# Akayla (अकेला)
**Akayla** (अकेला; transl. *Alone*) is a 1991 Hindi-language action thriller film directed by [Ramesh Sippy](https://www.edgepedia.org/ramesh-sippy) and produced by the Mushir-Riaz duo under the M.R. Productions banner.[1](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/12795-akayla-1991) • [2](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2/umc.cmc.evvtgzbegh0tx8bxepp7yk0d?l=hi) It stars [Amitabh Bachchan](https://www.edgepedia.org/amitabh-bachchan) as Senior Police Inspector Vijay Verma, supported by [Jackie Shroff](https://www.edgepedia.org/jackie-shroff), Amrita Singh, Meenakshi Seshadri, Aditya Pancholi, and Shashi Kapoor.[3](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/akayla/0-0-331829) The story follows a solitary police inspector who clashes with a criminal mastermind who evades justice through a clever alibi, and who turns to personal vendetta after the criminal escapes and kills the inspector's friends.[4](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0101284/) • [5](https://www.indiamasala.com/title/akayla-1991-4700379)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director / producer | Ramesh Sippy; produced by Mushir-Riaz (Mushir Alam and Mohammad Riaz) for M.R. Productions[1](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/12795-akayla-1991) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101284/fullcredits/) |
| Lead cast | Amitabh Bachchan (Vijay Verma), Jackie Shroff (Shekhar), Amrita Singh (Sapna), Meenakshi Seshadri (Seema), Aditya Pancholi (Ajay), Shashi Kapoor[2](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2/umc.cmc.evvtgzbegh0tx8bxepp7yk0d?l=hi) • [3](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/akayla/0-0-331829) |
| Release | 8 November 1991, in Hindi[7](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Akayla1991) |
| Music | Laxmikant-Pyarelal; lyrics by Anand Bakshi[8](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/ramesh-sippy/research-centre/library/akayla-1991-cinema-photographic-still-9) |
| Censor record | U certificate, number U-15887-MUM, dated 1 November 1991; 164 minutes, 18 reels, 35 mm[9](https://cinemaazi.com/film/akayla) |
| Source inspiration | Loosely based on the 1971 American film *Dirty Harry*[1](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/12795-akayla-1991) |
| Reception | Mixed reviews on release; praise for Bachchan and Amrita Singh, criticism of the predictable plot; the film did not perform well at the box office[1](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/12795-akayla-1991) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Inspector Vijay Verma is a lonely, silent man, alone in his fight for justice and frustrated by the inadequacies of the law, which let hard-core criminals get away even with murder.[9](https://cinemaazi.com/film/akayla) Apple TV's synopsis describes him as a police inspector who aims to bring a criminal mastermind called Jojo Braganza to justice.[2](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2/umc.cmc.evvtgzbegh0tx8bxepp7yk0d?l=hi) In Box Office Mojo's summary, Vijay finally captures the mastermind, but the criminal escapes from jail and kills Vijay's friends for revenge, leaving Vijay determined to fulfill a vendetta of his own.[4](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0101284/) Zee5's synopsis gives a variant in which Vijay arrests a criminal named Tony whose lawyer proves his innocence in court, and a bitter rivalry develops between the two men, with their loved ones paying the price.[3](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/akayla/0-0-331829) Streaming listings describe the criminal's trick as an alibi that lets him evade justice repeatedly.[5](https://www.indiamasala.com/title/akayla-1991-4700379)
Vijay's personal life is marked by the memory of a lost love, Seema ([Meenakshi Seshadri](https://www.edgepedia.org/meenakshi-seshadri)), a love not lost but sacrificed for his dearest friend Shekhar (Jackie Shroff).[9](https://cinemaazi.com/film/akayla)
## Production
The film was shot at Mehboob Studios, Filmistan Studios, Natraj Studios, Filmcity, Kamalistan, and the Art Bunglow, among other locations.[9](https://cinemaazi.com/film/akayla) IMDb lists Film City in Goregaon, Filmistan Studios, and Kamalistan Studios in Andheri, Mumbai, as studio locations.[10](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101284/locations/) The credited crew includes K.K. Mahajan as cinematographer, M.S. Shinde as editor, Sudhendu Roy as art director, [Saroj Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/saroj-khan) and Chinni Prakash as choreographers, and Mohamed Ali as action director.[8](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/ramesh-sippy/research-centre/library/akayla-1991-cinema-photographic-still-9) [Salim Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/salim-khan) is credited as writer on Apple TV.[2](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2/umc.cmc.evvtgzbegh0tx8bxepp7yk0d?l=hi)
The soundtrack was composed by the duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal, with playback singers including [Mohammed Aziz](https://www.edgepedia.org/mohammed-aziz), Sudesh Bhonsle, Manhar Udhas, and [Alka Yagnik](https://www.edgepedia.org/alka-yagnik).[8](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/ramesh-sippy/research-centre/library/akayla-1991-cinema-photographic-still-9) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101284/fullcredits/)
## Release and reception
Akayla was certified U by the Indian censor board on 1 November 1991 (certificate U-15887-MUM) with a listed run time of 164 minutes.[9](https://cinemaazi.com/film/akayla) Trade and streaming sources place the theatrical release on 8 November 1991.[7](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Akayla1991) • [3](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/akayla/0-0-331829) Reported run times differ across platforms: Cinemaazi's censor record gives 164 minutes, Zee5 lists 2h 50m, and Apple TV, JustWatch, and [Box Office Mojo](https://www.edgepedia.org/box-office-mojo) list 3 hours.[9](https://cinemaazi.com/film/akayla) • [3](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/akayla/0-0-331829) • [2](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2/umc.cmc.evvtgzbegh0tx8bxepp7yk0d?l=hi) • [11](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/akayla)
The film received mixed reviews on release, with praise for the performances of Amitabh Bachchan and [Amrita Singh](https://www.edgepedia.org/amrita-singh) and criticism for the predictable plot.[1](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/12795-akayla-1991) Despite starring Bachchan, it did not perform well at the box office on initial release.[1](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/12795-akayla-1991) Its IMDb rating stands at about 5.3 out of 10.[11](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/akayla) Box Office Mojo records a single international release, in Türkiye on September 18, 2026, grossing $1,717.[4](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0101284/)
## Place in Sippy and Bachchan's careers
Akayla marked the fourth and final collaboration between director Ramesh Sippy and Amitabh Bachchan, following *Sholay*, *Shaan*, and *Shakti*.[1](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/12795-akayla-1991) The film's title is a Hindi word meaning "alone" or "solitary", reflecting the inspector's lone vendetta.[1](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/12795-akayla-1991)
## References
1. [Akayla (1991) – GudVibe](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/12795-akayla-1991)
2. [अकेला – Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2/umc.cmc.evvtgzbegh0tx8bxepp7yk0d?l=hi)
3. [Watch Akayla Full HD Movie Online on ZEE5](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/akayla/0-0-331829)
4. [Akayla (1991) – Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0101284/)
5. [Where to watch Akayla (1991) – India Masala](https://www.indiamasala.com/title/akayla-1991-4700379)
6. [Akayla (1991) – Full cast & crew – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101284/fullcredits/)
7. [Akayla (1991-11-08) – Review, Rating & Box Office Collection – Sacnilk](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Akayla1991)
8. [Akayla, 1991 – Tuli Research Centre for India Studies](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/ramesh-sippy/research-centre/library/akayla-1991-cinema-photographic-still-9)
9. [Akayla (1991) – Movie Details – Cinemaazi](https://cinemaazi.com/film/akayla)
10. [Akayla (1991) – Filming & production – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101284/locations/)
11. [Akayla streaming: where to watch movie online? – JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/akayla)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Hindi films of the 1990s › Action and thriller films › Released 1990 to 1995*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license