Highway is a 2014 Indian Hindi-language road drama film written and directed by Imtiaz Ali and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala.

[5][6][7][8] The film is based on the episode of the same name from the Zee TV anthology series Rishtey, starring Aditya Srivastava and Kartika Rane, which was also written and directed by Imtiaz Ali.

Upon release, Highway received positive reviews from critics, with high praise directed towards Bhatt and Hooda's performance, thus proving to be a breakthrough for her.

Veera becomes comfortable with her captors and even confides in Mahabir that she was sexually abused by her uncle as a nine-year-old multiple times.

Veera is later brought back to her parents' house, where she recovers from the emotionally draining experience while surrounded by her family members, including Vinay.

She yells and breaks down as she asks her father why he warned her about dangers posed by outsiders while the real threat was from insiders, the people who had surrounded her since childhood.

Feeling content, she closes her eyes and envisions her nine-year-old self playing happily on the hillside with a young Mahabir, making peace with the man she loved and their mutual childhood forms.

[11] The director initially envisioned casting an older actress, possibly someone like Aishwarya Rai, who he believed would be ideal for the role of Veera without makeup.

In the April 2013 interview with the same, he said the film is primarily the story of two characters from very different backgrounds—played by Alia Bhatt and Randeep Hooda—who take the road trip across six states in a truck.

[13] Over the improvisations in script, he stated, "For instance, when we were on the top of snow mountains in Himachal Pradesh, I wanted to be open to what nature suggested and the impulses the actors gave me, rather than stick to what I had written, sitting in a room in Mumbai.

"[14] For Highway, Hooda prepared for his role with such sincerity that in order to keep the initial distance with Bhatt's character, he didn't speak to her for about 25 days.

On filming scenes, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ali stated, "I also didn't go for a large camera setup such as cranes and dollies.

[28] Marketing began from November 2013 wherein series of behind the scenes footages as episodes titled under the head "Highway Diaries" were released on Bollywood Hungama's production blog.

The film's merchandise, headgear, jackets, map scarfs, bags and shirts, all with fabric prints of title logo, were made available for online purchase.

[citation needed] Critic Srijana Mitra Das for The Times of India gave the film 3.5 stars out of 5 and stated, "Highway is not an easy ride, but it offers fresh breezes and new sights.

"[37] For Mumbai Mirror, Rahul Desai wrote, "Highway makes for the kind of cinema we need, perhaps not something we entirely deserve.

Even if you aren't moved by its unhurried simplicity, or do not agree with this review, I challenge you to resist an overwhelming urge to rush out after dark hoping to get kidnapped (or simpler, just take off) to the foothills of the Himalayas.

"[39] Assigning no rating yet positive critical review, at One India, Venkatesh Prasad stated, "Highway will be a special experience for you, especially if you like road movies.

And so it is extremely disappointing when the director and his script lead us on a journey that eventually fizzles out, collapses and dies in front of our eyes."

[43] According to movie critic RJ Akki for FireMud FM , "Bhatt breaks her image from Student of the Year (2012) and mesmerizes through her role in the film.

[44] Manohar Basu at Koimoi stated, "Highway whips up all the ingredients required for an intriguing film but goes wrong as a whole.

There is excessive heavy handedness in the screenplay and somehow the effortless ease that signifies the beauty of Imtiaz's films is absolutely missing from it.

There is far too much of incoherence in the screenplay to bear and though it tried its hand at adding varied hues to multiple layers of the story, one cannot disagree to the fact that it is only Rahman's divine music and the pristine cinematography that works here.

It is not meant for movie goers who enter the theatre hoping to see some bizarre fight sequences, masaledar drama, naach-gaana or intense love-making scenes.

[48] Priya Joshi of Digital Spy gave it 4 (out of 5) stars: "It's exemplary filmmaking, and the hope is that audiences will take a detour from the confines of commercial Bollywood and embrace this wholly edifying experience.

"[52] Rachel Saltz for The New York Times putforth, "Mr. Ali’s story, though, wanders too long and too far, sometimes coming off like a forced mash-up of It Happened One Night (1934) and Patty Hearst (1988).

"[53] Assigning the film 3.5 out of 5 stars, critic Manjusha Radhakrishnan for Gulf News stated, "It's gritty in parts and unrealistic in some (which hostage would break out into a hip-hop dance on wasteland).

"[54] Critic Zachary Wigon for The Village Voice commented, "Imtiaz Ali's Highway is nothing if not erratic in its narrative delivery — though its fascinating thematic concern remains fixed throughout."

"[56] At critic Roger Joseph Ebert's website where the film receives 2.5 stars (out of 4) critic-cum-journalist Danny Bowes wrote, "Highway might be a very good movie indeed.

which released in around 250 screens in the international markets, has approximately collected Rs 5.58 crores ($900,000) at the Overseas Box Office in the first weekend.