Chennai Express is a 2013 Indian action comedy film directed by Rohit Shetty and produced by Gauri Khan under the banner Red Chillies Entertainment. The film features Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in lead roles. This is the second collaboration between Khan and Padukone after the 2007 blockbuster Om Shanti Om and the first between Khan and Rohit Shetty. Chennai Express is about a man's journey from Mumbai to Rameshwaram and what happens along the way after he falls in love with the daughter of a local don. Principal photography began on 27 September 2012. Filming began in October 2012 and was wrapped up by May 2013.
The film was released a day earlier in the overseas markets on 8 August 2013 and in India on 9 August 2013. Extensive paid previews were held in India on 8 August 2013 as well. Upon release, the film received mixed reviews from critics. Despite this, the film broke several records in India and abroad and became the fastest film to collect INR1 billion (US$15 million).
The film surpassed Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and is currently the highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2013. Chennai Express went on to break the record of 3 Idiots to become the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time and was declared a Blockbuster in India by Box Office India. It is also the third highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time in overseas markets.
