# Dishoom (दिशूम)
**Dishoom** (ढिशुम) is a 2016 Hindi-language action comedy directed by Rohit Dhawan, in which two mismatched police officers race to rescue India's top cricketer, kidnapped on the eve of a high-stakes India-Pakistan match.[1](https://ottasia.com/title/movie/393441/dishoom?country=PK) It stars [John Abraham](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-abraham) and [Varun Dhawan](https://www.edgepedia.org/varun-dhawan) as the cop pair, with [Jacqueline Fernandez](https://www.edgepedia.org/jacqueline-fernandez), Saqib Saleem, and Akshaye Khanna in supporting roles, and was produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and distributed by Eros International.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dishoom_2016)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 29 July 2016, Hindi, U/A certification[3](https://www.bollywood.com/movies/dishoom/) • [4](https://hindi.filmibeat.com/movies/dishoom.html) |
| Director / producer | Rohit Dhawan; Sajid Nadiadwala (Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment)[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dishoom_2016) |
| Runtime | 124 minutes[3](https://www.bollywood.com/movies/dishoom/) |
| Lead pair | John Abraham as Kabir Shergill, Varun Dhawan as Junaid Ansari; their first film together[1](https://ottasia.com/title/movie/393441/dishoom?country=PK) • [4](https://hindi.filmibeat.com/movies/dishoom.html) |
| Box office | 533.4 million (53.34 crore; about $8 million) in its first week on 3,000 screens in India, the sixth-biggest Hindi debut of 2016; 633.9 million (63.39 crore; about $9.5 million) cumulative in India plus $3 million overseas[5](https://www.forbes.com/sites/dongroves/2016/08/07/indian-box-office-dishoom-stays-strong-while-suicide-squad-and-jason-bourne-under-perform/) |
| Critical scores | 50% Tomatometer from 10 reviews and 48% Popcornmeter from 250+ ratings on Rotten Tomatoes[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dishoom_2016) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and premise
The story centers on Viraj Sharma ([Saqib Saleem](https://www.edgepedia.org/saqib-saleem)), India's star batsman, who is kidnapped in the Middle East and held to ransom by a bookie and his associate ahead of a fictionalized India-Pakistan match.[1](https://ottasia.com/title/movie/393441/dishoom?country=PK) • [6](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/dishoom/umc.cmc.5lan1b56hcb4usy7z6ro9d3jz?playableId=tvs.sbd.9001%3A1450387590) • [7](https://www.ndtv.com/video/special/bollywood-s-new-buddy-cops-425383-1104%20class%3D) Two cops are dispatched to find him: Kabir Shergill (John Abraham), a no-nonsense maverick investigator, and Junaid Ansari (Varun Dhawan), a smart-talking rookie determined to learn the ropes.[8](https://www.easterneye.biz/john-abraham-varun-dhawan-new-police-drama/) Jacqueline Fernandez plays Ishika and [Akshaye Khanna](https://www.edgepedia.org/akshaye-khanna) plays the antagonist Wagah; [Akshay Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/akshay-kumar) appears in a cameo as Sameer Gazi.[1](https://ottasia.com/title/movie/393441/dishoom?country=PK)
## Production and cast
Rohit Dhawan, son of director [David Dhawan](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-dhawan), directed from a screenplay written with Tushar Hiranandani.[4](https://hindi.filmibeat.com/movies/dishoom.html) • [1](https://ottasia.com/title/movie/393441/dishoom?country=PK) The film marked the first screen pairing of John Abraham and Varun Dhawan.[4](https://hindi.filmibeat.com/movies/dishoom.html) Varun Dhawan, working under his brother's direction, said he was drawn by the hook of a top Indian batsman going missing, and that Rohit pushed him to perform in the role of Junaid Ansari; the pair shot in Morocco and [Abu Dhabi](https://www.edgepedia.org/abu-dhabi).[9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/dishoom-release-varun-dhawan-indian-cinema-commercial-audience-changes-2937431/) The film also brought Akshaye Khanna back to the screen after a four-year absence.[8](https://www.easterneye.biz/john-abraham-varun-dhawan-new-police-drama/) Pritam composed the music, and remixed his own song "Subha Hone Na De" from *Desi Boyz*, a film Rohit Dhawan had also directed, for the soundtrack.[10](https://www.netflixmovies.com/dishoom-2016)
## Reception
**Critical response was mixed.** Reviewers generally praised the chemistry between John Abraham and Varun Dhawan, the humor, and the flashy action, while finding the plot predictable and the writing thin.[3](https://www.bollywood.com/movies/dishoom/) On Rotten Tomatoes the film scored 50% on the Tomatometer from 10 reviews and 48% from more than 250 audience ratings.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dishoom_2016) [Anupama Chopra](https://www.edgepedia.org/anupama-chopra), film critic at [Hindustan Times](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindustan-times), called it "a silly but fun reworking of the time-tested buddy cop formula".[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dishoom_2016) Bollywood Hungama's Taran Adarsh gave 3.5 of 5, saying the predictable story was lifted by an engaging narrative, rich visuals, energetic action, and the star power of the leads, while [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) gave 2 of 5, finding pace and visual style but little impact from the thin plot.[11](https://www.bollywood.com/movies/dishoom/reviews/) Akshay Kumar's cameo was widely singled out: The Telegraph called his five-minute pool scene the best bit of an otherwise overcooked and under-scripted film, and opening-day audiences appreciated it while many were disappointed by Akshaye Khanna's villain turn.[12](https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/more-dishy-than-dishoom/cid/1423832) • [13](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/dishoom-audience-review-john-abraham-and-varun-dhawan-entertain-2942370/)
## Box office
Dishoom opened strongly and held well. It made 533.4 million (53.34 crore; about $8 million) in its first week on 3,000 screens in India, the sixth-biggest Hindi debut of 2016, and added $3 million overseas.[5](https://www.forbes.com/sites/dongroves/2016/08/07/indian-box-office-dishoom-stays-strong-while-suicide-squad-and-jason-bourne-under-perform/) In its second weekend it collected 100.5 million (10.05 crore; about $1.5 million), taking its India total to 633.9 million (63.39 crore; about $9.5 million), a hold Forbes described as remarkable given the same-weekend launches of *Suicide Squad* and *Jason Bourne*.[5](https://www.forbes.com/sites/dongroves/2016/08/07/indian-box-office-dishoom-stays-strong-while-suicide-squad-and-jason-bourne-under-perform/) In the United States it grossed $754.3 thousand.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dishoom_2016)
## Availability
The film runs 124 minutes in most listings, though Apple TV lists 1 hour 56 minutes.[3](https://www.bollywood.com/movies/dishoom/) • [6](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/dishoom/umc.cmc.5lan1b56hcb4usy7z6ro9d3jz?playableId=tvs.sbd.9001%3A1450387590) In India it streams on the Eros Now Select Apple TV channel and free with ads on JioHotstar, and can be rented or bought on Apple TV.[14](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/dishoom) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dishoom_2016)
## References
1. [Dishoom (2016) streaming guide, OTTASIA](https://ottasia.com/title/movie/393441/dishoom?country=PK)
2. [Dishoom (2016), Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dishoom_2016)
3. [Dishoom, Bollywood.com](https://www.bollywood.com/movies/dishoom/)
4. [ढिशूम (Dishoom) 2016, FilmiBeat Hindi](https://hindi.filmibeat.com/movies/dishoom.html)
5. [Indian Box Office: 'Dishoom' Stays Strong, Forbes (Don Groves, 7 August 2016)](https://www.forbes.com/sites/dongroves/2016/08/07/indian-box-office-dishoom-stays-strong-while-suicide-squad-and-jason-bourne-under-perform/)
6. [Dishoom, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/dishoom/umc.cmc.5lan1b56hcb4usy7z6ro9d3jz?playableId=tvs.sbd.9001%3A1450387590)
7. [Dishoom. Take That, Friday, NDTV](https://www.ndtv.com/video/special/bollywood-s-new-buddy-cops-425383-1104%20class%3D)
8. [John Abraham and Varun Dhawan in new police drama, Eastern Eye (21 July 2016)](https://www.easterneye.biz/john-abraham-varun-dhawan-new-police-drama/)
9. ['Commercial cinema and its audience have changed', The Indian Express (27 July 2016)](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/dishoom-release-varun-dhawan-indian-cinema-commercial-audience-changes-2937431/)
10. [Dishoom (2016) on Netflix, NetflixMovies.com](https://www.netflixmovies.com/dishoom-2016)
11. [Dishoom Critics Reviews, Bollywood.com](https://www.bollywood.com/movies/dishoom/reviews/)
12. [More dishy than dishoom, The Telegraph India (30 July 2016)](https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/more-dishy-than-dishoom/cid/1423832)
13. [Dishoom audience movie review, The Indian Express (29 July 2016)](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/dishoom-audience-review-john-abraham-and-varun-dhawan-entertain-2942370/)
14. [Dishoom streaming: where to watch online, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/dishoom)
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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) › Hindi films of the 2010s › Hindi films of 2016*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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