Pad Man (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Pad Man is a 2018 biographical drama directed by R. Balki, starring Akshay Kumar as Lakshmikant Chauhan, Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor. It runs 2 hours 20 minutes and earned $29 million worldwide on a $10 million budget. Critics gave it 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 7.9/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 20m (140 min)
- Director
- R. Balki
- Original language
-
Hindi
- Studio
- Columbia Pictures
- Budget
- $10M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Pad Man About?
The premise of Pad Man without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A welder named Lakshmi witnesses his wife's struggles with menstrual hygiene and is moved to create affordable sanitary pads. Undeterred by societal taboos and initial setbacks, he embarks on a journey to revolutionize access to essential products. Through perseverance and empathy, Lakshmi challenges conventions and inspires a movement, bringing dignity and improved health to women across the world while learning about himself.
Pad Man Themes & Keywords
· 18 tags- sanitary pads
- superhero
- india
- marriage
- menstruation
- cotton
- one word title
- bicycle
- train
- awareness
- social film
- social awareness
+6 more Show fewer
- social message
- award
- taboo
- village
- husband wife relationship
- maxi pad
Pad Man Cast & Characters
Akshay Kumar leads the cast as Lakshmikant Chauhan, with Radhika Apte as Gayatri and Sonam Kapoor as Pari Walia. Directed by R. Balki; 19 actors are credited in all.
- Director R. Balki
-
Akshay Kumar as Lakshmikant Chauhan -
Radhika Apte as Gayatri -
Sonam Kapoor as Pari Walia -
Amitabh Bachchan as themselves
Also Starring in Pad Man
· 15 moreMore from R. Balki
More films directed by R. Balki, best-rated first: Paa, Ghoomer, Lust Stories 2 and Ki & Ka.
Pad Man Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Pad Man 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 7.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 70/100, strongest in character & emotion (75) and weakest in rewatch factor (65).
Pad Man Echo Score Breakdown
The film balances a compelling social premise with uneven execution. Reviews praise its earnest portrayal and lead performance but note heavy-handed messaging and repetitive pacing. While its inspiring true story and charismatic protagonist engage viewers, narrative contrivances and tonal inconsistency limit the film’s cohesion. Net impression: a respectable effort whose strengths in message and performance are tempered by structural imbalances.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 70
In terms of art and craft, the film delivers competent direction and clean production design but offers limited visual distinction. Reviewers recognize the film’s polished editing and generally neat presentation, yet note occasional reliance on formulaic framing and narrative contrivances that diminish cinematic flair. As a result, the artistic execution remains adequate but rarely transcends its functional approach.
- Character & Emotion 75
When it comes to character and emotion, performances are frequently cited as a highlight despite uneven emotional resonance. Critics and audiences praise the lead’s charisma and the sincere depiction of personal stakes, though some note the shallow treatment of supporting figures and uneven emotional depth. Consequently, the character work is engaging in places but does not sustain consistent nuance.
- Story & Flow 68
In terms of story and flow, the film’s inspiring premise is undermined by irregular pacing and predictable plot developments. Early sequences are noted for repetitive exposition, while the narrative gains momentum in its latter half through more focused stakes. As a result, the story offers an appealing core concept but is hampered by structural unevenness.
- Sensory Experience 70
Regarding the sensory experience, the film presents a clean soundtrack and conventional visual style that support the narrative without overwhelming it. Observers acknowledge the engaging song sequences characteristic of its genre, yet note a lack of distinctive sound design or bold visual cohesion. In sum, the sensory elements are serviceable but seldom striking.
- Rewatch Factor 65
When it comes to rewatch factor, the film’s earnest message and lead performance offer occasional return value but limited novelty. Viewers find the core inspirational arc compelling on first viewing, yet the heavy-handed approach and narrative predictability reduce enthusiasm for subsequent viewings. Overall, the film has modest replay appeal that is driven primarily by its thematic purpose.
-
IMDb 7.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 74% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 90%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
TMDB 74% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.5 /5
15 ratings
See on Letterboxd
Pad Man Plot Summary
What happens in Pad Man 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
Laxmikanth Chauhan, portrayed by Akshay Kumar, is a dedicated partner and tool operator at a workshop, who stands firmly against the societal norms that dictate harsh treatment towards women during their five-day menstrual cycle. After marrying his wife, Gayatri, he is determined to improve her menstrual experience, realizing she uses unhygienic dirty cloths instead of sanitary napkins. However, upon purchasing a packet of sanitary napkins, Gayatri expresses her discontent over the price, prompting Laxmi to take matters into his own hands.
Full summary
The whole story of Pad Man, scene by scene
Pad Man Box Office & Budget
Pad Man grossed $29 million worldwide on a $10 million budget, 2.9 times what it cost. $1.7 million came from the US and Canada and $27.4 million (94%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$29M
2.9× its budget
- US & Canada
- $1.7M
- International
- $27.4M
- Budget
- $10M
Pad Man Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Pad Man.
How Well Do You Know Pad Man?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is Laxmikanth Chauhan's primary motivation for creating sanitary napkins?
Pad Man Also Known As
14 alternative titles, including “Пэдмен” and “Padman”.
- Also known as
-
- Пэдмен
- Padman
- 护垫侠
- M巾侠
- 護墊俠
- पैड मैन
- 印度合伙人
- Падман
- Betétember
- Homem-Absorvente
- M巾英雄
- パッドマン 5億人の女性を救った男
+2 more Show fewer
- 패드맨
- แพดแมน
Seen Pad Man?
Movies Like Pad Man
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Budget Padmanabhan, Padayappa and Padayani.
Pad Man FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Pad Man, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Pad Man?
Pad Man runs 2 hours 20 minutes (140 minutes).
When was Pad Man released?
Pad Man was released on January 26, 2018.
Who directed Pad Man?
Pad Man was directed by R. Balki.
More films by R. Balki Who is in the cast of Pad Man?
Pad Man stars Akshay Kumar as Lakshmikant Chauhan, Radhika Apte as Gayatri and Sonam Kapoor as Pari Walia, among 19 credited actors.
How much did Pad Man make at the box office?
Pad Man grossed $29 million worldwide ($1.7 million domestic, $27.4 million international) on a budget of $10 million.
How is Pad Man rated?
Pad Man has 7.9/10 on IMDb, 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, 74% on TMDB and 3.5/5 on Letterboxd.
Does Pad Man have a post-credit scene?
No. Pad Man has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Pad Man in?
The original language of Pad Man is Hindi.
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