Arjun Kapoor
Ajay / Vishal
Overview
Yashwardhan, a corrupt businessman, is suspected of grave crimes by the police. Inspector Ravikant kidnaps Yash's son, Ajay, and replaces him with a lookalike, Vishal, to expose his criminal deeds.
Cast
12 people
Rishi Kapoor
Ravikant Phogat
Prithviraj Sukumaran
Arya Phogat
Swara Bhasker
Suman Phogat
Jackie Shroff
Yashwardhan Singh
Reviews
5 min readThe Emperor’s New Clothes: Power, Deception, and the Hollow Crown in Aurangzeb
I’ve always been drawn to films that wear their ambition like a too-tight suit—visible seams, a little sweat on the brow, but undeniably trying. Aurangzeb is one of those films. It wants to be a slick, multi-layered thriller about power, corruption, and identity, but somewhere between the script’s reach and its grasp, it stumbles into something more interesting: a mess that’s almost compelling in its imperfections.
Almost. Aurangzeb is a story about doubles. Not the kind that haunt you in the mirror, but the kind that are manufactured, swapped, and weaponized. The film’s premise—Inspector Ravikant (Jackie Shroff) kidnaps the son of a corrupt businessman, Yashwardhan (Rishi Kapoor), and replaces him with a lookalike, Vishal (Arjun Kapoor), to infiltrate the family—isn’t exactly subtle.
It’s a setup that screams for a Face/Off-style cat-and-mouse game, where identities blur and allegiances shift like sand. And yet, the film’s execution is less about the thrill of the swap and more about the weight of wearing someone else’s skin. (Or, in this case, someone else’s tailored suits.)
The first act moves with the kind of urgency that suggests the film knows it’s on shaky ground. But then, something unexpected happens: the film slows down. Not in a way that feels deliberate, but in a way that feels like it’s lost its own thread.
Scenes drag, conversations meander, and the tension that should be simmering beneath every interaction starts to evaporate. It’s as if Aurangzeb is so busy setting up its chess pieces that it forgets to make the game worth playing. And yet, there are moments where it almost works.
Arjun Kapoor’s dual role as Ajay and Vishal is the film’s most intriguing gambit. Kapoor has always been an actor of limited range but undeniable charisma, and here, he leans into the physicality of the roles. Ajay, the spoiled heir, moves with the lazy confidence of someone who’s never had to question his place in the world.
Vishal, the imposter, is all sharp edges and forced smiles, his body language betraying the effort it takes to keep up the act. It’s not a performance that will redefine Kapoor’s career, but it’s the kind of committed physical work that makes you wish the script had given him more to chew on. There’s a scene early on where Vishal, posing as Ajay, attends a family dinner.
Audience Opinions
Broad evidence
Audience 5.0/10
"Divided reception: praise for the performances and action, criticism for pacing and predictability."
*Aurangzeb* (2013) divided its audience. The performances, particularly Arjun Kapoor’s and Rishi Kapoor’s, are called compelling and central to the film’s appeal [2,3,6,9]. The action sequences and thriller elements are also singled out as engaging and well executed [2,7,8]. On the other side, the plot is called predictable and unoriginal, and the pacing uneven, with the story dragging in parts [3,4,5,10]. The blend of drama and action gets mixed feedback: for some it works, for others the tonal shifts are jarring [6,9]. It is recommended as a one-time watch for genre fans, not a must-see [7,10].
What viewers praise
- Strong performances Arjun Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor give compelling performances that carry the film.
- Engaging action sequences The action and thriller elements are well executed and engaging.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The storyline is predictable and unoriginal, which undercuts enjoyment.
- Uneven pacing Slow in parts; the story drags unnecessarily.
Recommended for
Fans of action-thriller films looking for a one-time watch Viewers who enjoy strong performances in genre cinema
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Aurangzeb (2013): A Bollywood Thriller with Twists and Turns
Atul Sabharwal’s Aurangzeb (2013) promised a high-stakes blend of action, drama, and thriller elements, but the film’s production was just as dramatic as its plot. Starring Arjun Kapoor in a dual role alongside a powerhouse cast including Rishi Kapoor, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Jackie Shroff, latestnetflix.com contends, the movie kept fans guessing—both on and off screen.
A Dual Role and On-Set Drama
Arjun Kapoor took on the challenge of playing two distinct characters in Aurangzeb: Ajay and Vishal, twins separated at birth with clashing destinies. The role required intense preparation, and Kapoor didn’t shy away from the physical demands. However, the shoot wasn’t without its hiccups. In one incident, Kapoor suffered an injury while filming an action sequence, a moment later shared in a behind-the-scenes clip. The injury didn’t derail production, but it added to the film’s already tense atmosphere.
Kapoor himself spoke about the pressures of the project in an interview, calling Aurangzeb a "different kind of film" that pushed him out of his comfort zone. The dual role wasn’t just a technical challenge—it was a narrative one, with the story exploring themes of identity, revenge, and family secrets.
A Star-Studded Cast with Clashing Personalities
Beyond Kapoor’s dual performance, Aurangzeb boasted an ensemble cast that included veterans like Rishi Kapoor and Jackie Shroff, as well as rising stars like Prithviraj Sukumaran and Swara Bhasker. Prithviraj’s portrayal of Arya, a morally ambiguous character, stood out, with promotional clips hinting at his intense chemistry with Kapoor.
Amrita Singh, who played Nina, also teased her character’s complexity in a behind-the-scenes feature, suggesting a layered role that added depth to the film’s crime-thriller narrative. However, despite the star power, rumors of on-set tensions surfaced—though none were confirmed. The film’s 137-minute runtime suggests a tightly packed story, but whether the cast’s dynamics influenced the final cut remains unclear.
Box Office and Reception: A Mixed Bag
Aurangzeb was marketed as a gritty, high-octane thriller, but its box office performance was modest. While exact figures aren’t widely documented in the provided sources, a YouTube video claims to break down its "lifetime worldwide box office collection". Critics, however, were divided. The film’s Rotten Tomatoes page lists it as an action-drama-thriller, but without a score or consensus, its reception remains ambiguous.
Director Atul Sabharwal, known for his work in crime and thriller genres, likely aimed for a stylish, edge-of-the-seat experience. Yet, whether Aurangzeb fully delivered on that promise is up for debate. The film’s runtime and genre-blending approach suggest ambition, but without more critical or commercial data, its legacy remains overshadowed by bigger Bollywood releases of 2013.
The Verdict: A Film Worth Revisiting?
Aurangzeb may not have been a blockbuster, but its behind-the-scenes stories—from Kapoor’s dual role to the star-studded cast—paint a picture of a production that was as intense as its plot. Whether it’s remembered as a hidden gem or a missed opportunity depends on who you ask. For fans of crime thrillers, it might still be worth a watch—if only to see Arjun Kapoor tackle two sides of the same coin.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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