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Pathaan (film)
Pathaan is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films. The film stars Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and John Abraham. It is the fourth installment in the YRF Spy Universe, following War (2019).
| Pathaan | |
| Directed by | Siddharth Anand |
| Written by | Sridhar Raghavan Dialogues: Abbas Tyrewala |
| Story by | Siddharth Anand |
| Produced by | Aditya Chopra |
| Starring | Shah Rukh Khan Deepika Padukone John Abraham |
| Cinematography | Satchith Paulose |
| Edited by | Arif Sheikh |
| Music by | Score: Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara Songs: Vishal–Shekhar |
| Production company | Yash Raj Films |
| Distributed by | Yash Raj Films |
| Release date | 25 January 2023 (India) |
| Running time | 146 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Budget | ₹225 crore |
| Box office | ₹1,050 crore |
Plot
After India's decision to revoke Article 370, a Pakistani general hires ex-RAW agent Jim to seek revenge. Shah Rukh Khan plays Pathaan, an exiled agent of RAW’s "Joint Operations and Covert Research" division, who comes out of retirement to stop Jim’s terror plans involving a deadly virus named "Raktbeej". With the help of Deepika Padukone’s character Rubina, a former ISI agent, Pathaan embarks on a global mission filled with high-octane chases, betrayals, and explosive confrontations.
Cast
- Shah Rukh Khan as Pathaan
- Deepika Padukone as Rubina Mohsin
- John Abraham as Jim
- Dimple Kapadia as Nandini Grewal
- Ashutosh Rana as Colonel Sunil Luthra
- Salman Khan (cameo) as Tiger
Production
Development
The film was announced by Yash Raj Films in 2020 as part of its expanding spy franchise. Siddharth Anand directed the film, with Aditya Chopra producing. Shah Rukh Khan’s return to cinema after a four-year hiatus was widely anticipated.
Filming
Principal photography began in November 2020 in Mumbai and took place across multiple international locations including Dubai, Spain, and Russia. Action sequences were choreographed by international stunt directors.
Music
The film’s soundtrack, composed by Vishal–Shekhar, includes popular tracks such as "Besharam Rang" and "Jhoome Jo Pathaan", both of which became chart-toppers.
Release
Pathaan was released theatrically on 25 January 2023 in standard and IMAX formats, coinciding with the Indian Republic Day weekend. It was dubbed and released in Tamil and Telugu as well.
Reception
The film received positive reviews for its action sequences, performances, and entertainment value. Critics praised Shah Rukh Khan’s comeback and Siddharth Anand’s direction. It became one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time, collecting over ₹1,050 crore worldwide.
Legacy
Pathaan revitalized the Hindi film box office post-pandemic and expanded the YRF Spy Universe, connecting it with Tiger 3 and War 2. The success reaffirmed Khan’s position as one of Bollywood’s leading stars.