Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Biographical drama

Pad Man (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Pad Man (2018) movie poster

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.

IMDb rating
7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes
74%
worldwide gross
$29M
Echo Score
70
Loading streaming availability…
Pad Man (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 20m (140 min)
Director
R. Balki
Genres
Biography , Drama , Comedy
Original language
Hindi
Budget
$10M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

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
  • social message
  • award
  • taboo
  • village
  • husband wife relationship
  • maxi pad
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

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.

From the director

More from R. Balki

More films directed by R. Balki, best-rated first: Paa, Ghoomer, Lust Stories 2 and Ki & Ka.

Full filmography
Ratings

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).

70 /100

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.

Plot

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

Read the full summary
Box office

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.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$29M

2.9× its budget

US & Canada
$1.7M
International
$27.4M
Budget
$10M
US & Canada 6% Rest of the world 94%
Videos

Pad Man Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Pad Man.

'Padman' Trailer
Quiz

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

  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

What is Laxmikanth Chauhan's primary motivation for creating sanitary napkins?

Details

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
  • 패드맨
  • แพดแมน

Seen Pad Man?

FAQ

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.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app