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The Shaukeens backdrop

The Shaukeens

7 November 2014Hindi2h 5m
out of 10
Mixedlukewarm or divided
Monk Score · 30 scored reviews · 5 not rated

Kumar's cameo shines, but weak writing leaves its senior trio largely wasted.

Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: Akshay Kumar's self-deprecating cameo
  • Criticised: Weak script, forced humour

Audience

User score 3.0 out of 10 from 2 ratings, not enough ratings for a verdict yet
Read 1 audience review ↓

Not streaming in India

Critic consensus

What 32 critics are saying

Critical reception for The Shaukeens is mixed to negative, with the majority of reviewers finding it an uneven and frequently tedious comedy that falls short of the 1982 original it remakes. The most consistent praise across reviews is directed at Akshay Kumar's self-deprecating cameo appearance, which multiple critics single out as the film's comedic highlight and a significant improvement over the main narrative. The three lead senior actors — Anupam Kher, Annu Kapoor, and Piyush Mishra — receive moderate praise for their performances, though several critics feel their characters are underdeveloped and wasted. Common criticisms include forced humour, the objectification of women, a weak and derivative script, and a climax that overstays its welcome.

How the 30 scores spread

5 not-rated reviews aren't plotted

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 32 critic reviews · may contain errors

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From the papers

Critic reviews (35)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Top critic

    Hindustan Times

    Film review ·

    The Shaukeens improves substantially in the second half when it becomes more about Akshay and less about the buddies. In fact Akshay earns the film an extra star.
  2. Top critic

    IBNLive

    Film review ·

    There are the odd moments of inspired humor - all crude - between the three senior actors, but for the most part they're wasted.
  3. Top critic

    Indian Express

    Film review ·

    Three dirty old men `leching' at a pretty young thing is what 'The Shaukeens' sets out to show. If it had stuck to its guns, made its threesome more interesting, and the girl less ditsy, this remake of Basu Chatterjee's 'Shaukeen' (1982), would have done its job.
  4. Top critic

    NDTV

    Film review ·

    The leading lady of The Shaukeens ditches her boyfriend because, in her words, "he made fun of my creation and called it stupid and obnoxious". That is it: those are the very adjectives that would best describe this unfunny, eminently avoidable film.
  5. India Glitz

    Film review ·

    ...is unadulterated, breezy, quirky, facelift of the 1982 cult Basu Chatterjee's classic 'Shaukeen'. 'The Shaukeens' of Akshay Kumar (who spins a major hilarious surprise here), 'Bollywood' and 'comedies' will be continuously mingled with the giggles and laughter. Go laugh your heart out.
  6. India Today

    Film review ·

    It's been a while since I had an LOL moment in the cinema. Watching letchy comedy, The Shaukeens made me want to ROFL more than a few times.
  7. SKJBollywoodNews

    Film review ·

    The Shaukeens is a rib-tickling rumbustious sleaze-less comedy that Basu Chatterjee is likely to smile at.It's bound to make you laugh out loud . Unless you are Jackky Bhagnani.
  8. Bollywood Life

    Film review ·

    Watch The Shaukeens if you want to see another side of Akshay Kumar and enjoy a few chuckles along the way. Also do watch out for funny cameos by Suniel Shetty, Dimple Kapadia, Abhishek Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor.
  9. India Today

    Film review ·

    Abhishek Sharma, who gave us the delightful Tere Bin Laden, does a great job with The Shukeens too. The film, despite its theme does not get crass or vulgar even once, which is why it will get a larger audience.
  10. Daily Bhaskar

    Film review ·

    If you are an Akshay Kumar fan, than this movie will definitely be a paisa wasool for you. The film shows good comedy by veterans like Anupam Kher, Annu Kapoor and Piyush Mishra who have for the first time come together on-screen. Also missing three old men running after a hot chick is something you would not want to miss.
  11. Deccan Chronicle

    Film review ·

    With a catchy soundtrack, a steady supply of giggles, top-notch performances and an engaging script, Abhishek Sharma's The Shaukeens is a worthy follow-up to his first film, the hilarious Tere Bin Laden. Watch it to get a taste of vintage Bollywood that's not afraid to laugh at itself.
  12. IndiaTvNews

    Film review ·

    The fantasy for beautiful ladies never fades it doesn't matter how old one man grows. The Shaukeens displays the unending fantasy of the male fraternity in a light-hearted manner which is self-deprecating.
  13. Mid-Day

    Film review ·

    With the story of three lecherous old men, the movie had every possible chance of crossing the line and becoming tacky and vulgar — and sure enough at some points it does too — but thankfully, director Abhishek Sharma and writer Tigmanshu Dhulia don't allow the thin line between funny and smutty to be blurred too often. The end result? A fairly enjoyable film.
  14. Times Of India

    Film review ·

    The terrific threesome play their parts with ease and Lisa adds oomph and colour to the 'grey' streaks. Some humour is forced; songs are shovelled in, and the climax lasts way beyond the orgasm! A tad more comical chemistry between the trio would made this a far more entertaining fare.
  15. Zee News

    Film review ·

    We can say that, the young will love it while the old will think about getting, 'Shaukeen' (pun intended)!
  16. BookMyShow

    Film review ·

    The Shaukeens is light-hearted comedy with some really good humorous scenes that will tickle your funny bones. Overall, the film leaves a pleasant feeling and is stress-busting. So go along with your family and friends and enjoy this hilarious caper this weekend.
  17. Sify

    Film review ·

    In the end, director Abhishek Sharma (Tere Bin Laden) gives us a fast food version of what was a very charming and humorous film. Go for it if you have the stomach!
  18. FilmiBeat

    Film review ·

    The Shaukeens is fun to watch only if you leave behind the logic and turn a blind eye to many bad things that's been portrayed about women!

From our readers

Audience reviews (1)

2 ratings · user score 3.0

  1. 1/10

    The Shaukeens, a tragedy in the name of a comedy movie – poor theme, poor storytelling, poor sense of humour and hugely talented actors just getting wasted. What Anupam Kher, Annu Kapoor and Piyush Mishra are doing in such a movie, sheer wastage of talent. A remake of 1982 movie by the same name, and this 2014 version is directed by Abhishek Sharma. The story is about three men in their sixties: One of them a bachelor KD (Annu Kapoor), another one Pinky, a widower (Piyush Mishra) and the third one Lali (Anupam Kher) having a spiritually-oriented wife (Rati Agnihotri). All three of them are lecherous in nature and have only lust in mind. They decide to go to Mauritius and have some fun in life. There they land up in Ahaana's (Lisa Haydon) house. All three of them try to floor Ahaana in their own manner when they learn that Ahaana is a die-hard fan of Akshay Kumar and she would do 'anything' for the person who makes her meet Akshay Kumar. Akshay is playing himself and shooting in Mauritius. All three of them in their own peculiar manner get Ahaana meet Akshay hoping that she would return the favour. Akshay takes a dig at his own self through various dialogues in the movie. Is there a story at all in this movie to be reviewed? Can the bachelorhood / widower status of someone be made fun of? Is the longingness to have a partner in life, desiring to have a company of someone special wrong? Absolutely not, then why the whole set of feelings need to be addressed through 'lust'? Does the genre of comedy require lot of dialogues with double meaning cues? How to tolerate terrible actions from veterans of the industry? The Shaukeens is definitely not for Movie-Shaukeens.

Credits

Cast & crew

Cast

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