Aashiqui (1990) was an Indian Hindi musical romantic drama directed by Mahesh Bhatt, starring Rahul Roy, Anu Aggarwal, and Deepak Tijori in key roles. The film, the first instalment of the Aashiqui series, became an iconic success, particularly for its timeless music. The soundtrack, composed by the duo Nadeem-Shravan, played a crucial role in shaping the careers of both the composers and singers Anuradha Paudwal and Kumar Sanu, alongside the rise of the T-Series label. The film's story follows the emotional struggles of Rahul (Roy) and Anu (Aggarwal), a couple who fall in love but must navigate personal challenges. Based loosely on Bhatt's own love story, Aashiqui received widespread acclaim upon release and quickly became a cult classic, resonating deeply with young audiences. Rahul Roy and Anu Aggarwal's performances turned them into overnight stars. The soundtrack of Aashiqui, written by Sameer, Rani Mallik, and Madan Pal, became the best-selling Bollywood album of all time, selling over 20 million units. Its fusion of filmi and ghazal elements placed it at number four on Planet Bollywood's list of "100 Greatest Bollywood Soundtracks of All Time." At the 36th Filmfare Awards, the film earned seven nominations, winning four, including Best Music Director, Best Lyricist, and Best Singer (Kumar Sanu). The success of the music also boosted the careers of playback singers like Anuradha Paudwal, Udit Narayan, and Nitin Mukesh. Paudwal won the Filmfare Best Singer award, while Sanu won Best Male Singer. Although Aashiqui marked a high point in their careers, neither Rahul Roy nor Anu Aggarwal managed to replicate their initial success. Anu Aggarwal, in particular, left the industry after a life-changing accident in 1999. The film was later remade in Kannada as Roja (2002) and inspired a sequel, Aashiqui 2, in 2013.