Overview
Don is a 2006 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Farhan Akhtar and produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar under the banner of Excel Entertainment. It is a remake of the 1978 Hindi film Don, which was directed by Chandra Barot and starred Amitabh Bachchan. The 2006 version stars Shah Rukh Khan in the title role, alongside Priyanka Chopra, Arjun Rampal, Boman Irani, Isha Koppikar and Om Puri.
The film was released worldwide on 20 October 2006, coinciding with the festival of Diwali. While retaining the central premise of the original, the remake reworks the second half with a new screenplay and twist ending. It was both a critical and commercial success, and launched a franchise that continued with Don 2 in 2011.
Key facts
| Title | Don |
|---|---|
| Director | Farhan Akhtar |
| Producers | Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar |
| Production company | Excel Entertainment |
| Writers | Farhan Akhtar (screenplay); based on the 1978 film written by Salim–Javed |
| Music | Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy |
| Lyrics | Javed Akhtar |
| Cinematography | K. U. Mohanan |
| Editor | A. Sreekar Prasad |
| Lead cast | Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Arjun Rampal, Boman Irani, Isha Koppikar, Om Puri |
| Release date | 20 October 2006 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Country | India |
| Distributor | Eros International |
Plot
The film follows DCP D'Silva's pursuit of Don, a feared international crime lord operating in Malaysia. After Don is critically injured, the police train Vijay, a simple man who is his lookalike, to infiltrate the syndicate. The narrative shifts between Kuala Lumpur and Mumbai as Vijay attempts to gather evidence against the gang while concealing his identity from Don's associates Roma, Jasjit and others. The 2006 adaptation diverges from the 1978 original through a reworked climax that significantly alters the audience's understanding of the central character.
Cast
- Shah Rukh Khan as Don / Vijay
- Priyanka Chopra as Roma
- Arjun Rampal as Jasjit / J. K.
- Boman Irani as DCP D'Silva
- Isha Koppikar as Kamini
- Om Puri as Vishal Malik
- Kareena Kapoor in a special appearance
- Chunky Pandey as Vardhaan
Production
The remake was announced as Farhan Akhtar's third feature film after Dil Chahta Hai (2001) and Lakshya (2004). Akhtar acquired the rights from his father, lyricist and writer Javed Akhtar, who had co-written the original with Salim Khan. Principal photography was carried out across Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur and parts of Europe, with Malaysia substituting for the original's largely Mumbai-based setting. The action sequences were choreographed in a style influenced by contemporary international thrillers.
Music
The soundtrack was composed by the trio Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy with lyrics by Javed Akhtar. The album reuses material from the 1978 film, including reworked versions of "Khaike Paan Banaraswala" (originally composed by Kalyanji–Anandji) and the title track "Main Hoon Don". New compositions include "Aaj Ki Raat", "Morya Re" and "Yeh Mera Dil". The soundtrack was released by T-Series and was among the top-selling Hindi film albums of 2006.
Release and reception
Released on 20 October 2006 during the Diwali period, Don opened to wide distribution in India and overseas markets, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Malaysia and the Gulf countries. It emerged as one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of the year. Critical reception was generally favourable, with praise directed at Shah Rukh Khan's performance, the technical polish, the cinematography of K. U. Mohanan and the slick action set-pieces. Some reviewers compared the remake unfavourably with the cult original, while others appreciated the screenplay's reinvention of the climax.
Awards
The film received nominations at major Hindi film award ceremonies, including the Filmfare Awards, IIFA Awards, Screen Awards and Zee Cine Awards, with wins in technical categories such as cinematography, action and sound design.
Legacy and sequel
The success of the 2006 film established Don as a franchise for Excel Entertainment. A sequel, Don 2, directed again by Farhan Akhtar and starring Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra, was released on 23 December 2011, set largely in Berlin. A third installment was subsequently announced. The film is also credited with reviving interest in stylised action thrillers in mainstream Hindi cinema during the late 2000s.