{ "id": "epr2bcag3a", "slug": "lal-baadshah", "title": "Lal Baadshah (लाल बादशाह)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s", "label": "Hindi films of the 1990s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s.action-and-thriller-films", "label": "Action and thriller films", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s.action-and-thriller-films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s.action-and-thriller-films.yr-1996-1999", "label": "Released 1996 to 1999", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s.action-and-thriller-films.yr-1996-1999" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s.action-and-thriller-films.yr-1996-1999", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000: Released 1996 to 1999", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s.action-and-thriller-films.yr-1996-1999", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s", "label": "Hindi films of the 1990s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s.action-and-thriller-films", "label": "Action and thriller films", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s.action-and-thriller-films" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s.action-and-thriller-films.yr-1996-1999", "label": "Released 1996 to 1999", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s.action-and-thriller-films.yr-1996-1999" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Lal Baadshah (लाल बादशाह) is a 1999 Hindi action drama directed by K.C. Bokadia, starring Amitabh Bachchan in a dual role with Manisha Koirala and Shilpa Shetty; released 5 March 1999, a box office flop and Nirupa Roy's final film, distinct from the same-year Shah Rukh Khan film Baadshah.", "snippet": "Lal Baadshah (लाल बादशाह) is a 1999 Hindi action drama directed by K.C. Bokadia, starring Amitabh Bachchan in a dual role with Manisha Koirala and Shilpa Shetty; released 5 March 1999, a box office flop and Nirupa Roy's final film, distinct from the same-year Shah Rukh Khan film Baadshah.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s.action-and-thriller-films.yr-1996-1999", "markdown": "# Lal Baadshah (लाल बादशाह)\n\n**Lal Baadshah** (लाल बादशाह) is a 1999 Hindi-language action drama film directed, produced, and written by K.C. Bokadia, starring [Amitabh Bachchan](https://www.edgepedia.org/amitabh-bachchan) in a dual role as Lal \"Baadshah\" Singh and Ranbir Singh, with [Manisha Koirala](https://www.edgepedia.org/manisha-koirala), Shilpa Shetty, Amrish Puri, and [Raghuvaran](https://www.edgepedia.org/raghuvaran) in supporting parts.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172704/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172704/fullcredits/) It was released in India on 5 March 1999 and was a box office failure, though it performed well in the Hindi-belt territories of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.[3](https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2449) • [4](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/458939-lal-baadshah?language=en-US)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Release | 5 March 1999 (India), Hindi language, action crime drama[5](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0172704/) |\n| Director, producer, writer | K.C. Bokadia (dialogue by Anwar Khan)[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172704/fullcredits/) |\n| Lead | Amitabh Bachchan in a dual role as Lal 'Baadshah' Singh and Ranbir Singh[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172704/fullcredits/) |\n| Supporting cast | Manisha Koirala (Kiran), Shilpa Shetty (the lawyer's daughter), Amrish Puri (Thakur Dhayal Singh), Raghuvaran (Vikram Singh / Vicky Baadshah), Nirupa Roy (Lal's foster mother)[6](https://fmdb.mov/en/movie/458939-lal-baadshah) |\n| Music | Aadesh Shrivastava[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172704/fullcredits/) |\n| India box office | Total nett gross ₹70,850,000 against a budget of ₹110,000,000; classified a Flop by Box Office India[3](https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2449) |\n| US and Canada gross | $150,657 total, $81,873 opening[5](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0172704/) |\n| IMDb rating | 3.4/10 from 793 votes[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172704/) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\n[Lal Singh](https://www.edgepedia.org/lal-singh) (Amitabh Bachchan) lives with his foster mother ([Nirupa Roy](https://www.edgepedia.org/nirupa-roy)) in a small basti (A poor urban settlement or slum neighborhood) in Bombay, grows up among the poor and needy, and is called Lal Baadshah by the people he lives among. He is a helpful man dead-set against crime. In the same city lives Vikram Singh, alias Vicky Baadshah (Raghuvaran), the city's don, who constantly clashes with Lal. Vicky is the son of Dayal Singh ([Amrish Puri](https://www.edgepedia.org/amrish-puri)), who lives far from Mumbai in a castle, and the brother of Ajit Singh (Mukesh Rishi), a corrupt superintendent of police; the two brothers want to rule the city.[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172704/plotsummary/)\n\nLal meets Kiran (Manisha Koirala), a [Life Insurance Corporation](https://www.edgepedia.org/life-insurance-corporation) agent who falls in love with him and is determined to marry him.[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172704/plotsummary/) In the parallel thread, Dayal Singh is still hunting the treasure of the Maharaja (Pramod Moutho), whom he murdered years earlier along with his brother Sultan Singh ([Prem Chopra](https://www.edgepedia.org/prem-chopra)). When the Maharaja was killed, his son Dewan Ranbir Singh, also played by Bachchan, hid the treasure, for which Dayal Singh tried to murder him.[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172704/plotsummary/)\n\nThe two threads converge on the link between Ranbir Singh and his look-alike Lal Singh. In the climax, Ranbir Singh is revealed to be Lal's father; the lawyer's daughter kills [Ajit Singh](https://www.edgepedia.org/ajit-singh), and Ranbir kills Dayal Singh.[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172704/plotsummary/)\n\n## Cast and production\n\nThe film was made under the BMB Productions banner with K.C. Bokadia as director, producer, and writer, Mahavir Bokadia as executive producer, [Aadesh Shrivastava](https://www.edgepedia.org/aadesh-shrivastava) as composer, Peter Pereira as cinematographer, and D.N. Malik as editor.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172704/fullcredits/) • [3](https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2449) [Shakti Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/shakti-kapoor) played Balu, Lal's secretary, and Raadhika Sarathkumar played the wife of Ranbir Singh.[6](https://fmdb.mov/en/movie/458939-lal-baadshah)\n\n**Nirupa Roy's last film.** Lal Baadshah is known as the final film appearance of the veteran actress Nirupa Roy, who played Lal's foster mother and had frequently played Amitabh Bachchan's on-screen mother in the 1970s and 1980s.[4](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/458939-lal-baadshah?language=en-US) • [8](https://b4uentertainment.com/b4u-kadak-india/lal-baadshah)\n\n## Release and box office\n\nThe film was released on 5 March 1999.[3](https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2449) Trade reporting at the time recorded a strong opening in the Hindi belt: it opened in Bombay on 5 March at [Dreamland](https://www.edgepedia.org/dreamland), New Excelsior, and 19 other cinemas, and the opening was described as mindblowing in [Uttar Pradesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/uttar-pradesh) (released 2 March), West Bengal, Bihar, C.P. Berar, C.I., and [Rajasthan](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajasthan), where the first day in Jaipur took 274,000 from five cinemas.[9](https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-1-march-2024-from-our-issue-dated-6th-march-1999/) The same trade report attributed this regional appeal to the Bhojpuri dialect of the hero and the action.[9](https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-1-march-2024-from-our-issue-dated-6th-march-1999/)\n\nThe run did not hold. Box Office India records 230 screens, a first day of ₹80,00,000, a first weekend of ₹2,21,00,000, a first week of ₹3,66,00,000, and a total India nett gross of ₹70,850,000 against a budget of ₹11,00,00,000, classifying the film a Flop.[3](https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2449) Bollywood Hungama's compiled figures agree on the shape of the run: opening day 8 million (0.80 crore), opening weekend 22.1 million (2.21 crore), first week 36.6 million (3.66 crore), and a total India nett of 70.9 million (7.09 crore), with a worldwide gross of 108 million (10.8 crore) including 9.5 million (0.95 crore) overseas.[10](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/lal-baadshah/box-office/) In the United States and Canada the film grossed $150,657, with an opening weekend of $81,873.[5](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0172704/) The Film Information trade paper reported that since it opened to poor houses almost all over India, it would entail heavy losses to its distributors.[9](https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-1-march-2024-from-our-issue-dated-6th-march-1999/)\n\nReported running times differ between databases: IMDb, Apple TV, and [Box Office Mojo](https://www.edgepedia.org/box-office-mojo) list 180 minutes, while Box Office India lists 152 minutes and The Times of India lists 2 hours 14 minutes.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172704/) • [3](https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2449) • [11](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/lal-baadshah/movieshow/62472646.cms)\n\n## Reception\n\nContemporary reviews were negative. Anupama Chopra's review in *India Today* was titled around the idea that Bachchan's new film tried in vain to capture his old magic.[12](https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19990315-film-review-lal-badshah-starring-amitabh-bachchan-manisha-koirala-shilpa-shetty-825016-1999-03-14) A Rediff review called the film an insult to Amitabh Bachchan's stature, criticized the editing, cinematography, sets, and action sequences as products of the mid-eighties, and found nothing catchy in Aadesh Shrivastava's music beyond \"Dhanno ki aankh\".[13](https://www.rediff.com/entertai/1999/mar/06lal.htm) The Film Information trade review was milder, calling the story as routine as routine can be but noting a good dose of action for the masses, effective work from Amrish Puri, and appealing camerawork; it judged the film an average fare with an impressive initial value for B and C class centers but without the power to sustain a long run.[9](https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-1-march-2024-from-our-issue-dated-6th-march-1999/)\n\nRetrospective aggregate scores remain low: IMDb records 3.4/10 from 793 votes.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172704/) The film is also noted as Bachchan's third film after his comeback following a five-year hiatus, and it failed at the box office nationally while hitting in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.[4](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/458939-lal-baadshah?language=en-US)\n\n## Music\n\nThe soundtrack was composed by Aadesh Shrivastava.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172704/fullcredits/) The trade review singled out \"Dhanno ki aankh\" as very good, called a couple of other songs okay, and judged the \"Mera munna\" number dull.[9](https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-1-march-2024-from-our-issue-dated-6th-march-1999/) The Rediff review likewise found nothing very catchy in the music beyond \"Dhanno ki aankh\".[13](https://www.rediff.com/entertai/1999/mar/06lal.htm)\n\n## Availability\n\nIn India the film streams on Amazon Prime Video, JioHotstar, and MX Player, among other services, with an A (adults only) age rating.[14](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/lal-baadshah)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Lal Baadshah (1999) – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172704/)\n2. [Lal Baadshah (1999) – Full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172704/fullcredits/)\n3. [Lal Baadshah – Movie – Box Office India](https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2449)\n4. [Lal Baadshah (1999) – The Movie Database](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/458939-lal-baadshah?language=en-US)\n5. [Lal Baadshah (1999) – Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0172704/)\n6. [Lal Baadshah (1999) – FMDb](https://fmdb.mov/en/movie/458939-lal-baadshah)\n7. [Lal Baadshah (1999) – Plot, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172704/plotsummary/)\n8. [LAL BAADSHAH – B4U Entertainment](https://b4uentertainment.com/b4u-kadak-india/lal-baadshah)\n9. [FLASHBACK | 1 March, 2024 (From our issue dated 6th March, 1999) – Film Information](https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-1-march-2024-from-our-issue-dated-6th-march-1999/)\n10. [Lal Baadshah Box Office Collection – Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/lal-baadshah/box-office/)\n11. [Lal Baadshah Movie – eTimes, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/lal-baadshah/movieshow/62472646.cms)\n12. [Film review: 'Lal Badshah' – India Today, 15 March 1999](https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19990315-film-review-lal-badshah-starring-amitabh-bachchan-manisha-koirala-shilpa-shetty-825016-1999-03-14)\n13. [The review of K C Bokadia's Lal Badshah – Rediff, 6 March 1999](https://www.rediff.com/entertai/1999/mar/06lal.htm)\n14. [Lal Baadshah streaming – JustWatch India](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/lal-baadshah)\n\n---\n*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 1996 to 1999*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/lal-baadshah", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/lal-baadshah.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Lal Baadshah (लाल बादशाह)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/lal-baadshah. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Lal Baadshah (लाल बादशाह)](https://www.edgepedia.org/lal-baadshah)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/lal-baadshah](https://www.edgepedia.org/lal-baadshah). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Lal Baadshah (लाल बादशाह)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/lal-baadshah. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Lal Baadshah is a 1999 Hindi action drama directed by K.C." }