The film introduces us to Aditya (Akshay Kumar), a mild-mannered college professor by day. By night, he transforms into "Gabbar"—a hooded vigilante who kidnaps and "disappears" corrupt government officials, dishonest contractors, and greedy cops. His modus operandi is theatrical: he puts them on a mock trial, gives them a chance to confess, and then ensures they face a brutal, final judgment.
The catalyst for this one-man war is deeply personal—the death of his wife (Kareena Kapoor Khan in a cameo) due to a hospital’s negligence. But Aditya’s mission quickly expands to a larger, more systematic fight against a nexus of corruption led by the wily politician Digvijay Patil (an excellent Shruti Haasan’s father, Kamal Haasan? No, wait—it’s the underrated Sunil Grover in a rare serious role, and Prakash Raj as the main antagonist).
Gabbar Is Back is a 2015 Hindi-language vigilante action-thriller directed by Krish Jagarlamudi in his Hindi film debut. Produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Viacom18 Motion Pictures, the movie stars Akshay Kumar and Shruti Haasan, with a special cameo by Kareena Kapoor Khan. Plot Summary
The story revolves around Aditya Singh Rajput (Akshay Kumar), a college professor who leads a secret vigilante military network known as the Anti-Corruption Force (ACF). Using the alias "Gabbar"—a name inspired by the iconic villain from Sholay—he targets and eliminates the state's most corrupt government officials to instill fear and reform the system.
Aditya’s crusade is fueled by a personal tragedy: the death of his pregnant wife (Kareena Kapoor Khan) in a building collapse caused by corrupt practices. As the police and a CBI officer (Jaideep Ahlawat) scramble to track him down, an honest constable named Sadhuram (Sunil Grover) uses his instincts to uncover Gabbar’s true identity. Cast and Crew Aditya / Gabbar: Akshay Kumar Shruti: Shruti Haasan Digvijay Patil (Antagonist): Suman Talwar CBI Officer Kuldeep Pahwa: Jaideep Ahlawat Constable Sadhuram: Sunil Grover Director: Krish Jagarlamudi
Music: Songs by Chirantan Bhatt, Yo Yo Honey Singh, and Manj Musik; Background score by Amar Mohile
These videos provide a deeper look into the high-octane action and the social message driving the film: 02:01:15 Gabbar is Back YouTube Movies 22:59
Reviews for the Gabbar is Back movie were polarizing.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 42% approval rating, but audience scores remain higher, indicating its popularity among the masses.
If you haven’t seen the Gabbar is Back movie, here’s why it deserves a spot on your watchlist:
Director Krish (known for Kanche and Manikarnika) brought a gritty, realistic aesthetic to the Gabbar is Back movie. The film is a remake of the 2012 Tamil hit Ramanaa, but Krish adapted it to suit the North Indian sensibility, adding layers of social commentary.
The screenplay, written by Rajat Arora, is fast-paced and punchy. Each scene feels like a ticking time bomb. However, critics noted that the second half dips into formulaic Bollywood tropes—a romantic subplot, an item song (Aao Raja), and a predictable climax. Still, the first half is widely regarded as a masterclass in building tension.
The Gabbar is Back movie faced scrutiny from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The board demanded several cuts, including:
Despite these cuts, the film retained its 'A' (Adults Only) certificate. Some political leaders also objected to the film’s portrayal of government officials as uniformly corrupt, but the debate died down after the film’s release.