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Action thriller

Aiyaary (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Aiyaary (2018) movie poster

Aiyaary is a 2018 action thriller directed by Neeraj Pandey, starring Kumud Mishra as Retd. Lt. General Gurinder Singh, Sidharth Malhotra and Pooja Chopra. It runs 2 hours 37 minutes and earned $143,108 worldwide on a $400 million budget. Critics gave it 18% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10.

IMDb rating
5.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
18%
worldwide gross
$143.1K
Echo Score
47
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Aiyaary (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 37m (157 min)
Director
Neeraj Pandey
Genres
Action , Drama , Thriller , Crime
Original language
Hindi
Budget
$400M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Aiyaary About?

The premise of Aiyaary without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A veteran colonel finds himself in a tense situation as he attempts to locate and capture his former protégé, a major who is planning to undermine the government. This gripping thriller unfolds over a 36-hour period, putting loyalty and allegiances to the ultimate test in a suspenseful game of cat and mouse. The clock is ticking, and the stakes are incredibly high.

Aiyaary Themes & Keywords

· 43 tags
  • mentor protege relationship
  • officer
  • military
  • confrontation
  • surveillance
  • listening
  • spy
  • spying
  • conversation
  • romantic subplot
  • indian army
  • stalking
+31 more
  • night
  • bollywood
  • gun
  • gunfight
  • disguise
  • humor
  • beating
  • gunpoint
  • noodles
  • shot with a gun
  • killed with a gun
  • bike
  • hindi
  • english
  • delhi
  • india
  • song
  • weapons
  • arms
  • technology
  • corruption
  • suicide
  • car
  • chase
  • threat
  • warning
  • dog
  • coin toss
  • jacket
  • spy thriller
  • political thriller
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Cast & crew

Aiyaary Cast & Characters

Kumud Mishra leads the cast as Retd. Lt. General Gurinder Singh, with Sidharth Malhotra as Major Jai Bakshi and Pooja Chopra as Captain Maya Semwal. Directed by Neeraj Pandey; 15 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Neeraj Pandey

More films directed by Neeraj Pandey: Ouch, M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, Baby and Special 26.

Full filmography
Ratings

Aiyaary Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Aiyaary 18% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 47/100, strongest in sensory experience (70) and weakest in story & flow (30).

47 /100

Aiyaary Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Aiyaary presents a mixed viewing experience marked by strong individual elements but undermined by uneven execution. The film’s standout aspects include accomplished lead performances and a dynamic soundtrack, yet the narrative suffers from incoherent plotting and sluggish pacing. Technical facets such as editing and visual cohesion fluctuate between competent cinematography and lackluster design choices. These inconsistencies constrain engagement and diminish its potential resonance, resulting in a modest overall impression that balances notable highs with prevailing shortcomings.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 45

    In terms of Art & Craft, the film exhibits notable strengths in selected visual sequences but is hampered by inconsistent design and editing. While certain surveillance scenes benefit from crisp camera work and atmospheric framing, the overall lighting and production design often feel flat. The editing choices contribute to jagged pacing and diminished dramatic impact. Consequently, the film’s aesthetic cohesion remains uneven and rarely sustains visual engagement.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    In terms of Character & Emotion, performances stand out despite uneven character development. The leads deliver nuanced portrayals that anchor key dramatic moments, and secondary roles occasionally inject vitality. Nevertheless, several protagonists lack depth due to underwritten motivations and inconsistent emotional arcs. Chemistry fluctuates across scenes, constraining empathetic investment. Overall, the film’s acting merits recognition, but character construction undermines sustained emotional resonance.

  • Story & Flow 30

    When it comes to Story & Flow, the narrative suffers from scattered subplots and uncertain pacing. Multiple timeline shifts and extraneous scenes interrupt coherence, while sluggish stretches undermine momentum. Although the central premise holds promise, the execution dilutes engagement through uneven plotting and lack of narrative focus. Consequently, the film struggles to maintain dramatic tension and fails to deliver a consistently compelling arc.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    In terms of Sensory Experience, the film offers a varied auditory and visual palette that yields intermittent appeal. The background score and sound design at times heighten tension, and select action sequences benefit from coherent sound mixing. Visual effects and cinematography deliver crisp, immersive moments, though musical cues occasionally lack thematic cohesion. Overall, sensory elements generate sporadic engagement but do not sustain a fully cohesive atmosphere.

  • Rewatch Factor 40

    In terms of Rewatch Factor, the film offers limited incentive for repeat viewings. A few well-executed sequences and strong performances may draw occasional re-examination, yet narrative inconsistencies and uneven pacing reduce lasting appeal. The absence of a cohesive thematic core further diminishes motivation for subsequent viewings. Ultimately, the film’s episodic tension fails to translate into sustained replay value.

Plot

Aiyaary Plot Summary

What happens in Aiyaary from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In a gripping tale, Indian Army Chief COAS General Pratap Malik (Vikram Gokhale) initiates the formation of a covert intelligence unit known as DSD (Data Systems Diagnostics), which operates directly under the Army Chief’s command and is authorized for secretive missions behind enemy lines. He appoints Colonel Abhay Singh (Manoj Bajpayee) to lead this elite unit, which quickly assembles a skilled team, including Major Jai Bakshi (Sidharth Malhotra), Lt. Col. Anees, and Captain Maya Semwal (Pooja Chopra). Over the years, they embark on numerous successful covert operations across the globe.

Full summary

The whole story of Aiyaary, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Aiyaary Box Office & Budget

Aiyaary grossed $143,108 worldwide on a $400 million budget.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$143.1K

International
$143.1K
Budget
$400M
Videos

Aiyaary Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Aiyaary.

Aiyaary Trailer | Neeraj Pandey | Sidharth Malhotra | Manoj Bajpayee | Releases 16th February 2018
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Aiyaary?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who establishes the covert intelligence unit DSD?

Details

Aiyaary Also Known As

55 alternative titles, including “Avengers: Infinity War Part I” and “Мстители: Война бесконечности. Часть 1”.

Also known as
  • Avengers: Infinity War Part I
  • Мстители: Война бесконечности. Часть 1
  • Kersytojai: Begalybes Karas. I dalis
  • Bosszúállók: Végtelen háború - I. rész
  • נוקמים 3: מלחמת האין-סוף
  • Yenilmezler: Sonsuzluk Savaşı. Bölüm 1
  • Qasoskorlar 3: Adabiyat jangi
  • Avengers: Abadiyat jangi
  • Qasoskorlar: Cheksizlik urushi
  • Qasoskorlar: Cheksizlik jangi
  • Marvel Studios' Avengers: Infinity War
  • អ្នកចំបាំងអាវេនជឺ : សង្គ្រាមគ្មានដែនបញ្ចប់
+43 more
  • 마블 어벤져스: 인피니티 워
  • Avengers: Lufta e pafundësisë
  • Os Vingadores 3 - Guerra Infinita
  • Avengers 3: Cuộc Chiến Vô Cực
  • 어벤져스 인피니티 워
  • 어벤져스 3
  • Avengers: Nekonečná vojna
  • Avengers 3
  • Vengadores: Infinity War, avengers inifity war
  • Avengers : La Guerre de L'Infini
  • The Avengers 3: Infinity War
  • Marvel's The Avengers 3 - Infinity War
  • Վրիժառուները։ Անվերջության պատերազմ
  • 复仇者联盟3:无限战争
  • Vingadores: Guerra do Infinito
  • Avengers : Infinity War
  • Мстители: Война бесконечности
  • Avengers: Sonsuzluk Savaşı
  • Εκδικητές: Ο Πόλεμος της Αιωνιότητας
  • הנוקמים: מלחמת האינסוף
  • Vingadores: Guerra Infinita
  • Месники: Війна нескінченності
  • Отмъстителите: Война без край
  • Bosszúállók: Végtelen háború
  • Avengers: Wojna bez granic
  • Răzbunătorii: Războiul infinitului
  • 어벤져스: 인피니티 워
  • อเวนเจอร์ส: มหาสงครามล้างจักรวาล
  • 復仇者聯盟:無限之戰
  • Keršytojai. Begalybės karas
  • アベンジャーズ/インフィニティ・ウォー
  • Осветници: Рат бескраја
  • Osvetnici: Rat beskonačnosti
  • Atriebēji: Bezgalības karš
  • Tasujad: Igaviku sõda
  • Maščevalci: Brezmejna vojna
  • المنتقمون حرب اللانهائية, შურისმაძიებლები: უსასრულობის ომი
  • 復仇者聯盟 3:無限之戰
  • Os Vingadores: A guerra do Infinito
  • Qasoskorlar: Abadiyat Jangi
  • انتقام جویان: جنگ بینهایت
  • अवेंजर्स: इन्फिनिटी वॉर
  • Venjadors: Infinity War

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FAQ

Aiyaary FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Aiyaary, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Aiyaary?

Aiyaary runs 2 hours 37 minutes (157 minutes).

When was Aiyaary released?

Aiyaary was released on February 16, 2018.

Who directed Aiyaary?

Aiyaary was directed by Neeraj Pandey.

More films by Neeraj Pandey

Who is in the cast of Aiyaary?

Aiyaary stars Kumud Mishra as Retd. Lt. General Gurinder Singh, Sidharth Malhotra as Major Jai Bakshi and Pooja Chopra as Captain Maya Semwal, among 15 credited actors.

How much did Aiyaary make at the box office?

Aiyaary grossed $143,108 worldwide on a budget of $400 million.

How is Aiyaary rated?

Aiyaary has 5.3/10 on IMDb, 18% on Rotten Tomatoes, 57% on TMDB and 4.0/5 on Letterboxd.

Does Aiyaary have a post-credit scene?

No. Aiyaary has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Aiyaary in?

The original language of Aiyaary is Hindi.

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