# Gangster (गैंगस्टर) (2006 film)
**Gangster: A Love Story** (गैंगस्टर – एक लव स्टोरी) is a 2006 Indian Hindi-language romantic crime thriller directed by [Anurag Basu](https://www.edgepedia.org/anurag-basu) and produced by [Mahesh Bhatt](https://www.edgepedia.org/mahesh-bhatt) and [Mukesh Bhatt](https://www.edgepedia.org/mukesh-bhatt) under Vishesh Films.[1](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=362) It stars Shiney Ahuja as the gangster Daya Shankar, Kangana Ranaut in her film debut as Simran, and Emraan Hashmi as Akash, with music composed by Pritam.[2](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/gangster-2/cast/) Released on 28 April 2006, the film was a commercial success and drew particular praise for Ranaut's debut performance.[3](https://hindiwikia.com/%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9F%E0%A4%B0_%282006_%E0%A4%AB%E0%A4%BC%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%29)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 28 April 2006 (India), Hindi language, runtime 123 minutes[1](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=362) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0495032) |
| Director and producers | Anurag Basu; Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt, Vishesh Films[1](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=362) |
| Lead cast | Shiney Ahuja (Daya Shankar), Kangana Ranaut (Simran), Emraan Hashmi (Akash), Gulshan Grover (Khanbhai)[2](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/gangster-2/cast/) |
| Music | Composed by Pritam; lyrics by Mayur Puri, Neelesh Misra, and Sayeed Quadri[1](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=362) |
| Real-life basis | Loosely based on underworld don Abu Salem and Monica Bedi[5](https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/look/20051221.htm) |
| Filming | Shot largely in Seoul, South Korea, reportedly the first Bollywood film shot there[5](https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/look/20051221.htm) |
| Box office | India net total 126.7 million (12.67 crore); worldwide gross $2,451,379[6](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/gangster-2/box-office/) • [7](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0495032/) |
## Spoilers
### Story and cast
The plot follows Simran, an alcoholic bar dancer in Seoul who once shielded the fugitive gangster Daya Shankar from the police and became his partner. When Daya re-enters her life after a separation, she must choose between him and Akash, a singer at an Indian restaurant with whom she has found comfort.[8](https://socinety.com/en/movie/gangster-2006) A detailed synopsis adds that Daya, originally from Kashmir, moved to Bombay and turned to crime, and that he rescued Simran when she was being molested before asking her to move in with him.[9](https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/movies/gangster.html)
[Shiney Ahuja](https://www.edgepedia.org/shiney-ahuja) played Daya Shankar, Kangana Ranaut played Simran, and [Emraan Hashmi](https://www.edgepedia.org/emraan-hashmi) played Akash. Gulshan Grover appeared as the mafia boss Khanbhai, with Vicky Ahuja as Usman and child actor Hitanshu Lodhia as Bittu.[2](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/gangster-2/cast/) Singers Zubeen Garg and Pritam himself made special appearances in the songs "Ya Ali" and "Bheegi Bheegi" respectively.[3](https://hindiwikia.com/%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9F%E0%A4%B0_%282006_%E0%A4%AB%E0%A4%BC%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%29)
## Origin and the Abu Salem connection
**Real-life inspiration.** Director Anurag Basu said the idea arose while he was discussing projects with Mukesh Bhatt and Mahesh Bhatt for a new project, shortly after [Abu Salem](https://www.edgepedia.org/abu-salem) had been nabbed and was the talk of the town; it was one of the ideas they discussed and it clicked.[10](https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/basu/20060405.htm) Pre-release coverage described the film as loosely based on the life of the underworld don and terrorist, with Ranaut playing the role corresponding to Salem's companion [Monica Bedi](https://www.edgepedia.org/monica-bedi) and Hashmi as her love interest.[5](https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/look/20051221.htm) Planet Bollywood's music review reported that Abu Salem had decided to sue the Bhatts from behind bars for allegedly basing the film's story on his life.[11](https://planetbollywood.com/Music/Gangster/)
**Casting near-misses.** Pakistani cricketer [Shoaib Akhtar](https://www.edgepedia.org/shoaib-akhtar) was offered the leading role, as was [Sanjay Dutt](https://www.edgepedia.org/sanjay-dutt); both refused, and Shiney Ahuja was then signed to play Salem's part.[5](https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/look/20051221.htm) IMDb's trivia entry confirms that Shoaib Akhtar was offered a role and turned it down.[4](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0495032)
## Production and filming
The film was produced by Vishesh Films, the banner run by Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt.[5](https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/look/20051221.htm) Mahesh Bhatt chose South Korea over Thailand or Singapore as the shooting location, saying no Hindi film had been shot there; much of the film was filmed in Seoul.[5](https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/look/20051221.htm) The Korea Tourism Organisation welcomed the production, and its director Hyo Sik Jeon expressed hope that other Indian producers would follow.[5](https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/look/20051221.htm) India Today's review noted that the film was beautifully shot in South Korea and that the location lent freshness to an old story.[12](https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/your-week/story/20060515-movie-review-of-gangster-starring-shiney-ahuja-emraan-hashmi-kangana-785418-2006-05-14)
The technical crew included Bobby Singh as cinematographer, Akiv Ali as editor, Parvez Khan as action director, and Rajat Poddar as art director.[2](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/gangster-2/cast/) Credits for the writing vary across databases: Box Office India lists Mahesh Bhatt on screenplay and Girish Dhamija on story, while IMDb credits Mahesh Bhatt with the story, Girish Dhamija with dialogue, and Anurag Basu with the screenplay.[1](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=362) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0495032)
## Music
Pritam composed the soundtrack, his first collaboration with the Bhatts, with lyrics by [Sayeed Quadri](https://www.edgepedia.org/sayeed-quadri), Neelesh Misra, and Mayur. The album of eight songs was released on 19 March 2006 on SaReGaMa, with vocals by K.K., Abhijeet, Sunidhi Chauhan, Kavita Seth, Zubeen, and James.[11](https://planetbollywood.com/Music/Gangster/) The film's score was composed by Raju Singh.[8](https://socinety.com/en/movie/gangster-2006) Rediff's year-end review called the soundtrack a "killer" one, with smashing use of music in the film itself.[13](https://m.rediff.com/yearend/2006/dec/26yrsl6.htm)
## Reception and box office
Critics responded positively. Subhash K. Jha's review for Nowrunning praised the Seoul setting and described the film as a love triangle between the fragile Simran, her gangster lover, and the man who comes to soothe her nerves, calling it possibly the toughest role written for a female newcomer.[14](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/2729/bollywood.hindi/gangster/670/review.htm) At year's end, Rediff placed Gangster fifth in its top ten films of 2006, calling it one of the tightest scripted thrillers in a long while and praising Ranaut's dramatic debut alongside Shiney Ahuja's near-flawless performance.[13](https://m.rediff.com/yearend/2006/dec/26yrsl6.htm)
The film earned 10.7 million (1.07 crore) on its opening day in India, 34.7 million (3.47 crore) over the opening weekend, and 58.2 million (5.82 crore) in its first week, for a total India net collection of 126.7 million (12.67 crore).[6](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/gangster-2/box-office/) [Box Office Mojo](https://www.edgepedia.org/box-office-mojo) records a worldwide gross of $2,451,379, all from India.[7](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0495032/) Sacnilk lists a budget of 50 million (5 crore) and a verdict of "Above Average".[15](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Gangster_2006?hl=en)
**Awards.** [Kangana Ranaut](https://www.edgepedia.org/kangana-ranaut)'s performance was praised and she received various awards and honors as best debut artist.[3](https://hindiwikia.com/%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9F%E0%A4%B0_%282006_%E0%A4%AB%E0%A4%BC%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%29) Mahesh Bhatt was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Story.[16](https://www.tring.co.in/popular-movies/gangster) IMDb records 12 wins and 22 nominations for the film in total.[4](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0495032)
## Legacy
Gangster launched Kangana Ranaut's film career: the National Film Award catalog records her entry into the Hindi film world with Gangster,[17](https://nfaindia.org/images/pdf/56th%20National%20Film%20Award%20Catalogue.pdf) and she later marked fifteen years in Bollywood by recalling the film as her debut.[18](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/gangster-2/)
## References
1. [Gangster - A Love Story, Box Office India](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=362)
2. [Gangster Cast & Crew, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/gangster-2/cast/)
3. [गैंगस्टर (2006 फ़िल्म), Hindi Wikia](https://hindiwikia.com/%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9F%E0%A4%B0_%282006_%E0%A4%AB%E0%A4%BC%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%29)
4. [Gangster (2006), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0495032)
5. [Shiney Ahuja is Abu Salem!, Rediff.com (21 December 2005)](https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/look/20051221.htm)
6. [Gangster Box Office Collection, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/gangster-2/box-office/)
7. [Gangster (2006), Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0495032/)
8. [Gangster (2006), Socinety](https://socinety.com/en/movie/gangster-2006)
9. [Gangster 2006: Story, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/movies/gangster.html)
10. [Could Gangster be another Murder?, Rediff.com (5 April 2006)](https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/basu/20060405.htm)
11. [Music Review - Gangster, Planet Bollywood](https://planetbollywood.com/Music/Gangster/)
12. [Movie review: 'Gangster', India Today (15 May 2006)](https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/your-week/story/20060515-movie-review-of-gangster-starring-shiney-ahuja-emraan-hashmi-kangana-785418-2006-05-14)
13. [Top 10 films, 2006, Rediff.com (26 December 2006)](https://m.rediff.com/yearend/2006/dec/26yrsl6.htm)
14. [Gangster Movie Review by Subhash K. Jha, Nowrunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/2729/bollywood.hindi/gangster/670/review.htm)
15. [Gangster (2006-04-28) - Review, Rating & Box Office Collection, Sacnilk](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Gangster_2006?hl=en)
16. [Gangster - Plot, Review, Cast and More, Tring](https://www.tring.co.in/popular-movies/gangster)
17. [56th National Film Award Catalogue, National Film Awards India](https://nfaindia.org/images/pdf/56th%20National%20Film%20Award%20Catalogue.pdf)
18. [Gangster Movie page, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/gangster-2/)
---
*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 › Drama films*
*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