Dastak was directed by Mahesh Bhatt and released in 1996. Mahesh Bhatt is a prominent filmmaker in Hindi film industry.

Dastak stars Tiku Talsania alongside Mukul Dev, Sushmita Sen, Manoj Bajpai, Vishwajeet Pradhan, Sharad Kapoor. The film marks a collaboration between Tiku Talsania and director Mahesh Bhatt within Hindi cinema.

Is Dastak worth watching?

Dastak holds a rating of 4.0/10.

Who composed the music for Dastak?

The music for Dastak was composed by Rajesh Roshan. Rajesh Roshan is a well-known name in Hindi film music, and the soundtrack contributes significantly to the film's identity.

Is Dastak suitable for family viewing?

Dastak is rated UA (parental guidance advised for under-12s). It is generally family-appropriate, but some scenes may require context for younger viewers.

Dastak(1996)

4.0/10

Hindi•141 mins•theatrical•Updated 6 May 2026

Dastak is a 1996 Indian Hindi-language psychological thriller film directed by Mahesh Bhatt. It stars Sushmita Sen in her debut role as a Miss Universe, alongside Mukul Dev and Sharad Kapoor. The story follows a mentally unstable genius who becomes obsessively fixated on a beauty queen, leading him to murder those close to her. A police officer assigned to protect the queen discovers she is his childhood love. The film was shot in South Africa and the Seychelles. It explores themes of obsession, trauma, and survival. Dastak was released on 29 November 1996 and has a runtime of 141 minutes.

Director:Mahesh Bhatt

Filmed In:South Africa, Seychelles

Mood:

darkemotionalsuspenseful

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Where to watch:

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Quick Facts

Theatrical Release: 1 January 1996
Director: Mahesh Bhatt
Language: Hindi
Runtime: 2h 21m
Rating: 4.0/10

Storyline

A Miss Universe becomes the target of a dangerous fan. The fan, a genius with a broken mind, starts killing everyone she loves. A brave police officer must protect her and stop the killer before it is too late.

“When love becomes a deadly obsession.”

Film Details

4.0Rating

141Minutes

HindiLanguage

UACertificate

Release Date1 January 1996

Release Typetheatrical

Original Titleदस्तक

Filmed InSouth Africa, Seychelles

Parental Guide

Violence

Low

Language

Low

Sex / Nudity

Mild

Drugs

Mild

Intensity

Low

Vibe & Tags

Mood

darkemotionalsuspenseful

Themes

lovesurvivalidentitycorruption

Toneintense

Pacingslow-burn

Complexitymoderate

Audiencemultiplex

Best Withwith-partner

Violence4

Emotion5

Humor1

Rewatchability3

Cast & Crew

Vishwajeet PradhanActor

Sharad S. KapoorActor

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Rajesh RoshanMusic Composer

Reunion Meter

Frequent partnerships reunited for Dastak

Cast reunions in this film: Manoj Bajpai & Manoj Bajpayee (29 films together), Mahesh Bhatt & Mukesh Bhatt (11 films together), Mahesh Bhatt & Tiku Talsania (4 films together), Mahesh Bhatt & Vishwajeet Pradhan (3 films together), Vishwajeet Pradhan & Mukesh Bhatt (3 films together), and Sushmita Sen & Manoj Bajpayee (2 films together).

Trivia

Sushmita Sen's debut film was delayed by two years after she won Miss Universe, as she had prior modeling commitments.
The film's title 'Dastak' means 'knock' and refers to the persistent intrusion of the stalker into the protagonist's life.
Mahesh Bhatt wrote the script inspired by real-life stalking cases reported in the media during the mid-1990s.
The movie was shot quickly on a modest budget, typical of Mahesh Bhatt's films from that era.
Despite Sushmita Sen's star power, the film did not perform well at the box office upon release.
The soundtrack, composed by Nadeem-Shravan, included the popular song 'Koi Nahin Aisa' sung by Kumar Sanu.
Sharad Kapoor, who played the antagonist, was a relatively new actor at the time, and this was one of his early prominent roles.