Salaam Namaste

Salaam Namaste (transl. Hello Greetings) is a 2005 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Siddharth Anand in his directorial debut, and produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner. Set in Melbourne, Australia, the film stars Saif Ali Khan and Preity Zinta as Nick and Ambar, two modern Indian expatriates who navigate the challenges of cohabitation, career, and unexpected parenthood after choosing to live together without marriage. Arshad Warsi, Tania Zaetta, Jaaved Jaaferi, and Jugal Hansraj appear in supporting roles. The film was the first Indian film to be shot entirely in Australia. Principal photography took place across various locations in and around Melbourne. The music was composed by Vishal–Shekhar, with lyrics by Jaideep Sahni.

Released theatrically on 9 September 2005, Salaam Namaste received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics. The performances, direction, and contemporary treatment of relationships were praised, though some criticism was directed at its narrative length. The film became the third highest-grossing Indian film of the year and the top overseas performer for an Indian release in 2005, with notable success in markets such as Australia, the United Kingdom, and North America.

On 24 September 2005, the screenplay was invited to the permanent script collection of the Margaret Herrick Library, maintained by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Zinta’s performance received widespread acclaim, earning her nominations for Best Actress at the Filmfare Awards, IIFA Awards, Star Screen Awards, and Zee Cine Awards.