Thugs of Hindostan

About the film

Thugs of Hindostan is a 2018 Indian Hindi-language period action adventure film directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya and produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif(in an extended cameo), Fatima Sana Shaikh, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Ronit Roy and Lloyd Owen. Set during the period of Company's expansion in India, Firangi Mallah, a small-time thug from Awadh, is sent by an East India Company official to infiltrate and counter a band of thugs.

Produced at an estimated budget of ₹200 crore (US$29.24 million)–₹300 crore (US$43.87 million), Thugs of Hindostan is one of the most expensive Bollywood films. Initially titled Thug, the film marked the first time Khan and Bachchan featured together as lead actors. The film was the second collaboration between Khan, Acharya and Kaif after Dhoom 3, and between Khan and Shaikh after the latter's debut in Dangal. Principal photography commenced on 5 June 2017 in Malta and continued in Thailand, Morocco and Mehrangarh. It was put on a short hiatus after Bachchan was injured on the set. Filming concluded in March 2018, with the final schedule in Rajasthan. The soundtrack was composed by Ajay–Atul, with lyrics written by Amitabh Bhattacharya, while John Stewart Eduri composed the musical score.

Plot

In 1795, when the Indian subcontinent was known as Hindustan or Hindostan, King Mirza Sikander Baig is killed by John Clive. The residents of his kingdom are massacred, and the land is annexed by Lord Clive of the East India Company. The only survivors are his daughter, Zafira Baig, and general, Khudabaksh. Khudabaksh defeats the retreating enemy soldiers, and raises Zafira as his daughter, training her in the arts of warfare.

In 1806 (11 years later), Firangi Mallah is a small-time thug who fools people for money. For instance, he once gives the location of a travelling landlord to some thugs and takes money for it. Then he gives the location of the same thugs to British soldiers for money. Firangi turns into a routine informer for the company. Firangi aims to be a European himself (hence the moniker "Firangi"), and hence dresses up as one in many circumstances.

Khudabaksh, now known as Azaad, leads a band of Indian bandits known as Thugs, who specialise in sea-based warfare and expose a serious challenge to Lord Clive and the expanding East India Company which had, by then, seized control of large parts of India. Lord Clive assigns his right-hand to counter the rising threat posed by the Thugs.

Production

In September 2016, Yash Raj Films' next project titled Thugs of Hindostan was announced, and would feature Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan. The lead actress was not yet finalised at the time. The film was initially titled only Thug; it was set for a release on Diwali in 2018. Hrithik Roshan, who was initially approached with the film's leading role, suggested some changes to the script. The film producer Aditya Chopra agreed; meanwhile, Acharya approached Khan with the script, who agreed to do the film with no changes to the storyline. Later, in November 2016, Khan also requested that the script be reworked, particularly the character of the leading actress, and put the project on hold. Meanwhile, he grew his hair and beard for his look in the film.

By February 2017, Khan had prepared his look for the film. In the same month, Shraddha Kapoor gave a costume look test and audition for the film. In March 2017, it was reported that Khan suggested Fatima Sana Shaikh's name for a role in the film; while denying rumours of casting, Shaikh expressed her eagerness to work in the project. In May 2017, Shaikh was confirmed to play a role in the film, with her audition look being revealed. She replaced Kapoor. Kaif was confirmed to star in the film on Yash Raj Films' official website. Khan, Bachchan and Acharya met during the month of May to discuss script changes. Contrary to initial reports, the film is not based on Philip Meadows Taylor's 1839 novel Confessions of a Thug (which was about Indian thugs); the film tells a fictional story based on historical events. Acharya links the misunderstanding to the word thug appearing in both works. Khan also denied rumours of Thugs of Hindostan being inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean, stating in May 2017 that they are both simply action-adventure productions, among many others in the action-adventure film genre, such as the Indiana Jones series.

Thugs of Hindostan is Khan's second time collaborating with Vijay Krishna Acharya and Katrina Kaif, after Dhoom 3 (2013). It also marked the first collaboration between Khan and Bachchan. Bachchan and Khan were supposed to star together in the Indra Kumar-directorial Rishta, planned during the late 1990s, but the project was shelved. Besides Roshan, Jackie Shroff, Alia Bhatt, and Deepika Padukone were to be a part of the film, but turned down the role. For his look, Khan also underwent permanent ear and nose piercing.

Music

The film score was composed by John Stewart Eduri, while the original songs featured in the film were composed by Ajay–Atul, with lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya. Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy were originally supposed to compose the soundtrack, but were unable to complete their work before the new deadline after the film was reshot, and new tracks were demanded.

Key details