Tashan (film)

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Tashan
Theatrical release poster
Directed byVijay Krishna Acharya
Written byVijay Krishna Acharya
Produced byAditya Chopra
StarringAkshay Kumar
Saif Ali Khan
Kareena Kapoor
Anil Kapoor
CinematographyAyananka Bose
Edited byRameshwar S. Bhagat
Music bySongs:
Vishal–Shekhar
Score:
Ranjit Barot
Production
company
Distributed byYash Raj Films
Release date
  • 25 April 2008 (2008-04-25)
Running time
148 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget₹310 million[1]
Box office₹516.3 million[1]

Tashan (transl. Style) is a 2008 Indian Hindi-language action comedy film written and directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya in his directorial debut, and produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner. It stars Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, and Anil Kapoor. The story follows a call centre executive, a gangster's aide, and a con woman involved in a chaotic pursuit across India.

Principal photography took place in Ladakh, Rajasthan, Kerala, and Haridwar, with additional sequences filmed in Greece. Cinematography was by Ayananka Bose, and the music was composed by Vishal–Shekhar, with lyrics by Piyush Mishra and Kausar Munir.

Released theatrically on 25 April 2008, Tashan received mixed reviews. Critics praised its music, visuals, and Kumar’s performance, but criticised the screenplay and tone. The film underperformed at the box office but gained a cult following over time, particularly for its soundtrack and stylized presentation.

Plot

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Jeetendra Kumar Makwana, also known as Jimmy Cliff, is a call centre executive and part-time English tutor. He is approached by Pooja Singh, who requests private lessons. Jimmy quickly agrees, attracted to her, but soon discovers that the lessons are actually intended for her employer, Lakhan Singh Ballebaaz—also known as Bhaiyyaji—a volatile gangster with aspirations to speak English.

As Jimmy and Pooja grow closer, she reveals that she is working for Bhaiyyaji only to repay her debts and eventually travel to Haridwar to scatter her father’s ashes. The two conspire to steal Bhaiyyaji’s money and escape. They succeed, and Jimmy returns to his office to resign, only to be intercepted by ACP Kuldeep Singh Hooda, who warns him of Bhaiyyaji's violent history. Jimmy rushes back but finds Pooja has disappeared with the money.

Bhaiyyaji hires a mercenary named Bachchan Pandey to retrieve Jimmy. After Jimmy is captured upon having surrendered, the two travel together in search of Pooja, eventually reaching Haridwar. Although they spot her briefly, she evades them. During their continued pursuit, their vehicle crashes into a river during an argument. Pooja unexpectedly emerges from the car’s trunk, revealing she had been hiding there and that the stolen money is hidden in seven different locations across India.

Jimmy and Pooja plan to reclaim the money and escape again. As part of their plan, Pooja attempts to seduce Bachchan, but realizes he is her childhood sweetheart. The two rekindle their relationship and fall in love. After recovering all the money, Bachchan attempts to leave with it, unaware that Jimmy has swapped the cash with stones. When Pooja learns of the deception, she tells Jimmy that Bhaiyyaji had murdered her father, Vikram Singh (alias "Tiger"), to seize his criminal empire.

Jimmy and Pooja rush to save Bachchan, who is captured by Bhaiyyaji. At Bhaiyyaji’s hideout, Jimmy pretends to betray his companions and requests a gun to kill Bachchan, but instead turns the weapon on Bhaiyyaji, taking him hostage. As they attempt to escape, Bhaiyyaji breaks free, triggering a gunfight. In the final confrontation, Pooja kills Bhaiyyaji with a sword.

In the aftermath, Jimmy opens his own call centre staffed entirely by women, while Bachchan and Pooja marry.[2]

Cast

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  • Akshay Kumar as Bachchan Pande
    • Mayank Naresh Tandon as a young Bachchan, who was given the nickname "Ulluram" by his crush, village girl Gudiya, in reality an adult Pooja
  • Saif Ali Khan as Jeetendra Kumar Makwana a.k.a. Jimmy Cliff
  • Kareena Kapoor as Pooja "Gudiya" Singh
    • Benazir Shaikh as a young Gudiya, who was unable to meet her lover she nicknamed "Ulluram", in reality an adult Bachchan
  • Anil Kapoor as Lakhan Singh Ballebaaz a.k.a. Bhaiyyaji
  • Sanjay Mishra as Balakram "Misir" Misra
  • Yashpal Sharma as ACP Kuldeep Singh Hooda
  • Manoj Pahwa as Anand Mohan Tiwari a.k.a. Pintu
  • Rajesh Jais as Pankaj Tiwari
  • Sreejita De as Parvati

Production

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Development

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Tashan was produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner and marked the directorial debut of Vijay Krishna Acharya, who had previously written for Dhoom (2004) and Dhoom 2 (2006). Pre-production began in late 2006, with the screenplay emphasizing a blend of action and stylized comedy.

The project continued Saif Ali Khan’s collaboration with Yash Raj Films following Hum Tum (2004) and Salaam Namaste (2005). It also marked a return to the studio for Akshay Kumar (Dil To Pagal Hai, 1997), Kareena Kapoor (Mujhse Dosti Karoge!, 2002), and Anil Kapoor (Lamhe, 1991).

Costume designer Aki Narula developed distinct looks for the lead cast to complement the film’s stylized tone.[3]

Casting

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Kumar was the first actor signed, followed by Khan and Kareena Kapoor.[4] In early 2007, Anil Kapoor joined the cast to portray a villain, marking his first negative role.[5] Ibrahim Ali Khan, Khan’s son, made his screen debut as the younger version of his father’s character.[6][7]

Filming

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Principal photography began in June 2007 in Kerala, followed by shooting schedules in Ladakh, Rajasthan, and Haridwar.[8][9][10][11][12] Additional scenes were filmed in Mumbai, where Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan were photographed during production in the Fort area in September 2007.[13] Two musical sequences were filmed on location in Greece, on the islands of Milos and in the coastal town of Nafplio.[14]

Marketing and release

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The first teaser for Tashan premiered on 30 November 2007 with the release of Aaja Nachle.[15] In a poll by IndiaFM, the film was voted the "Most Awaited Movie of 2008."[16]

The film was released theatrically on 25 April 2008 by Yash Raj Films in India and international markets.

Soundtrack

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Tashan
Soundtrack album by
Vishal–Shekhar
Released27 March 2008 (2008-03-27) (Digital Release)
25 April 2008 (2008-04-25) (Film)
Recorded26:33
GenreFilm soundtrack
LabelYRF Music
ProducerVishal–Shekhar
Vishal–Shekhar chronology
Om Shanti Om
(2007) 		Tashan
(2008) 		Bhoothnath
(2008)

The soundtrack for Tashan was composed by Vishal–Shekhar, with lyrics by Piyush Mishra, Anvita Dutt Guptan, Vishal Dadlani, and Kausar Munir. It was released on 27 March 2008 under the YRF Music label.

The album received positive reviews from critics. Joginder Tuteja of IndiaFM rated it 4 out of 5 stars, describing it as consistently engaging and highlighting “Dil Dance Maare,” “Dil Haara,” and “Falak Tak” as standout tracks.[17]

The soundtrack debuted at number three on the music charts and rose to the top position during the week of the film’s release.[18][19][20] According to Box Office India, approximately 1.5 million units were sold, making it the ninth highest-selling Bollywood soundtrack of 2008.[21]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Dil Haara"Piyush MishraSukhwinder Singh5:51
2."Chhaliya"Anvita DuttSunidhi Chauhan, Piyush Mishra4:43
3."Dil Dance Maare"Vishal DadlaniSukhwinder Singh, Udit Narayan, Sunidhi Chauhan5:21
4."Falak Tak"Kausar MunirUdit Narayan, Mahalaxmi Iyer5:52
5."Tashan Mein"Piyush Mishra, Vishal DadlaniVishal Dadlani, Master Saleem5:06

Reception

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Box office

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Prior to release, Tashan recorded advance bookings of approximately 25–35% across major centres.[22] On its opening day, the film registered 75–80% occupancy but fell short of expectations due to a revenue-sharing dispute between Yash Raj Films and multiplex chains, which delayed the film's release in major multiplexes across India.[23][24] As a result, the film earned ₹180 million in its first week.[25][26] Following a resolution between the distributor and exhibitors, the film was released in multiplexes from 3 May 2008, adding another ₹70 million to its domestic gross. It was ultimately declared a below-average performer at the box office.[27][28]

Internationally, the film opened to a tepid response.[29] In its first week, Tashan collected £181,838 on 46 screens in the United Kingdom, debuting at number 13.[30] In the United States, it debuted at number 24 with a gross of $301,226 from 75 screens, while in Australia it opened at number 17, collecting $148,087 on 13 screens.[30] The film witnessed significant drops in subsequent weeks and was also rated below average in overseas markets.[31]

Critical response

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Tashan received mixed reviews from critics. In India, the film drew criticism for its screenplay and direction. Taran Adarsh of IndiaFM rated it 1.5 out of 5, calling it “one of the weakest films to come out of the Yash Raj banner.”[32] Rajeev Masand from CNN-IBN described it as “a road movie going in all the wrong directions.”[33] Conversely, Sanjay Ram awarded the film 3.5 out of 5, noting that despite flaws, the film remained “engaging and entertaining.”[34]

International reviews were comparatively more positive. Rachel Saltz of The New York Times described the film’s visual excess as fitting with its “tongue-in-cheek tone.”[35] Frank Lovece of Film Journal International highlighted its “dry humor, cartoonishly violent set pieces,” and “gorgeously shot musical numbers.”[36] Maitland McDonagh of TV Guide called it “a nutty, ridiculously entertaining neo-noir pastiche,” praising its blend of genre influences.[37]

Performances were also met with mixed reactions. Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor received praise, while Saif Ali Khan and Anil Kapoor garnered more divided responses. Adarsh wrote that Kumar was “the lifeline of this project” and called Kapoor “fantastic.”[32] Sonia Chopra of Sify stated that Kumar and Kapoor “sizzle” but noted that Saif’s performance was “lukewarm” and Anil Kapoor played the antagonist “to the hilt.”[38]

Accolades

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Award Date of the ceremony Category Recipients Result Ref.
Screen Awards 14 January 2009 Best Actor in a Negative Role Anil Kapoor Nominated [39]
Stardust Awards 15 February 2009 Best Actor in a Negative Role Won [40]
Annual Central European Bollywood Awards 11 October 2010 Best Supporting Actor Nominated [41]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Tashan – Movie". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  2. ^ Tashan Win Official Website Tashan win Game
  3. ^ "Bebo's going grunge". The Times of India. 28 March 2008. Archived from the original on 26 December 2008. Retrieved 27 March 2008.
  4. ^ Adarsh, Taran. "Yash Raj's new project!". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 8 January 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2006.
  5. ^ IndiaFM News Bureau. "Anil Kapoor returns to Yash Raj Films". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 29 January 2007.
  6. ^ IndiaFM News Bureau. "Saif's son makes his debut in Tashan". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 26 October 2007. Retrieved 28 September 2007.
  7. ^ Vyavahare, Renuka. "Saif's son is quite a nawab!". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 14 November 2007.
  8. ^ ApunKaChoice. "Kareena Kapoor working day and night". ApunKaChoice.com. Archived from the original on 9 June 2007. Retrieved 6 June 2007.
  9. ^ ApunKaChoice. "Saif and Kareena mobbed by fans". ApunKaChoice.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  10. ^ ApunKaChoice. "Saif Ali Khan grows moustache for 'Tashan'". ApunKaChoice.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2007.
  11. ^ Abid. "Kareena shoots for Tashan at Haridwar". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 30 November 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2007.
  12. ^ ""I play a high society girl in Kambakkht Ishq" – Kareena Kapoor". Screen Weekly. IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 26 December 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  13. ^ MiD DAY. "Saif-Kareena shoot for Tashan on Mumbai streets". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 24 September 2007.
  14. ^ Tashan (2008 Hindi Film) Archived 23 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine, ELINEPA, 2003
  15. ^ IndiaFM News Bureau. "Tashan theatrical shown with Aaja Nachle". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 1 December 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2007.
  16. ^ Bollywood Hungama News Network. "The Most Awaited movies of 2008". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 15 February 2008. Retrieved 8 February 2008.
  17. ^ Tuteja, Joginder. "Music Review: Tashan". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 2 April 2008. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
  18. ^ Tuteja, Joginder (7 April 2008). "Top Ten albums of the week". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 11 April 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2008.
  19. ^ Tuteja, Joginder (14 April 2008). "Top Ten albums of the week". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 16 April 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2008.
  20. ^ Tuteja, Joginder (21 April 2008). "Top Ten albums of the week". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 25 April 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2008.
  21. ^ "Music Hits 2000–2009 (Figures in Units)". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 24 June 2010.
  22. ^ "Tashan Set To Embark on Huge Start". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 29 April 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  23. ^ "Tashan Opens Well". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  24. ^ "Tashan Struggles at the Box Office". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  25. ^ Adarsh, Taran. "Rejected!". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 5 May 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  26. ^ "Tashan Well Below Expectations". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 6 May 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  27. ^ Bhandari, Rohini. "YRF, multiplexes settle for all films; Tashan screens 3 May". Business of Cinema. Archived from the original on 6 May 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  28. ^ "Bhoothnath Opens to a Poor Response". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2008.
  29. ^ "Tashan Opens To Below Average Response". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 2 May 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  30. ^ a b Adarsh, Taran. "Major disappointment!". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  31. ^ Adarsh, Taran. "Supreme disaster!". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 29 December 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2008.
  32. ^ a b Adarsh, Taran. "Movie Review: Tashan". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 3 May 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  33. ^ Masand, Rajeev. "Masand's Verdict: Tashan is terribly trashy". IBNLive. Archived from the original on 28 April 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  34. ^ Ram, Sanjay. "Film Review: Tashan". IBNLive. Archived from the original on 30 April 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  35. ^ Saltz, Rachel (26 April 2008). "Saltz, Rachel, The New York Times, review of Tashan, 26 April 2008". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  36. ^ "Lovece, Frank, Film Journal International, review of Tashan". Archived from the original on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2009.
  37. ^ McDonagh, Maitland. "Tashan Review". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2008.
  38. ^ Chopra, Sonia. "Tashan". Sify. Archived from the original on 29 April 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  39. ^ "Star Screen Award Winners 2009 – Nokia Fifteenth (15th) Star Screen Awards". www.awardsandshows.com. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  40. ^ "Stardust Awards, India (2009)". IMDb. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  41. ^ "Annual Central European Bollywood Awards, India (2009)". IMDb. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
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