Gurgaon

About the film

Gurgaon is a 2016 Indian neo-noir thriller film directed by Shanker Raman and produced by the award-winning JAR Pictures studios. The film stars Akshay Oberoi, Ragini Khanna, Pankaj Tripathi and Arjun Fauzdar and is set in the metropolis of Gurgaon, Haryana.

The film premiered at the 2016 International Film Festival & Awards in Macao and was later released on 4 August 2017 worldwide. It was reviewed positively by critics.

Plot

Nikki Singh (Akshay Oberoi) is a boxer and the wayward son of real estate tycoon, Kehri Singh (Pankaj Tripathi). He is often sidelined in favour of his sister, Preet (Ragini Khanna), whom Kehri considers his lucky charm. Kehri shrewdly runs Preet Real Estate, successfully, in his daughter's name. Preet has just returned from France, after completing her course in architecture, and convinces her father to create a park, instead of a multi-billion real estate project on a land closer to a forest.

Nikki places a large bet and loses it. On their way to a concert out of frustration of losing it, they kidnap Murthy, a guitarist, who was about to perform. The dealer gives him 3 days to pay him 10 million, that Nikki owes to him. Nikki hatches a plan to kidnap Preet, to repay his debt. With the help of his friend Rajvir (played by Arjun Fauzdar), they hire a small-time crook, Jonty, to get Preet to a safe house, which turns out not to be empty, as they had expected. They have to change their plans and Jonty demands more money for the botch up. On their way to Rajvir's home, they are held up by at a toll booth. There Jonty gets enraged at a person who has held up the counter unnecessarily. Jonty tries to interfere when suddenly the driver takes out his gun & shoot the toll booth operator. The bullet grazes Jonty's ears & he lies there shell-shocked as Rajveer abandons him.

Nikki's mother gets a ransom call from Rajveer who demands 30 million. Later Jonty calls from Preet's phone, which is answered by her father. He demands a ransom of half a million. Kehri is confused and they finally call his estranged brother Bhoopi to track his daughter.

Production

The film is directional debut by National Film Award Winning cinematographer Shanker Raman and is produced by Ajay G. Rai and Alan McAlex of award-winning JAR Pictures studios who have previously produced critically acclaimed films Nil Battey Sannata, Gangs of Wasseypur, Liar's Dice among others. The film before its release was screened at Film Bazaar in Panaji, Goa in 2015. The film was shot on location in Gurgaon and Akshay Oberoi and other actors had to learn Haryanvi language for the film. The poster of the film was unveiled by Anurag Kashyap in July 2017.

Release

Gurgaon was released throughout India in limited number of screens and grossed ₹67 million in its first three days.

Critical reception

Despite receiving critical acclaim, the movie was not a commercial success.

Awards

The film won Prasad DI Award at the National Film Development Corporation's Film Bazaar in 2015.

Key details