# Criminal (1994 film)
**Criminal** is a 1994 Indian action thriller film directed by [Mahesh Bhatt](https://www.edgepedia.org/mahesh-bhatt), starring Nagarjuna Akkineni, Manisha Koirala, and [Ramya Krishnan](https://www.edgepedia.org/ramya-krishnan), and shot simultaneously in the Telugu and Hindi languages[1](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/8138-criminal-1994). It is an Indian adaptation of the 1993 American film *The Fugitive*, following Dr. Ajay Kumar, a doctor who is framed for his wife's murder and must prove his innocence while on the run[1](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/8138-criminal-1994). The Telugu version released on 14 October 1994 and the Hindi version on 4 August 1995[1](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/8138-criminal-1994). The film marked the final screen appearance of the veteran Hindi actor Ajit Khan[1](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/8138-criminal-1994).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director | Mahesh Bhatt[1](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/8138-criminal-1994) |
| Languages | Shot simultaneously in Telugu and Hindi[1](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/8138-criminal-1994) |
| Lead cast | Nagarjuna Akkineni (Dr. Ajay Kumar), Manisha Koirala (Shweta Kumar), Ramya Krishnan (Sub-Inspector Ramya)[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112738/) |
| Music | M. M. Keeravani[3](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/movie/criminal-1994) |
| Telugu release | 14 October 1994[3](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/movie/criminal-1994) |
| Hindi release | 4 August 1995[1](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/8138-criminal-1994) |
| Source | Indian adaptation of *The Fugitive* (1993)[1](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/8138-criminal-1994) |
| Hindi box office | ₹32.3 million (₹3.23 crore) India net; ₹46.5 million (₹4.65 crore) worldwide gross[4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/criminal/box-office/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Dr. Ajay Kumar, after witnessing the death of a woman who could not afford hospital treatment, cancels his planned immigration to the United States and builds a hospital for patients who cannot pay, named Amma People's Hospital[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112738/). His wife discovers an organ-smuggling racket and is murdered; Ajay is framed for the killing, convicted, and sentenced to death[1](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/8138-criminal-1994). He escapes from prison and becomes a fugitive, searching for the real killer while the police, led by Sub-Inspector Ramya (Ramya Krishnan), hunt him[1](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/8138-criminal-1994). Gulshan Grover plays Robert, and Ajit Khan plays Jagdish Prasad[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112738/).
## Production
The film was made as a bilingual. Mahesh Bhatt wrote the adaptation, Sainath Thotapalli wrote the dialogues, S. Gopal Reddy handled cinematography, and G. G. Krishna Rao edited the film[5](https://telugucineblitz.blogspot.com/2015/11/criminal-1994.html). The original story is credited to David Twohy, writer of *The Fugitive*[5](https://telugucineblitz.blogspot.com/2015/11/criminal-1994.html). The Tuli Research Centre records the Hindi version under the Vishesh Entertainment banner with [Mukesh Bhatt](https://www.edgepedia.org/mukesh-bhatt) as producer[6](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/criminal-1994).
## Cast
Nagarjuna Akkineni heads the cast as Dr. Ajay Kumar, with [Manisha Koirala](https://www.edgepedia.org/manisha-koirala) as his wife Shweta and Ramya Krishnan as Sub-Inspector Ramya[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112738/). The supporting cast included [Laxmikant Berde](https://www.edgepedia.org/laxmikant-berde) as Manghu, Johny Lever as Changhu, Beena Banerjee as Mrs. Verma, Nassar as Teja, Gulshan Grover as Robert, and Ajit Khan as Jagdish Prasad[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112738/). The Telugu version drew on a large ensemble of Telugu character actors, including [Kota Srinivasa Rao](https://www.edgepedia.org/kota-srinivasa-rao), Kaikala Satyanarayana, Sarath Babu, Brahmanandam, Gundu Hanumantha Rao, and Dharmavarapu Subramanyam[3](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/movie/criminal-1994).
For Ajit Khan, one of [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema)'s established character actors, the film was his last; IMDb's trivia section records it as the legendary actor's final movie[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112738/).
## Music
[M. M. Keeravani](https://www.edgepedia.org/m-m-keeravani) composed the soundtrack, with lyrics by Vennelakanti and Sirivennela Sitaramasastri in the Telugu version[3](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/movie/criminal-1994). The song "Mudante Vadant," composed by Keeravani with lyrics by Vennelakanti, was performed by [S. P. Balasubrahmanyam](https://www.edgepedia.org/s-p-balasubrahmanyam) and [K. S. Chithra](https://www.edgepedia.org/k-s-chithra)[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112738/). The Hindi version's songs were sung by Kumar Sanu, Abhijeet, Alka Yagnik, Chitra, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, and Alisha Chinoy, with lyrics by Indeevar, and the music was released on Saregama-HMV[7](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/criminal/cast/). In the Hindi version Keeravani is credited as M. M. Kreem[7](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/criminal/cast/).
## Release and box office
The Telugu version reached theaters on 14 October 1994[3](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/movie/criminal-1994). IMDb lists the Indian release date as 15 October 1994[8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112738/releaseinfo/), a one-day difference between sources. The Hindi version's release date is also reported differently: 4 August 1995 according to GudVibe, Bollywood Hungama, and Box Office India[1](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/8138-criminal-1994) • [4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/criminal/box-office/) • [9](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2946), but 21 July 1995 according to IMDb's release information[8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112738/releaseinfo/).
The Hindi version earned ₹32.3 million (₹3.23 crore) net in India, with an opening day of ₹3.5 million (₹0.35 crore) and a first week of ₹17.4 million (₹1.74 crore); worldwide gross stood at ₹46.5 million (₹4.65 crore), including ₹1.6 million (₹0.16 crore) from overseas[4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/criminal/box-office/). Box Office India, which lists a budget of ₹22.5 million (₹2.25 crore), classified the film as "Below Average" and recorded 3,743,000 footfalls[9](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2946).
## Adaptation and related versions
*Criminal* adapts *The Fugitive* (1993), the American thriller based on the 1960s television series, whose story credit belongs to David Twohy[5](https://telugucineblitz.blogspot.com/2015/11/criminal-1994.html). IMDb records the film as referenced in the 2003 film *Shivamani*[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112738/).
The film's runtime is reported inconsistently across databases: 2 hours 22 minutes for the Telugu version on Indian Film History[3](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/movie/criminal-1994), 123 minutes on IMDb[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112738/), and 125 minutes on Box Office India for the Hindi version[9](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2946).
## References
1. [Criminal (1994) OTT Release Date, Where to Watch, Cast & Review, GudVibe](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/8138-criminal-1994)
2. [Criminal (1994), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112738/)
3. [Criminal (1994) — Cast, Review & Details, Indian Film History](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/movie/criminal-1994)
4. [Criminal Box Office Collection, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/criminal/box-office/)
5. [Criminal (1994), Telugu Cinema Prapamcham](https://telugucineblitz.blogspot.com/2015/11/criminal-1994.html)
6. [Criminal (1994), Tuli Research Centre for India Studies](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/criminal-1994)
7. [Criminal Cast List, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/criminal/cast/)
8. [Criminal (1994) — Release info, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112738/releaseinfo/)
9. [Criminal, Box Office India](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2946)
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*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) › Telugu films before 2000*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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