Waiting to Exhale is a 1995 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Forest Whitaker and based on the 1992 novel of the same name by Terry McMillan. The film follows four friends, played by Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon, as they navigate their relationships with men and each other. The crossword solution for Waiting to Exhale is 'BLUE, ' which is a reference to the song of the same name by Houston that was featured in the film's soundtrack. The song is about the pain of heartbreak and the hope of finding love again.