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Last updated: 8 May 2026
Aatank Hi Aatank (1995) is a Hindi action, crime, drama film directed by Dilip Shankar, starring Rajinikanth, Aamir Khan, Juhi Chawla Mehta. Chased out of their village, a poor farmer, his wife, son and daughter attempt to survive the harsh footpath life of Bombay, when a gangster asks him to work for him. Years later, the farmer is a mafia-like godfather with a crime network of his own, and a host of hoodlums out to kill him. Movie also... Our Rating: 1.75/5. Verdict: DISASTER. Released: 4 Aug 1995. Runtime: 2h 35m.


Hindi · Action, Crime, Drama
2h 35m · 4 Aug 1995
Writer: Iqbal Durrani, Dilip Shankar
Ratings
Our Rating
1.75
Inspired by The Godfather, the story follows Shiv Charan Sharma, a man who migrates to the city and inadvertently becomes a powerful underworld don. His life of crime eventually pulls in his sons, Munna and Rohan, leading to a cycle of violence, betrayal, and tragic consequences for the family.
Aatank Hi Aatank is an ambitious but ultimately failed attempt to adapt Francis Ford Coppola's 'The Godfather' into a Bollywood context. Despite featuring a powerhouse cast including Rajinikanth and Aamir Khan, the film suffers significantly from its long-delayed production, which makes the visuals and storytelling feel dated and inconsistent for a 1995 release.
The screenplay is disjointed, lacking the narrative flow required for a sprawling crime epic. While the first half attempts to establish the family dynamics and the rise of the patriarch, the pacing is sluggish and the transitions are jarring. The second half shifts focus to the sons, but it fails to capture the psychological depth or the gravitas seen in the source material, devolving into standard 80s-style action tropes.
Technically, the film is weak. The cinematography is uninspired, and the editing is choppy, likely a result of the troubled production history. The music and background score do little to enhance the mood, often feeling out of sync with the intended intensity of the scenes. The film's primary interest remains the rare pairing of two Indian cinema legends, but even their presence cannot save the lackluster execution.
Rajinikanth: Plays the hot-headed elder son (based on Sonny Corleone). He brings his signature energy, but the character is poorly written and lacks depth.
Aamir Khan: Plays the younger son who eventually takes over the business. While he tries to bring sincerity to the role, he appears too young and somewhat miscast for the gritty transformation required.
Om Puri: Delivers a solid performance as the patriarch, providing the film with its few moments of genuine gravitas.
Juhi Chawla Mehta: Has a limited role that doesn't offer much scope for her talent, serving primarily as the romantic interest.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Dilip Shankar's direction is mediocre, failing to manage the scale of the story or the potential of his lead actors. The writing is derivative and lacks the nuance needed for a compelling underworld drama.
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Our Rating
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| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Positive | 10% |
| Neutral | 20% |
| Negative | 70% |
The film received largely negative reviews upon release. Critics pointed out the dated feel of the movie and the waste of a high-profile cast. It was widely panned for being a poor imitation of The Godfather.
Final Box-Office Result
Aatank Hi Aatank released on 4 August 1995 (1995).
Aatank Hi Aatank is declared a DISASTER at the box office.
Budget of Aatank Hi Aatank is approximately ₹3.5 Crore.
Aatank Hi Aatank is available on YouTube. OTT date will be updated soon.
Aatank Hi Aatank directed by Dilip Shankar.
Aatank Hi Aatank stars Rajinikanth, Aamir Khan, Juhi Chawla Mehta, Om Puri, Kabedi Bedi.
Tollybo rates Aatank Hi Aatank 1.75/5. Verdict: DISASTER.
Aatank Hi Aatank — Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Runtime: 155 minutes, Language: Hindi.