Film

Khakee

Name: Khakee
Genre: Action
Released: 2004
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Tusshar Kapoor

Khakee is a high-octane Indian heist-action film about corrupt and righteous cops clashing during a dangerous escort mission. It's a sprawling ensemble piece that juggles moral ambiguity with spectacular set pieces, balancing cynicism about power with genuine heroism. For fans of intricate crime narratives and Bollywood spectacle done with intelligence.

TMDb rating

3.2

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you like a cop thriller built on procedure and tense cat-and-mouse movement, where standoffs between characters matter as much as the shootouts and a cast of big names carries each scene.

Skip it if you tire of long runtimes or crowd-pleasing melodrama, since at three hours the drama stretches and sentiment sometimes outweighs the tension.

What it asks of you: Three hours is the real commitment here, and it settles in slowly before the pressure tightens, so clear a long evening and let it build.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Nayak2001

Amitabh Bachchan anchors this political thriller about a newspaper editor thrust into power for a day. Sharp social commentary wrapped in compelling drama, with the same moral complexity that makes Khakee tick.

But At three hours, it's more dialogue-heavy and philosophical than action-driven, which may feel slow if you're after pure thrills.

Tu£sday2008

An ensemble noir about four ex-cops entangled in a diamond heist and its brutal aftermath. Taut plotting, unexpected turns, and characters caught between loyalty and survival—exactly the tonal balance Khakee attempts.

But It's bleaker and less forgiving than Khakee; there's little redemption to soften the cynicism.

Rang De Basanti2006

Aamir Khan leads a young ensemble caught between idealism and the compromises that come with it. Balances character depth with larger stakes, and asks serious questions about duty while keeping the energy electric.

But The shift in tone from comedy-drama to dark thriller can feel jarring if you're expecting consistency.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Khakee

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Oh Mercy2019

Both films argue that policing is about character under pressure, not heroics. Khakee uses Bollywood scale; this uses intimate French realism. Same question asked in different registers.

A French procedural where a weary veteran cop works a murder case in a declining industrial town. Meditative, humanist, obsessed with the small moral choices that define someone. It's Khakee's DNA as chamber piece.

But It's anti-spectacle—three hours of conversation and paperwork, with no action sequences. Demands full attention and rewards stillness.

Shootout at Lokhandwala2007

A stylish, fast-paced take on a real shootout between police and gangsters. Sanjay Dutt and Suniel Shetty deliver; it's lean, visceral storytelling with stakes that feel immediate and real.

But Less interested in moral questions—it's pure action pulp, which some will find shallow.

Drishyam2015

Ajay Devgn (your Khakee co-star) in a taut cat-and-mouse thriller pitting a common man against police brutality. Brilliantly plotted, surprises you genuinely, and explores institutional corruption with precision.

But It's methodical rather than thrilling—the pleasure is intellectual problem-solving, not adrenaline.

Hey Ram2000

Kamal Haasan in Satyajit Ray-influenced territory: a post-Partition man seeking revenge while the country tears itself apart. Ambitious, thoughtful, and unafraid of moral murkiness.

But Narratively fragmented and occasionally pretentious; some will find it self-important rather than gripping.

Raid2018

Ajay Devgn again, in a tense procedural about an income-tax raid that spirals into something far darker. Lean, focused, and genuinely surprising—feels like a master class in tension building.

But The runtime is mercifully short (two hours), but the pacing can feel monotonous if you're not locked in.

New Delhi Times1986

A prescient political thriller about journalism, government corruption, and the cost of truth. Feels urgent and lived-in, with genuine stakes for people trying to do the right thing.

But Shot on 1980s video stock and showing its age; the production values are dated and the pacing slower than modern action films.

Gang2000

A sprawling, ambiguous crime saga with an ensemble cast navigating betrayal and loyalty. Stylish in a 2000s Bollywood way, with moments of real moral complexity among the posturing.

But It's disjointed, occasionally loses focus, and tries so hard to be cool that it can feel dated now.

Cop Land1997

Both are ensemble films about institutional corruption told from inside the system by men who can't escape it. Khakee adds the element of personal betrayal; Cop Land adds the element of class and geography. Different textures, same architecture.

Sylvester Stallone in his most unglamorous role: a New Jersey cop torn between loyalty to corrupt brothers-in-blue and doing right. Bruising, morally complicated, built on the same tension that animates Khakee's best moments.

But It's a heavy, serious American crime film—no songs, no style for style's sake. Some find it ponderous.