Aathank(1996)
Aathank is a 1996 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Prem Lalwani and Desh Mukherjee. The film stars Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Vinod Mehra, and Amjad Khan in lead roles. Set in a coastal fishing village, the story follows Jesu and Peter as they confront a ruthless gangster and a giant man-eating shark that terrorizes their community. The shark subplot is inspired by the 1975 American film Jaws. Production began in the mid-1980s but faced delays, leading to a 1996 release. The film received negative reviews for its low production values and derivative plot. It was released in theaters on 9 February 1996.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Prime Video
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 1996
- Director
- Prem Lalwani
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 1h 54m
- Rating
- 3.5/10
Storyline
Jesu and Peter are fishermen in a peaceful village. Their lives turn upside down when a giant shark starts killing people. To make things worse, a gangster named Alphonso wants to steal black pearls from the ocean. Jesu must fight both the shark and the gangster to save his village.
“Terror rises from the deep.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Aathank
Cast reunions in this film: Kader Khan & Amjad Khan (18 films together), Hema Malini & Dharmendra (16 films together), Dharmendra & Kader Khan (13 films together), Hema Malini & Amjad Khan (11 films together), Hema Malini & Kader Khan (10 films together), and Dharmendra & Amjad Khan (8 films together).
Trivia
- The film was heavily inspired by the Hollywood blockbuster 'Jaws', but set in an Indian coastal village.
- It was one of the few Hindi horror films of the 1990s to feature a shark as the main antagonist.
- The movie's special effects for the shark were considered quite ambitious for its time and budget.
- Actor Deepak Parashar, known for romantic roles, played the lead hero facing the monstrous shark.
- The film's title 'Aatank' translates to 'Terror' in English, directly hinting at its thriller genre.
- Despite its thriller premise, the film included several musical song sequences typical of 90s Bollywood.
- It was not a major commercial success and remains a relatively obscure cult film among genre fans.