# Dosti: Friends Forever
**Dosti: Friends Forever** (दोस्ती: फ्रेंड्स फॉरएवर) is a 2005 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film directed, produced and written by Suneel Darshan, starring [Bobby Deol](https://www.edgepedia.org/bobby-deol) as the wealthy [Karan Thapar](https://www.edgepedia.org/karan-thapar) and [Akshay Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/akshay-kumar) as the poor Raj Malhotra, whose friendship across a class divide is tested by romance and illness[1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/dosti-friends-forever/movieshow/61320808.cms) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dosti_friends_forever_2005/cast-and-crew). It was released on 23 December 2005[1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/dosti-friends-forever/movieshow/61320808.cms).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 23 December 2005, Hindi language, 142 minutes[1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/dosti-friends-forever/movieshow/61320808.cms) • [3](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=293) |
| Director | Suneel Darshan (also producer and writer)[1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/dosti-friends-forever/movieshow/61320808.cms) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dosti_friends_forever_2005/cast-and-crew) |
| Lead cast | Akshay Kumar, Bobby Deol, Kareena Kapoor, Lara Dutta; Juhi Chawla in a supporting role[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dosti_friends_forever_2005/cast-and-crew) |
| Music | Nadeem-Shravan, with songs recorded before filming began[5](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/akshay-bobby-kareena-laras-dosti/) |
| Budget | ₹150 million (₹15 crore)[6](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Dosti%3A_Friends_Forever_2005) |
| India net collection | ₹85.9 million (₹8.59 crore; Sacnilk) or ₹87.7 million (₹8.77 crore; Bollywood Hungama, Box Office India)[6](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Dosti%3A_Friends_Forever_2005) • [7](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/dosti-friends-forever/box-office/) |
| Worldwide gross | ₹220.5 million (₹22.05 crore; Sacnilk) or ₹228.1 million–230.7 million (₹22.81–23.07 crore) (Bollywood Hungama, Box Office India)[6](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Dosti%3A_Friends_Forever_2005) • [7](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/dosti-friends-forever/box-office/) • [3](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=293) |
| Verdict | Flop against its budget[6](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Dosti%3A_Friends_Forever_2005) • [3](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=293) |
## Spoilers
### Premise
The film contrasts two men from opposite worlds. Karan Thapar is wealthy but lonely, with a mother occupied by socializing and a father absorbed in business; Raj Malhotra is poor but full of love, and he saves Karan, who brings him home. The friendship is then tested by their romantic lives, Karan as a playboy who meets Kajal ([Lara Dutta](https://www.edgepedia.org/lara-dutta)) and Raj, who loves Anjali (Kareena Kapoor), and later by a third-act accident that leaves one character in hospital[8](https://simkl.com/movies/321296/dosti-friends-forever/reviews/) • [9](https://www.mouthshut.com/review/dosti-friends-forever-review-ppmstpllu). In the climax, Raj, facing the end of his life, devotes himself to putting Karan's relationships in order before a final goodbye[10](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/20-years-dosti-friends-forever-exclusive-desired-cast-ajay-devgn-role-akshay-kumar-akshay-role-bobby-deol-suneel-darshan/).
The supporting cast included [Juhi Chawla](https://www.edgepedia.org/juhi-chawla) as Dr. Aditi, [Kiran Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/kiran-kumar) as Karan's father, [Lillete Dubey](https://www.edgepedia.org/lillete-dubey) as his mother, Karishma Tanna as his sister, and Shakti Kapoor, Mahesh Thakur, Aman Verma and Dolly Bindra[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dosti_friends_forever_2005/cast-and-crew) • [11](https://www.cinnamondb.com/movie/25f689d2-3803-45f1-821d-cec547ad305b).
## Production and casting
Darshan announced the project with his four leads in February 2005, filming commencing on 1 February at Filmalaya Studio and Kamal Amrohi Studio in Mumbai[5](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/akshay-bobby-kareena-laras-dosti/). The shoot ran from February to May 2005[4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/20-years-dosti-friends-forever-exclusive-kareena-kapoor-told-can-akshay-kumar-film-without-want-part-akshay-finished-shoot-just-26-days/).
Kareena Kapoor joined at the last minute, telling Darshan that he and Akshay could not make a film without her. Since shooting began in five days, she asked for three extra days and joined after eight[4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/20-years-dosti-friends-forever-exclusive-kareena-kapoor-told-can-akshay-kumar-film-without-want-part-akshay-finished-shoot-just-26-days/). Darshan cast Lara Dutta opposite Bobby Deol, having launched her in *Andaaz* (2003), and brought in Juhi Chawla, with whom he had worked on *Lootere* (1993) and *Ek Rishtaa: The Bond Of Love* (2001)[4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/20-years-dosti-friends-forever-exclusive-kareena-kapoor-told-can-akshay-kumar-film-without-want-part-akshay-finished-shoot-just-26-days/). He said his first choice was to cast [Ajay Devgn](https://www.edgepedia.org/ajay-devgn) in the role Akshay Kumar played, and Akshay in the role Bobby Deol played[10](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/20-years-dosti-friends-forever-exclusive-desired-cast-ajay-devgn-role-akshay-kumar-akshay-role-bobby-deol-suneel-darshan/).
Akshay Kumar completed his shoot in just 26 days, and Darshan made seven films with him in seven years, Dosti being the last[4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/20-years-dosti-friends-forever-exclusive-kareena-kapoor-told-can-akshay-kumar-film-without-want-part-akshay-finished-shoot-just-26-days/) • [10](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/20-years-dosti-friends-forever-exclusive-desired-cast-ajay-devgn-role-akshay-kumar-akshay-role-bobby-deol-suneel-darshan/). [Luv Ranjan](https://www.edgepedia.org/luv-ranjan), later a director of note, was among the assistant directors on the film[4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/20-years-dosti-friends-forever-exclusive-kareena-kapoor-told-can-akshay-kumar-film-without-want-part-akshay-finished-shoot-just-26-days/).
The film's title drew a dispute before release: [Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment](https://www.edgepedia.org/nadiadwala-grandson-entertainment) complained to AMPTPP that Shree Krishna International was using their registered title *Dosti* without authorization, and the studio responded that *Dosti - Friends Forever* had been registered in its favor by FMC & WIFPA[12](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/not-so-much-of-a-dosti/).
One song remained when the main shoot ended, "Let's Boogie Woogie", staged on a large set. Akshay Kumar was unavailable because the Canada schedule of *[Humko Deewana Kar Gaye](https://www.edgepedia.org/humko-deewana-kar-gaye)* (2006) was running long, so the song was filmed without him and Kareena[4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/20-years-dosti-friends-forever-exclusive-kareena-kapoor-told-can-akshay-kumar-film-without-want-part-akshay-finished-shoot-just-26-days/).
## Box office
Released on Christmas 2005, a date Darshan chose to attract family audiences[10](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/20-years-dosti-friends-forever-exclusive-desired-cast-ajay-devgn-role-akshay-kumar-akshay-role-bobby-deol-suneel-darshan/), the film opened well in north India, with trade coverage ranking its opening as good[13](https://m.rediff.com/movies/2005/dec/27box.htm). It reached No. 5 in the United Kingdom in its opening weekend, collecting £146,069 from 41 screens[14](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/box-office-overseas/christmas-boosts-business/).
Domestic and overseas figures vary by trade tracker. Bollywood Hungama and Box Office India both report an India net total of ₹87.7 million (₹8.77 crore) on an opening week of ₹55.8 million (₹5.58 crore), with Bollywood Hungama listing worldwide gross at ₹228.1 million (₹22.81 crore) and Box Office India at ₹230.7 million (₹23.07 crore)[7](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/dosti-friends-forever/box-office/) • [3](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=293). Sacnilk's compilation gives lower totals, ₹85.9 million (₹8.59 crore) India net and ₹220.5 million (₹22.05 crore) worldwide, and notes that its figures are approximate and may differ from producer figures[6](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Dosti%3A_Friends_Forever_2005). Box Office India recorded 2.94 million (29.4 lakh) footfalls for the film in India[3](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=293).
Whatever the exact totals, every tracker reached the same verdict: with a ₹150 million (₹15 crore) budget and India net earnings under ₹90 million (₹9 crore), the film flopped[6](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Dosti%3A_Friends_Forever_2005) • [7](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/dosti-friends-forever/box-office/) • [3](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=293).
## Reception and legacy
Contemporary and later reviews were mostly negative. A 2005 reviewer on MouthShut called the film slow and its songs boring, praising Bobby Deol's performance while finding Akshay Kumar uncomfortable in the role[9](https://www.mouthshut.com/review/dosti-friends-forever-review-ppmstpllu). A [Letterboxd](https://www.edgepedia.org/letterboxd) review described the film as sentimentality that announces its emotions rather than earning them, with a late-film illness twist deployed for convenience, though it credited Juhi Chawla's late entrance as a brief bright spot[15](https://embed.letterboxd.com/cletusvandamm/film/dosti-friends-forever/). Darshan himself said in 2025 that he wished some actors had given more dedication to the film, while defending its music, sets and scale[4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/20-years-dosti-friends-forever-exclusive-kareena-kapoor-told-can-akshay-kumar-film-without-want-part-akshay-finished-shoot-just-26-days/).
The film has a divided afterlife: aggregate user ratings sit in the 4 to 5 range out of 10[8](https://simkl.com/movies/321296/dosti-friends-forever/reviews/) • [11](https://www.cinnamondb.com/movie/25f689d2-3803-45f1-821d-cec547ad305b), yet some viewers continue to respond emotionally to its friendship theme and music, and Bollywood Hungama notes it is remembered for its casting, music and emotional climax[16](https://embed.letterboxd.com/film/dosti-friends-forever/reviews/) • [4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/20-years-dosti-friends-forever-exclusive-kareena-kapoor-told-can-akshay-kumar-film-without-want-part-akshay-finished-shoot-just-26-days/). In the United States it has been available for digital purchase and rental and free streaming on Tubi and Fawesome[17](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/dosti/nV6TKdTFVskZjEy2Wom4m2/showtimes/).
## References
1. [Dosti: Friends Forever, Times of India eTimes movie details](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/dosti-friends-forever/movieshow/61320808.cms)
2. [Dosti: Friends Forever, Cast and Crew, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dosti_friends_forever_2005/cast-and-crew)
3. [Dosti - Friends Forever, Box Office India](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=293)
4. [20 Years of Dosti: Friends Forever EXCLUSIVE: Kareena Kapoor told me, 'How can you and Akshay Kumar be doing a film WITHOUT me?' – Suneel Darshan, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/20-years-dosti-friends-forever-exclusive-kareena-kapoor-told-can-akshay-kumar-film-without-want-part-akshay-finished-shoot-just-26-days/)
5. [Akshay, Bobby, Kareena, Lara's 'Dosti', Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/akshay-bobby-kareena-laras-dosti/)
6. [Dosti: Friends Forever (2005) Box Office Collection, Sacnilk](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Dosti%3A_Friends_Forever_2005)
7. [Dosti – Friends Forever Box Office Collection, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/dosti-friends-forever/box-office/)
8. [Dosti: Friends Forever reviews, Simkl](https://simkl.com/movies/321296/dosti-friends-forever/reviews/)
9. [Dosti – Friends Forever review, MouthShut.com](https://www.mouthshut.com/review/dosti-friends-forever-review-ppmstpllu)
10. [20 Years of Dosti: Friends Forever EXCLUSIVE: I desired to cast Ajay Devgn… – Suneel Darshan, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/20-years-dosti-friends-forever-exclusive-desired-cast-ajay-devgn-role-akshay-kumar-akshay-role-bobby-deol-suneel-darshan/)
11. [Dosti: Friends Forever, Cinnamon DB](https://www.cinnamondb.com/movie/25f689d2-3803-45f1-821d-cec547ad305b)
12. [Not so much of a Dosti, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/not-so-much-of-a-dosti/)
13. [Dosti is box-office friendly, Rediff Movies](https://m.rediff.com/movies/2005/dec/27box.htm)
14. [Christmas Boosts Business!, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/box-office-overseas/christmas-boosts-business/)
15. [Dosti: Friends Forever review by CletusVanDamm, Letterboxd](https://embed.letterboxd.com/cletusvandamm/film/dosti-friends-forever/)
16. [Reviews of Dosti: Friends Forever (2005), Letterboxd](https://embed.letterboxd.com/film/dosti-friends-forever/reviews/)
17. [Dosti: Friends Forever, Moviefone](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/dosti/nV6TKdTFVskZjEy2Wom4m2/showtimes/)
---
*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 2000s › Romance films*
*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*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license