Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Dimple Kapadia, Ashutosh Rana, Prakash Belawadi, Manish Wadhwa, Akash Bhatija, Shaji Choudhary, Viraf Patel, Ekta Kaul, Diganta Hazarika, Rajat Kaul, Prem Jhangiani, Salman Khan, Keith Sequeira, Ashutosh Singh, Grace Girdhar, Amanpreet Hundal, Nikhat Khan
Where to watch
Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A loud, glossy spy-action spectacle that thrives on star power, swagger, and crowd-pleasing set pieces more than airtight plotting. If you want a maximalist Bollywood blockbuster with romance, patriotism, and larger-than-life action, it delivers; if you need tension, logic, or restraint, it will likely wear you out.
Best for
fans of big-budget Indian action cinema
viewers who enjoy charismatic star vehicles
audiences looking for breezy, over-the-top spy entertainment
people who like globe-trotting spectacle and cameo-driven crowd moments
Skip if
you want grounded or realistic action
you are sensitive to thin plotting and heavy exposition
you dislike bombastic patriotism or jingoistic framing
you prefer subtle performances over full-throttle star charisma
Overview
Pathaan is built like a victory lap: sleek, noisy, and determined to make every entrance feel like an event. Siddharth Anand stages the film as a maximalist spy romp, borrowing freely from Bond, Mission: Impossible, and other global action franchises, then filtering it through Bollywood’s love of romance, swagger, and mass applause moments. The result is less a tightly engineered thriller than a showcase for scale, style, and star image.
Worth noting
Shah Rukh Khan’s comeback energy is the movie’s engine, and Deepika Padukone gives it extra heat and poise. John Abraham makes for an effective physical threat, even when the script leans on familiar beats and convenience. The action is often absurd, but it is also committed to being entertaining, which goes a long way if you’re in the right mood.
Bottom line
The film’s biggest strength is its sense of occasion: it wants audiences cheering, laughing, and leaning in for the next reveal. Its biggest weakness is that the emotional and narrative machinery is mostly functional rather than memorable. As a crowd-pleaser, it works; as a thriller, it’s more hit-or-miss.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Patrick Willems (3.5★) · 931 likes
This is a movie clearly made by someone who thinks Mission: Impossible 2 is the best Mission: Impossible movie (not a criticism)
Saahil Thakkar (3.5★) · 927 likes
My sexual orientation is Deepika Padukone with a gun.
Arjun Rajput (2★) · 375 likes
SRK: I know exactly what my fans want to see. Me as an ultra sexy eight-pack clad tough guy doing an all-out no brains action film!
Fans: One good film saaaar we beg of you 🤲🏻😫
sydney (5★) · 341 likes
EN ESTA NOCHE LA VIDA ES COMPLETA!!!!!!!!!
Michael James (2.5★) · 298 likes
YRF’s spy universe gets an expansion with another over the top globe trotting action extravaganza. Its got your typical far fetched save the world storyline with exaggerated actions and serviceable twists. It’s a cocktail of MI, Bond, Oceans, Top Gun n many other movies, topped with some Indian patriotism. But what really makes it work is the swashbuckling Shah Rukh Khan-Deepika Padukone duo, along with menacing John Abraham. Salman’s cameo was perfectly timed n was easily the standout high moment. Don’t miss… more YRF’s spy universe gets an expansion with another over the top globe trotting action extravaganza. Its got your typical far fetched save the world storyline with exaggerated actions and serviceable twists. It’s a cocktail of MI, Bond, Oceans, Top Gun n many other movies, topped with some Indian patriotism. But what really makes it work is the swashbuckling Shah Rukh Khan-Deepika Padukone duo, along with menacing John Abraham. Salman’s cameo was perfectly timed n was easily the standout high moment. Don’t miss… more