Pathaan is a 2023 Indian Hindi action thriller film directed by Siddharth Anand and written by Shridhar Raghavan and Abbas Tyrewala. It is the fourth installment of the YRF Spy Universe. The film stars Shah Rukh Khan as Pathaan, an exiled RAW agent, who teams up with ISI agent Rubina Mohsin, played by Deepika Padukone. Together, they aim to take down Jim, a former RAW agent and traitor played by John Abraham, who plans to attack India.
Produced by Aditya Chopra of Yash Raj Films, the film was shot in various locations including India, Afghanistan, Spain, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Russia, Italy, and France. The soundtrack includes two songs composed by Vishal-Shekhar, while the score is provided by Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara. With a production budget of ₹225 crore (US$28 million) and additional expenses of ₹15 crore (US$1.9 million) for printing and advertising, the film limited its pre-release publicity and avoided public events.
Pathaan was released in India on January 25, 2023, coinciding with the Republic Day weekend. It received positive reviews from critics, who praised its action sequences, music, and cast performances. The film achieved significant commercial success, breaking numerous box office records, including the highest opening day, single day, weekend and week for a Hindi film in India. It became the highest-grossing Hindi film ever in India and set records in major foreign markets. With a worldwide gross of Rs 1,050.3 crore (US$130 million), “Pathaan” became the highest-grossing Indian film of 2023, the second-highest-grossing Hindi film of all time and the fifth-highest-grossing Indian film of all time. of all. time. It also became the 16th highest-grossing film of 2023. Notably, Pathaan achieved the milestone of grossing ₹1,000 crore (US$130 million) worldwide without a Chinese release, making it the first Hindi film to do it.
Pathaan Plot :
In 2019, the Indian government revoked Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. This news deeply affects Qadir, a Pakistani army general with cancer who is seeking revenge against India. He joins forces with Jim, the leader of a private terrorist organization called “Outfit X”. Meanwhile, Pathaan, a RAW agent, and his superior Nandini Grewal establish the “Joint Operations and Undercover Investigation” (JOCR) unit. They recruit retired RAW agents who want to continue serving the country despite previous trauma or injury.
With Colonel Sunil Luthra’s approval, Pathaan and his team head to Dubai to prevent Team X from attacking the Indian president at a scientific conference. However, they discover that the real plan is to kidnap two scientists, Dr. Farooqui and Dr. Sahani. Jim manages to capture Dr. Sahani, while Pathaan tries to stop him. During the ensuing fight, Jim escapes with the scientist. Upon interrogation, it is revealed that Jim was a former RAW agent who faked his death to get revenge on the agency for failing to save his family.
Pathaan learns of a code word called “Raktbeej” and discovers that the deceased agents in Dubai were former Raw agents. The money used in the operation was traced to Rubina Mohsin (Rubai), a Pakistani doctor in Spain and a former ISI agent. Pathaan travels to Spain and is captured by Jim’s men, but is eventually saved by Avinash Singh “Tiger” Rathore. Rubai, who reveals Raktbeej’s true nature as a mutated smallpox virus, betrays Pathaan and hands him over to the Russian police. Pathaan is later rescued by Tiger.
Three years later, Pathaan captures one of Jim’s henchmen and gains information about Jim’s purchase of two saber missiles. Nandini provides the location of Rubai in Paris. Rubai reveals that the Raktbeej virus was forcibly developed by Dr. Sahani under Jim’s orders. They retrieve one orb containing the virus from Jim’s lab in Siberia, while Jim escapes with the other. Luthra and Nandini arrive at the lab to secure the orb and develop a vaccine. However, Jim reveals that the virus has already been released in a facility, causing the infected scientists to commit suicide.
Jim demands the evacuation of the Kashmiri Indian soldiers within 24 hours and reveals that the other missile is in Afghanistan. Pathaan interrogates Raafe and discovers the location of the missile. With Rubai’s help, they lure Jim’s associates into a trap and attack his base. Rubai kills Qadir after she activates the missile containing the virus. Pathaan chases after Jim and they crash into a cabin. Meanwhile, Rubai disables the missile in Afghanistan but learns that Raktbeej is on a passenger plane headed for Delhi. Pathaan engages Jim in a brutal fight, eventually defeating him and stopping the virus from spreading. Pathaan is reinstated to RAW and appointed as the director of JOCR, while Nandini is posthumously awarded the Vir Puraskar for her bravery.
In a mid-credits scene, Pathaan and Tiger discuss retirement, but ultimately decide to continue fighting the threats themselves.
Pathaan Trailer :
Pathaan Cast :
- Shah Rukh Khan as a Pathaan
- Deepika Padukone as a Rubina
- Salman Khan as a Tiger
- John Abraham as a Jim
- Dimple Kapadia as a Nandini Grewal
- Ashutosh Rana as a Colonel Sunil Luthra
- Siddhant Ghegadmal as a Undercover Cop
- Ekta Kaul as a Shweta Bajaj
- Nikhat Khan as a Sabba
- Manish Wadhwa as a General Qadir
- Diganta Hazarika as a Joseph Mathews
- Prakash Belawadi as a Dr. Sahani
- Keith Sequeira as a Pilot
- Viraf Patel as a Rishi Arya
- Gavie Chahal
- Rajat Kaul as a Raafe
- Aarif Sheikh
- Shaji Choudhary as a Raza
Production :
Pathaan is an upcoming film produced by Yash Raj Films and stars Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and John Abraham. The film was officially announced on March 2, 2022 via social media, accompanied by a first trailer. He has previously been hinted at by other cast members including Salman Khan and Vishal Dadlani. The film marks YRF’s first Dolby Cinema release.
Casting for the film was handled by Shanoo Sharma, with Shah Rukh Khan joining the project in September 2020. Deepika Padukone joined in November of the same year, followed by John Abraham in June. Dimple Kapadia was also cast in December 2020, and Salman Khan confirmed his cameo in November 2020, reprising his role from the Tiger franchise.
Principal photography began on November 17, 2020 in Mumbai and then moved to Dubai for the main action sequences. Filming was briefly halted in April 2021 due to crew members testing positive for COVID-19 and subsequent lockdown measures. However, it resumed in June 2021 at Yash Raj Studios in Mumbai, followed by a July schedule. Filming also took place in Spain, Mallorca, Cádiz and other locations in India, Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Russia, Italy, France and even Lake Baikal in Siberia.
The film wrapped up its Mumbai schedule in March 2022 and completed reshoots and additional scenes in October 2022. Pathaan promises to be an action packed extravaganza with exciting sequences and great music.
