessed with experiencing real-life situations to inspire his next novel. He persuades Antara, a university professor, to interact with a student, Yash, in a way that blurs the lines between reality and fiction. This manipulation leads to a complex web of emotions, misunderstandings, and ultimately, tragedy.

The film explores themes of obsession, the power of words, the blurred boundaries between reality and imagination, and the consequences of manipulating human emotions for artistic inspiration. The narrative unfolds through flashbacks and multiple perspectives, keeping the audience guessing until the very end. Shabd received mixed reviews upon release, with praise for its performances and cinematography but criticism for its convoluted plot and pacing. Despite not being a major commercial success, it is noted for its exploration of complex psychological themes.