Film

Special 26

Name: Special 26
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Released: 2013
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher, Manoj Bajpayee, Jimmy Shergill, Divya Dutta

Con-artist caper

A slick 2013 Indian heist thriller about a gang of conmen in 1980s India who impersonate tax and anti-corruption officers to rob the wealthy. It's precisely plotted, propulsively directed, and powered by Akshay Kumar's effortless charisma. Tense, clever, and deeply satisfying if you love a con executed well—the film never stops moving long enough for you to poke holes.

TMDb rating

3.7

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you love capers where the pleasure is watching clever impostors pull off a scam under a tightening net, with a brisk, playful edge.

Skip it if the middle is a run of setups and course corrections, so if you want a lean thriller, its 144 minutes may feel generous.

What it asks of you: Expect a patient two-plus hours where the cleverness is in the planning, with attention needed to keep track of who is posing as whom.

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

If you liked this

The Ocean's 11 Story2001

The blueprint for every modern heist film. Elegant plotting, an ensemble you trust, and the thrill of watching smart people execute an audacious plan with cool precision and banter.

But Glossy and frictionless in a way that can feel lightweight. If you want stakes and moral complexity, this prioritises style.

Catch Me If You Can2002

Spielberg's con-artist cat-and-mouse game, built on the real story of Frank Abagnale. Charming, intricate, and propelled by DiCaprio and Hanks' chemistry—you're rooting for the con even as the law closes in.

But Paced for television despite the theatrical release. Sprawling and occasionally slack where Special 26 stays coiled.

Rififi1955

The grandfather of heist cinema. A jewel robbery executed in near silence, with perfect craft and no fat. French, lean, beautifully constructed—everything a heist should be before dialogue became the point.

But Sixty years old, in black and white, with minimal music. If you want energy and star power, you'll need patience.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Special 26

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Andaz Apna Apna1994

Both films are about conmen living by their wits and improvisation, but Andaz Apna Apna proves the structure works in pure comedy. Same tool, completely different genre.

Two con-artist idiots (Aamir Khan, Salman Khan) bumble their way through lies, schemes, and constant one-upmanship. Absurdist comedy disguised as romance. The structure and rhythm of deception applied to farce instead of crime—and it's hilarious.

But Broad, silly, and completely uninterested in realism. The plotting of Special 26 with the logic of cartoon violence. Demands you surrender to chaos.

Shor in the City2011

Delhi-set ensemble thriller with a similar con-artist energy to Special 26, but darker and messier. Multiple storylines collide in a city feeling like a pressure cooker. Genuine unpredictability.

But Tonally uneven. Shifts between crime thriller and dark comedy feel jarring rather than purposeful. Less polished than Special 26.

Narc2002

Gritty cop thriller with Manoj Bajpayee (who's also in Special 26, but as the relentless lawman here). Brutal, procedural, and committed to making you feel the exhaustion of chasing criminals.

But Deliberately ugly in its aesthetics and violence. No glamour, no relief. If you're watching for Akshay Kumar charm, you won't find it.

Inside Man2006

Denzel Washington versus Clive Owen in a heist thriller that holds its cards close and never reveals its hand until the final moment. Intelligent plotting where every detail matters.

But Deliberately withholding. The twist lands only if you're paying complete attention. Rewatching helps, but the first time can feel frustratingly opaque.

Badla2019

A recent Indian thriller built on reversals and deception—nothing is what it seems, and the con extends to the audience. Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu in a cat-and-mouse game that actually surprises.

But Stagey. Takes place largely in confined spaces with theatrical dialogue. If you want the sprawl and action of Special 26, this goes the opposite direction.

The Italian Job1969

Both are heist films built on meticulous planning and impeccable ensemble work, but The Italian Job operates on style and restraint where Special 26 operates on energy and plot twists. A masterclass in the inverse approach.

Michael Caine leading a heist crew through Turin in a film that is practically a ballet of timing, teamwork, and audacity. British cool meets impossible logistics. The gold standard of the genre—beautiful to watch, perfectly paced, endlessly quotable.

But Slow by modern standards. The heist itself takes time to set up, and if you're looking for speed and surprise, the deliberate pacing will test you. Also: deeply sexist by contemporary measure.

The Wolf of Wall Street2013

Both follow conmen at the height of their power and the machinery of their cons, but The Wolf examines the psychology and cost of living by deception, where Special 26 celebrates the mechanics. One is a morality play; the other is a thriller.

DiCaprio as a con artist of a different stripe—one whose frauds are legal because they happen in finance. Like Special 26, it's about the seduction of the con and the chaos it creates, but set in 1990s New York excess. Intoxicating and darkly moral.

But Three and a half hours. Repetitive in its depravity—the film doesn't judge its protagonist until the ending, which can feel like it endorses the debauchery for two hundred minutes first. Exhausting, not exhilarating.