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{{Short description|2004 Indian film by Rajkumar Santoshi}}
{{About|the 2004 Indian Hindi-language film|films with similar titles|Khaki (disambiguation)#Film and television}}
{{use Indian English|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Khakee
| image = Khakee.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Rajkumar Santoshi]]
| producer = [[Keshu Ramsay]]
| writer = Rajkumar Santoshi<br>[[Shridhar Raghavan]]
| starring = {{Plainlist|
*[[Amitabh Bachchan]]
*[[Akshay Kumar]]
*[[Ajay Devgn]]
*[[Aishwarya Rai]]
*[[Tusshar Kapoor]]
*[[Atul Kulkarni]]
}}
| music = [[Ram Sampath]]
| cinematography = [[K. V. Anand]]
| editing = [[Merzin Tavaria]]
| studio = DMS Films Private Limited
| distributor = [[Eros International]]
| released = {{Film date|2004|01|23|df=yes}}
| runtime = 180 minutes
| language = Hindi
| country = India
| budget = ₹26 crore<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=454 |title=Khakee |author= |website=[[Boxofficeindia.com]] |access-date=5 April 2017 |quote=Budget: 26,00,00,000 |archive-date=6 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406022529/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=454 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| gross = ₹45.4 crore<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=454 |title=Khakee |author= |website=Boxofficeindia.com |access-date=5 April 2017 |quote=Worldwide Gross: 45,39,70,000 |archive-date=11 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711125110/https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=454 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

'''''Khakee''''' is a 2004 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[neo-noir]] [[Action thriller|action thriller film]] written and directed by [[Rajkumar Santoshi]] and produced by [[Keshu Ramsay]]. The film revolves around an [[Law enforcement in India|Indian police]] team on a mission to escort an accused terrorist from a small town in [[Maharashtra]] to [[Mumbai]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2004/02/06/stories/2004020601230302.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040422112607/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2004/02/06/stories/2004020601230302.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=22 April 2004 | location=Chennai, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=Khakee | date=6 February 2004}}</ref> It stars an [[ensemble cast]] of [[Amitabh Bachchan]], [[Akshay Kumar]], [[Ajay Devgn]], [[Aishwarya Rai]] and [[Tusshar Kapoor]].

''Khakee'' was released theatrically on 23 January 2004 to widespread critical acclaim with particular praise for its screenplay, execution, and the cast's performances. The film was the [[List of Hindi films of 2004|fifth highest-grossing film]] of 2004, grossing {{INR}}45.4 crore worldwide in its lifetime run.

== Plot ==

Dr. Iqbal Ansari is an [[Inter-Services Intelligence|ISI]] agent captured in connection with riots. Deputy Inspector General of Police, [[Deputy Inspector General of Police|DIG]] Shrikant Naidu, assembles a team of five police personnel to bring Dr. Ansari safely from Chandangarh to [[Mumbai]]. The team consists of [[Deputy superintendent of police (India)|DCP]] Anant Kumar Srivastava, Senior Inspector Shekhar Verma, Sub-Inspector Ashwin Gupte, and constables Kamlesh Sawant and Gajanan Mhatre.

A criminal, Yashwant Aangre, tracks the team. The team proceeds to Chandangarh and comes across school teacher Mahalakshmi, who informs them about suspected terrorists who stayed incognito in her school premises. Soon, along with Ansari and Mahalakshmi, they leave for Mumbai by road. Aangre distracts the team and tries to foil the mission repeatedly, but fails.

En route, the van breaks down, and the team halts at a secluded bungalow. Anant calls Naidu to apprise him of the events and send a police team. Anant now remembers Aangre, a corrupt and ruthless ex-cop or ex-inspector, who was suspended and imprisoned after Anant caught him killing five innocent men in a [[fake encounter]] during the bank robbery.

The team is soon attacked at the bungalow by Aangre and his men. Shekhar tries to surrender Ansari to Aangre, but Anant objects. At this point, the plot turns when Ansari tells them that the terrorists are there to kill him, not free him. He was a doctor in Chandangarh when a journalist Bhaskar Joshi informed him that the communal riots were engineered by minister Deodhar, who killed a few social workers who had compiled evidence that would've jailed him. Bhaskar had the file containing the evidence and wanted the post-mortem reports from Ansari to expose Deodhar but was killed. When Ansari refused to cooperate with the wrongdoers, corrupt cops framed him as a terrorist. Aangre and his men enter the house, but Shekhar and Ashwin cause an explosion and the team manages to escape, but Aangre manages to shoot Ansari. Anant then realizes that Naidu is a corrupt cop in league with Deodhar and Aangre.

Ansari is taken to the hospital. Anant gives the others the option to leave the mission, but everyone stands by him. The team soon plan to get away on an empty train to Mumbai with the recovering Ansari. Aangre's gang arrives, but the team has taken precautions. Kamlesh drives away from the station in the police van as a decoy. Shekhar takes control of the train, and the team boards it. Kamlesh abandons the van and runs to catch the moving train but is shot dead by Aangre.

Upon reaching Mumbai, the team is devastated as Ansari dies. They however, give him a proper burial and vow to clear his name. Deodhar tries to coax Anant to toe the line, but Anant refuses. The team finds the file through journalist Bhaskar's son. Shekhar and Mahalakshmi go to the general post office and recover the file, but Aangre ambushes them. Shekhar is lured into a stadium where it is revealed that Mahalakshmi is Aangre's girlfriend and was planted on the team by Aangre to track their location. Shekhar gets shot by Aangre's men, but not before he places a call to Anant stealthily by pressing speed dial, letting him know that Mahalakshmi is a double agent.

Following Shekhar's death, Anant and Ashwin now attack Naidu and make him spill the beans; they locate Aangre by following Mahalakshmi. In a shootout, Aangre uses Mahalakshmi as a shield, and she dies. Anant chases Aangre, there is a fight and Anant beats Aangre brutally with Shekhar's belt while Ashwin recovers the file.

With compelling evidence from the file, the court convicts Aangre, Deodhar, and Naidu for life, much to the relief of Ansari's family, who is no longer branded a [[traitor]] and [[terrorist]], for whom Anant promises to take care of Ansari's son. On route to jail, Aangre sees the bolts holding his handcuffs loose. He grabs a rifle and tries to escape, only to find the rifle empty. Ashwin shoots Aangre and shows him the screws of the bolts, indicating that this was a setup for an encounter and payback for the deaths of Kamlesh, Ansari, and Shekhar. He then calls the headquarters, informing them that Aangre has been fatally wounded while trying to escape from custody despite being warned. Aangre eventually succumbs to his wounds.

==Cast==
{{castlist|
* [[Amitabh Bachchan]] as [[Deputy commissioner|DCP]] Anant Kumar Shrivastav
* [[Akshay Kumar]] as [[Senior inspector|Senior Inspector]] Shekhar Verma
* [[Ajay Devgn]] as EX Inspector Yashwant Aangre
* [[Aishwarya Rai]] as Mahalakshmi
* [[Tusshar Kapoor]] as [[Sub-inspector|Sub Inspector]] Ashwin Gupte
* [[Atul Kulkarni]] as Dr. Iqbal Ansari
* [[Jaya Prada]] as Jaya Shrivastav
* [[Prakash Raj]] as [[Additional Commissioner of Police|Additional Commissioner]] Shrikant Naidu
* [[Sabyasachi Chakrabarty]] as [[Home Minister]] Deodhar
* [[D. Santosh]] as Head Constable Ganjanan Mhatre
* [[Kamlesh Sawant]] as Constable Kamlesh Sawant
* [[Tanuja]] as Ansari's mother
* [[Yusuf Hussain]] as Police Commissioner
* Prasanna Ketkar as Constable Ghorpade
* [[Ashwini Kalsekar]] as Kamlesh's wife
* [[Lara Dutta]] as an item dancer in the song ''Aisa Jadoo'' (special appearance)
}}

==Production==

=== Development ===
The film's co-writer Shridhar Raghavan, knew Santoshi, who wanted to make a cop film with [[Amitabh Bachchan]], through [[Anjum Rajabali]]. During their meet, Raghavan narrated a script to Santoshi about cops, which he liked. Raghavan said: "We kept that as a base and started working afresh, collaborating, writing, rewriting." They created a character for Bachchan, inspired by ''[[Zanjeer (1973 film)|Zanjeer]]'' in the "21st century situation".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/2004/jan/23shri.htm|title=A giant-sized cop hangover|last=Verma|first=Sukanya|work=Rediff.com|date=23 January 2004|access-date=13 January 2018|archive-date=14 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114020644/http://in.rediff.com/movies/2004/jan/23shri.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

''Khakee'' was made with an estimated production budget of {{INRConvert|25.77|c}} making it one of the [[List of most expensive Indian films|most expensive Hindi films]] at that point.

===Casting===

[[Amitabh Bachchan]] was the first person to be cast in the film. [[Akshaye Khanna]] was supposed to play the role of Sub-Inspector Ashwin Gupte, and Ajay Devgn was offered the role of Senior Inspector Shekhar Verma. While Khanna walked out, Devgn was chosen to play the villain, Yashwant Aangre, making it his second film as an antagonist after the 2002 thriller ''[[Deewangee]]''. Later, [[Tusshar Kapoor]] was signed for the role of Ashwin Gupte. [[Lara Dutta]] was also signed for an [[item number]] "Aisa Jadoo". After several actresses rejected, the role of Mahalakshmi, [[Aishwarya Rai]] was finalized for the part. [[Akshay Kumar]], who was signed to play Shekhar Verma, worked with [[Amitabh Bachchan]] for the third time after ''[[Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love]]'' and ''[[Aankhen (2002 film)|Aankhen]]''.

===Filming===

The film was shot in various parts of Maharashtra, including [[Mumbai]] and [[Nashik]]. The fictional city of "Nairoli" shown in the film is actually the city of Apta near [[Panvel]]. The railway station of Apta was rechristened as Nairoli for the scene featuring the shoot-out at the station.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cop-out!|url=http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=64864|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031128165151/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=64864|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 November 2003|work=The Indian Express}}</ref> [[Ram Sampath]] composed the music for the film, with lyrics by [[Sameer (lyricist)|Sameer]].

While filming in [[Nashik]], [[Aishwarya Rai]] was hit by an out-of-control jeep and was thrown back into some bushes by the side of the road. She and Tusshar Kapoor were rehearsing a scene where the jeep was supposed to come and stop 20 feet away from them. However, the jeep driver lost control and did not brake. She suffered a fracture on her left foot and some bruises.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mensxp.com/entertainment/bollywood/8836-10-filming-accidents-in-bollywood-history.html|title=10 Filming Accidents In Bollywood History|last=Saikia|first=Priyankee|date=3 May 2013|publisher=MensXP.com|access-date=15 January 2016|archive-date=4 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004224828/http://www.mensxp.com/entertainment/bollywood/8836-10-filming-accidents-in-bollywood-history.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reception==

=== Critical response ===
''Khakee'' was met with critical acclaim, including for the performances of the lead actors. {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|score=100|count=7|average=8.3|consensus=|ref=yes |access-date=September 23, 2024}}
''[[The Hindu]]'' daily mentioned; "It's the director's show all the way. ''Khakee'' is great evidence of what smart writing can do to a film - the duo of [[Rajkumar Santoshi]] and [[Shridhar Raghavan]], deserve all the credit for packing the punches the film delivers. A little pace is lost in the second half because of the dialogues, song and dance, but thanks to high production values and charismatic star appeal, you really don't feel the length - 2 hours and 54 minutes. An aging [[Amitabh Bachchan]] is the first rate with his trademark delivery. [[Akshay Kumar]] provides the comic relief with his 'I'm cool' flirtatious attempts to woo Aishwarya [Rai] and Tusshar [Kapoor] plays the foil to his seniors - a neat essay".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/02/06/stories/2004020601230302.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040223085513/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/02/06/stories/2004020601230302.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 23, 2004 | location=Chennai, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=Khakee | date=February 6, 2004}}</ref> [[Mayank Shekhar]] of ''[[Mid-Day]]'' wrote "The reason Khakee will linger in public memory for a good while is quite simply Bachchan — back to basics," and concluded, "Khakee is proof that the ‘angry young man’ only got better, if not younger as well! And that's more than a reason to recommend this film."<ref>{{cite news |author=Shekhar, Mayank |title=Film review Of 'Khakee' |work=[[Mid-Day]] |date=24 January 2004 |url=http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/hindimoviesreview/2004/january/74765.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040415154227/http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/hindimoviesreview/2004/january/74765.htm |archive-date=15 April 2004}}</ref>

Sukanya Verma from [[Rediff]] said; "What I also like about ''Khakee'' is that every actor, big or small (in terms of footage), good or bad (in terms of character), has that one defining moment on screen. ''Khakee'' is a smart film. It makes you think. It keeps you at the edge of your seat. It gives you your money's worth. What more do you want.<ref>{{cite web|title=''Khakee'' is money's worth. What more do you want?|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2004/jan/23khakee.htm|work=Rediff.com|access-date=14 July 2009|archive-date=25 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141125031352/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2004/jan/23khakee.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Bollywood Hungama]] gave the film four stars and explained; "One wouldn't call Khakee the best script [Rajkumar] Santoshi has tackled, but it certainly would rank amongst the best. Another aspect that enhances the film is the dialogues (Rajkumar Santoshi), which will be met with a thunderous applause at various junctures of the film. Santoshi has a knack for extracting wonderful performances from the cast. Amitabh Bachchan delivers one of the best performances of his career. He has some of the toughest scenes in the film. In fact, a lesser actor would've failed to do justice to the role. But Bachchan's expressions, voice and movement bring the character to life. Akshay Kumar is fantastic. [[Ajay Devgn]] adds yet another feather in his cap with a performance that could've been essayed only by a master performer. Aishwarya Rai gets a role to prove her talent, and she more than lives up to the expectations. Tusshar may not have many lines to deliver, but his presence and expressions register a strong impact".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/review/7097/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004205804/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/review/7097/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 October 2008 |title=Khakee (2004) | Movie Review, Trailers, Music Videos, Songs, Wallpapers |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |date=2004-01-23 |access-date=2012-07-14}}</ref>

[[Derek Elley]] from ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' magazine stated; "The testosterone's so high you can almost put a match to it in ''Khakee'', a twist-filled, often very violent drama centered on some cops escorting a terrorist cross-country to Mumbai. Powerhouse casting, and equally powerhouse direction by Rajkumar Santoshi, makes this an above-average example of mainstream Bollywood thrillers, sans any stylistic flourishes. Given its paucity of musical numbers and romance, this one could have a career on ancillary among general action buffs".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117922971?refcatid=31 | work=Variety | first=Derek | last=Elley | title=Khakee | date=January 31, 2004 | access-date=21 April 2020 | archive-date=8 November 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108121816/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117922971?refcatid=31 | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Box office ===
''Khakee'' had a final worldwide gross of {{INRConvert|49.89|c}} including {{INRConvert|37.73|c}} in India and {{INRConvert|12.16|c}} in abroad. The [[Nett, Pohnpei|nett]] revenue of the film was {{INRConvert|31.09|c}}. It was declared an 'Average' by [[Box Office India]]. According to collection, ''Khakee'' was the 5th highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2004 behind ''[[Veer-Zaara]]'', ''[[Main Hoon Na]]'', ''[[Dhoom]]'' and ''[[Mujhse Shaadi Karogi]]''.

==Accolades==

=== [[50th Filmfare Awards]] ===
'''Nominated'''

* [[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]] – [[Rajkumar Santoshi]]
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] – [[Amitabh Bachchan]]
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]] – [[Akshay Kumar]]
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role|Best Villain]] – [[Ajay Devgn]]

=== [[6th IIFA Awards]] ===
'''Nominated'''
* [[IIFA Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role|Best Performance In A Negative Role]] – [[Ajay Devgn]]

=== [[Zee Cine Awards]] ===
'''Nominated'''

* Best Screenplay - Rajkumar Santoshi, Shridhar Raghavan
* Best Story - [[Shridhar Raghavan]]
* Best Dialogue - [[Rajkumar Santoshi]]
* Best Actor – [[Amitabh Bachchan]]
* Best Actor in a Supporting Role – [[Akshay Kumar]]
* Best Music Director - [[Ram Sampath]]
* Best Playback Singer (Male) - Arnab Chakravorty
* Best Playback Singer (Female) - [[Sunidhi Chauhan]]
* Best Action - [[Tinu Verma|Tinnu Verma]]
* Best Choreography - [[Ganesh Acharya]]
* Best Art Direction - [[Nitin Chandrakant Desai]]

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name = Khakee
| type = [[Soundtrack album]]
| artist = [[Ram Sampath]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 17 October 2003
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length =
| label = [[T-Series (company)|T-Series]]
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
The music is composed by [[Ram Sampath]]. Lyrics are penned by [[Sameer (lyricist)|Sameer]]. Rajkumar Santoshi wanted [[A. R. Rahman]] to compose the music for the film; but he did not sign the project due to other commitments. Hence Sampath was selected after an audition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/nov/04ram.htm |title=The man who doesn't matter in Khakee |work=Rediff.com |access-date=14 July 2012 |archive-date=12 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012090627/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/nov/04ram.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the Indian trade website [[Box Office India]], with around 10 lakh units sold, this film's soundtrack album was the year's fourteenth highest-selling.<ref>{{cite web|title=Music Hits 2000–2009 (Figures in Units)|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=286&catName=MjAwMC0yMDA5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215081557/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=286&catName=MjAwMC0yMDA5&PHPSESSID=108b9056cd4ca14236f9c6119d34dcce|archive-date=15 February 2008|publisher=[[Box Office India]]}}</ref>

===Track listing===
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| all_lyrics = [[Sameer (lyricist)|Sameer]]
| title1 = Aisa Jadoo
| extra1 = [[Sunidhi Chauhan]]
| length1 = 3:23
| title2 = Dil Dooba
| extra2 = [[Sonu Nigam]], [[Shreya Ghoshal]]
| length2 = 3:50
| title3 = Mere Maula
| extra3 = [[Richa Sharma (singer)|Richa Sharma]], [[Kailash Kher]]
| length3 = 4:50
| title4 = Uppar Wale
| extra4 = Sonu Nigam, [[Sukhwinder Singh]], [[Kunal Ganjawala]]
| length4 = 4:57
| title5 = Wada Raha
| note5 = I
| extra5 = [[Arnab Chakrabarty]], Shreya Ghoshal
| length5 = 4:41
| title6 = Wada Raha
| note6 = II
| extra6 = [[Udit Narayan]], Shreya Ghoshal
| length6 = 4:41
| title7 = Wada Raha
| note7 = Sad
| extra7 = Sonu Nigam
| length7 = 5:59
| title8 = Teri Baahon Mein Hum
| extra8 = Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal
| length8 = 5:22
| title9 = Aisa Jadoo
| note9 = Remix
| extra9 = Sunidhi Chauhan
| length9 = 5:19
| title10 = Dil Dooba
| note10 = Remix
| extra10 = Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal
| length10 = 4:17
}}

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0347332}}
* {{Mojo title|khakee}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|khakee}}

{{Rajkumar Santoshi}}

[[Category:2004 films]]
[[Category:2004 action thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian action thriller films]]
[[Category:Films about corruption in India]]
[[Category:Films directed by Rajkumar Santoshi]]
[[Category:Films shot in Bhor]]
[[Category:Films set in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:2004 Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Fictional portrayals of the Maharashtra Police]]
[[Category:Hindi films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Fiction about law enforcement]]
[[Category:Indian police films]]
[[Category:2000s police films]]
[[Category:Films distributed by Eros International]]

Khakee film - Revision history

Antoniochx at 19:28, 2 May 2026