# Shakti: The Power (शक्ति: द पावर)
**Shakti: The Power** (शक्ति: द पावर) is a 2002 Indian Hindi-language action drama film directed and co-written by Krishna Vamsi, starring [Karisma Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/karisma-kapoor), Nana Patekar, and [Sanjay Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/sanjay-kapoor), with [Shah Rukh Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/shah-rukh-khan) in a supporting role[1](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/shakti-the-power-movie-108566). It is a remake of the Telugu film *Anthapuram* (1998), which drew on the real-life story of Betty Mahmoody depicted in *Not Without My Daughter* (1991)[1](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/shakti-the-power-movie-108566). The film follows Nandini, a young mother who must escape her violent father-in-law, a feudal patriarch engaged in gang wars, and flee rural Rajasthan with her small son[2](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/shakti-the-power/0-0-2348). Produced by Boney Kapoor and Sridevi, it was released on 20 September 2002 and underperformed commercially[3](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/shakti-the-power/cast/) • [4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/shakti-the-power/box-office/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 20 September 2002 (India), Hindi language, distributed by Eros International[3](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/shakti-the-power/cast/) • [5](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/shakti-the-power/umc.cmc.4t90swbgegsie5jltkyahavxm) |
| Director / writers | Krishna Vamsi (director, story); screenplay by Krishna Vamsi, dialogues by Kamal Pandey[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0331639/fullcredits/) |
| Lead cast | Karisma Kapoor as Nandini, Nana Patekar as Narasimha, Sanjay Kapoor as Shekhar, Shah Rukh Khan as Jai Singh[7](https://ottasia.com/title/movie/161179/shakti-the-power?country=IN) |
| Source | Remake of the Telugu film *Anthapuram* (1998), based on Betty Mahmoody's story from *Not Without My Daughter* (1991)[1](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/shakti-the-power-movie-108566) |
| India box office | ₹84.8 million (₹8.48 crore) net (₹117.8 million (₹11.78 crore) gross) per Bollywood Hungama; ₹138.2 million (₹13.82 crore) gross per Box Office India; both classify it as a flop[4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/shakti-the-power/box-office/) • [8](https://boxofficeindia.com/movie-story.php?movieid=610) |
| Recognition | Two nominations at the 48th Filmfare Awards: Best Actress (Kapoor) and Best Villain (Patekar)[2](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/shakti-the-power/0-0-2348) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Nandini (Karisma Kapoor), an orphan raised by her uncles ([Tiku Talsania](https://www.edgepedia.org/tiku-talsania) and [Jaspal Bhatti](https://www.edgepedia.org/jaspal-bhatti)) abroad, marries Shekhar (Sanjay Kapoor) and has a son, Raja (Jai Gidwani)[9](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/sep/20shakti.htm). When Shekhar learns that his parents in a village in northern India may have been hurt in local violence, the couple travels there with their child[8](https://boxofficeindia.com/movie-story.php?movieid=610). His father [Narasimha](https://www.edgepedia.org/narasimha) (Nana Patekar) is the village patriarch, the caretaker of 40 villages and 40,000 men, a violent feudal lord locked in a feud with a rival, Beecha (Vijay Raaz)[9](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/sep/20shakti.htm). After Narasimha beheads Beecha during a local combat and Shekhar is killed in a planned encounter between Narasimha and his enemies, Nandini tries to leave with her son; Narasimha refuses to let them go, and she escapes[9](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/sep/20shakti.htm). On the run, she meets a smooth-talking drifter (Shah Rukh Khan) who resolves to help her reach safety[9](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/sep/20shakti.htm). Zee5 summarizes the theme as the problems of patriarchal society and the struggle of a mother to protect her son[2](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/shakti-the-power/0-0-2348).
## Production and cast
The film was produced by [Boney Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/boney-kapoor) and Sridevi under the banner Sridevi Productions, with cinematography by Sethu Sriram and music by [Ismail Darbar](https://www.edgepedia.org/ismail-darbar), with guest composition by [Anu Malik](https://www.edgepedia.org/anu-malik) and the background score by Mani Sharma[3](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/shakti-the-power/cast/) • [1](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/shakti-the-power-movie-108566). The supporting cast includes Deepti Naval as Shekhar's mother, Ritu Shivpuri as Kamli, Prakash Raj as a sharpshooter, and Vijay Raaz as Beeja[7](https://ottasia.com/title/movie/161179/shakti-the-power?country=IN). Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made a special appearance opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the song "Ishq Kamina", and Prabhu Deva appeared in "Dumroo Baje Re"[7](https://ottasia.com/title/movie/161179/shakti-the-power?country=IN). Playback singers credited on the soundtrack include Sonu Nigam, Alka Yagnik, Sukhwinder Singh, Adnan Sami, and Anuradha Paudwal[3](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/shakti-the-power/cast/).
Director Krishna Vamsi had made the original Telugu version, *Anthapuram*, and earlier won a National Award for his first film *Gulabi*[10](https://m.rediff.com/entertai/2002/sep/18sld3.htm).
## Reception and box office
**Commercial performance.** Bollywood Hungama records an opening day of ₹9.8 million (₹0.98 crore), an opening weekend of ₹28.2 million (₹2.82 crore), a first week of ₹46.2 million (₹4.62 crore), and a lifetime India net total of ₹84.8 million (₹8.48 crore), with a worldwide gross of ₹183.4 million (₹18.34 crore) including ₹65.6 million (₹6.56 crore) from overseas, and classifies the film as a flop[4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/shakti-the-power/box-office/). Box Office India, using somewhat different figures, lists 285 screens, a budget of ₹100 million (₹10 crore), an India gross of ₹138.2 million (₹13.82 crore), overseas gross of $1,350,000, a worldwide gross of ₹20,36,75,000, and about 4,564,000 footfalls, and also marks the film a flop[8](https://boxofficeindia.com/movie-story.php?movieid=610). One streaming-platform FAQ describes the film as a hit, which conflicts with both trade sources[11](https://www.airtelxstream.in/movies/shakti-the-power/ZEEFIVE_MOVIE_0-0-2348).
**Critical response.** In a contemporaneous review for Rediff, Sukanya Verma called the film heavy viewing with powerful performances, praising [Nana Patekar](https://www.edgepedia.org/nana-patekar)'s portrayal of Narasimha's complex nature and Karisma Kapoor's balance of vulnerability and toughness, while criticizing the climax for glorifying Narasimha's misdeeds and the mistimed placement of the songs[9](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/sep/20shakti.htm). On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 50% Tomatometer from one review, with Michael Dequina of TheMovieReport.com awarding 3 out of 4 stars and calling Kapoor's performance powerful[12](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shakti). Zee5 notes that Kapoor and Patekar's performances were acclaimed and that both were nominated in the Best Actor Female and Male categories[2](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/shakti-the-power/0-0-2348).
## Legacy and availability
The film is remembered as an early-2000s Hindi drama centered on a mother's escape from a feudal household, and it appears in scholarly surveys of Hindi films exploring women's rights and self-discovery alongside titles such as *Lajja* (2001) and *[Chameli](https://www.edgepedia.org/chameli-film)* (2003)[13](https://www.ijoes.in/papers/v5i6/23.Dr.Pragati%28145-152%29.pdf). It remains available for streaming in India on Amazon Prime Video and Zee5 (including free-with-ads tiers), and can be rented or bought on Amazon Video in the United States[14](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/shakti-the-power) • [15](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/shakti-the-power/20019515/where-to-watch/).
## References
1. [Shakti: The Power Movie (2002) – Release Date, Cast, About, Gadgets 360 (NDTV)](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/shakti-the-power-movie-108566)
2. [Shakti-The Power, Zee5](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/shakti-the-power/0-0-2348)
3. [Shakti – The Power Cast & Crew, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/shakti-the-power/cast/)
4. [Shakti – The Power Box Office Collection, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/shakti-the-power/box-office/)
5. [Shakti: The Power, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/shakti-the-power/umc.cmc.4t90swbgegsie5jltkyahavxm)
6. [Shakthi: The Power (2002) – Full Cast & Crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0331639/fullcredits/)
7. [Shakti: The Power (2002) – Where to Watch in India, OTTASIA](https://ottasia.com/title/movie/161179/shakti-the-power?country=IN)
8. [Shakthi – The Power, Box Office India](https://boxofficeindia.com/movie-story.php?movieid=610)
9. [The Rediff Review: Shakti: The Power, Rediff.com (20 September 2002)](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/sep/20shakti.htm)
10. [Shakti – The Power: Story in Pictures, Rediff.com](https://m.rediff.com/entertai/2002/sep/18sld3.htm)
11. [Shakti-The Power FAQ, Airtel Xstream Play](https://www.airtelxstream.in/movies/shakti-the-power/ZEEFIVE_MOVIE_0-0-2348)
12. [Shakti: The Power, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shakti)
13. [Portrayal of Women in Indian Cinema, IJOES paper](https://www.ijoes.in/papers/v5i6/23.Dr.Pragati%28145-152%29.pdf)
14. [Shakti streaming: where to watch online, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/shakti-the-power)
15. [Shakti: The Power – Where to Watch, Moviefone](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/shakti-the-power/20019515/where-to-watch/)
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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 2000s › Action and thriller 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*
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