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Crime drama

Why Cheat India (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Why Cheat India (2019) movie poster

Why Cheat India is a 2019 crime drama directed by Soumik Sen, starring Emraan Hashmi as Rakesh Singh, Shreya Dhanwanthary and Shibani Bedi. It runs 2 hours 1 minute and earned $1.4 million worldwide. Its Echo Score is 53/100.

worldwide gross
$1.4M
Echo Score
53
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Why Cheat India (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 1m (121 min)
Director
Soumik Sen
Genres
Drama , Crime
Original language
Hindi
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Why Cheat India About?

The premise of Why Cheat India without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Rakesh Singh operates a lucrative business exploiting India's education system. He identifies promising students and recruits them into a scheme where they write exams for others who struggle to pass, ultimately helping those students obtain fraudulent degrees. The enterprise thrives on the vulnerabilities within the country’s academic institutions.

Why Cheat India Themes & Keywords

· 1 tag
  • dark comedy
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Cast & crew

Why Cheat India Cast & Characters

Emraan Hashmi leads the cast as Rakesh Singh, with Shreya Dhanwanthary as Nupur and Shibani Bedi as Emraan Hashmi's Wife Sunita. Directed by Soumik Sen; 6 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Why Cheat India

· 2 more
From the director

More from Soumik Sen

More films directed by Soumik Sen: Mahalaya and Gulaab Gang.

Full filmography
Ratings

Why Cheat India Reviews & Ratings

Our Echo Score gives it 53/100, strongest in character & emotion (70) and weakest in sensory experience (45).

53 /100

Why Cheat India Echo Score Breakdown

Why Cheat India delivers a mixed cinematic experience that balances an intriguing premise with uneven execution. The film’s concept of exam fraud is compelling and occasionally well‑rendered, yet the narrative suffers from a bloated second half and distracting subplots. Performances, especially by Emraan Hashmi, are frequently praised, while direction, pacing, and musical choices draw criticism. Consequently, the movie remains watchable for its social relevance but falls short of sustained engagement.

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

  • Art & Craft 55

    The film’s craftsmanship is uneven, with direction that alternates between competent and lackluster. Critics note moments of solid visual storytelling, yet many point to uninspired camerawork and occasional technical lapses. Production design and editing receive modest acknowledgment, but the overall aesthetic fails to consistently elevate the material. As a result, the artistic execution is average, offering neither notable strengths nor glaring failures.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    Acting emerges as a relative strength, anchored by Emraan Hashmi’s nuanced portrayal and Shreya Dhanwanthary’s credible support. Several reviewers commend the cast’s ability to convey the film’s moral complexities, while a few mention merely competent performances. Chemistry between leads is described as functional, and supporting roles add modest depth. Overall, character work is solid, providing the most compelling element of the production.

  • Story & Flow 45

    The narrative structure is the film’s weakest component, with a promising first half that loses focus as multiple subplots emerge. Reviewers cite a disjointed second half, pacing issues, and a climax that appears to endorse cheating. While the core premise is original and socially relevant, execution falters, leading to a story that feels stretched and occasionally contradictory.

  • Sensory Experience 45

    Auditory elements receive mixed feedback; the background score and songs are frequently described as average or distracting rather than enhancing. Visual style is not prominently praised, and cinematography is seen as serviceable but unremarkable. The sensory layer therefore contributes little beyond basic functionality, failing to reinforce the film’s tonal intentions.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    Rewatch potential is limited, with many viewers recommending a single viewing for its topical insight but warning of repetitive or dragging segments. Some praise its educational angle and occasional entertainment value, yet the pervasive pacing and narrative issues diminish repeat appeal. Consequently, the film holds modest watchability for specific audiences but lacks strong lasting draw.

Plot

Why Cheat India Plot Summary

What happens in Why Cheat India from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Set in Kota and Jaunpur, Satyendra “Sattu” Dubey is deep in the grind of coaching for an engineering entrance exam, living in a modest rented house in Kota. After his hard work pays off with a respectable rank of 287th, he returns home to Jaunpur to live with his parents, his elder sister Nupur Dubey, and his grandmother. The family moment is warm, but Sattu’s life begins to tilt as he and his friends head to a cinema to celebrate. There, a clash erupts when a group of politicians tries to snag the seats, and Rakesh Singh, Emraan Hashmi, refuses to back down, sparking a public confrontation that ends with both men arrested.

Full summary

The whole story of Why Cheat India, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Why Cheat India Box Office

Why Cheat India grossed $1.4 million worldwide.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.4M

International
$1.4M
Videos

Why Cheat India Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Why Cheat India.

Why Cheat India Trailer | Emraan Hashmi | Soumik Sen | Releasing 18 January
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Why Cheat India?

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 the full name of the film's main character?

Details

Why Cheat India Also Known As

2 alternative titles: “为何欺骗印度” and “槍手養成班”.

Also known as
  • 为何欺骗印度
  • 槍手養成班

Seen Why Cheat India?

FAQ

Why Cheat India FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Why Cheat India?

Why Cheat India runs 2 hours 1 minute (121 minutes).

When was Why Cheat India released?

Why Cheat India was released on January 18, 2019.

Who directed Why Cheat India?

Why Cheat India was directed by Soumik Sen.

More films by Soumik Sen

Who is in the cast of Why Cheat India?

Why Cheat India stars Emraan Hashmi as Rakesh Singh, Shreya Dhanwanthary as Nupur and Shibani Bedi as Emraan Hashmi's Wife Sunita, among 6 credited actors.

How much did Why Cheat India make at the box office?

Why Cheat India grossed $1.4 million worldwide.

Does Why Cheat India have a post-credit scene?

No. Why Cheat India has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Why Cheat India in?

The original language of Why Cheat India is Hindi.

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