Not to be confused with Subedar.

Subedaar
Official release poster
Directed by Suresh Triveni
Written by
  • Suresh Triveni
  • Prajwal Chandrashekar
Produced by
  • Vikram Malhotra
  • Anil Kapoor
  • Suresh Triveni
Starring
  • Anil Kapoor
  • Radhika Madan
  • Khushbu Sundar
  • Saurabh Shukla
  • Aditya Rawal
  • Mona Singh
  • Faisal Malik
Cinematography Ayan Saxena
Edited by Shivkumar V. Panicker
Production
companies
  • Abundantia Entertainment
  • Opening Image Films
  • Anil Kapoor Film & Communication Network
Distributed by Amazon Prime Video
Release date
  • 5 March 2026 (2026-03-05)
Running time
142 minutes[1]
Country India
Language Hindi

Subedaar is a 2026 Indian Hindi-language action drama film directed by Suresh Triveni.[2] The film stars Anil Kapoor in the titular role, alongside Radhika Madan, Khushbu Sundar, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Mona Singh, and Faisal Malik.[3] Produced by Abundantia Entertainment, Opening Image Films, and Anil Kapoor Film & Communication Network, the film premiered on Amazon Prime Video on 5 March 2026.[4]

Plot

Subedaar Arjun Maurya, a retired soldier, is struggling to adapt to civilian life in a rapidly changing world.[5] Set against the backdrop of Madhya Pradesh, the narrative explores Arjun's battle against local corruption and societal dysfunction while attempting to mend a fractured relationship with his daughter, Shyama.[6] As he confronts enemies within his community, Arjun must rely on the discipline and combat skills of his military past to protect his family.[7]

Cast

  • Anil Kapoor as Subedaar Arjun Maurya [8]
  • Radhika Madan as Shyama Maurya, Arjun's daughter[9]
  • Khushbu Sundar as Sudha Devi, Arjun Maurya's Wife
  • Saurabh Shukla as Prabhakar
  • Aditya Rawal[10] as Prince
  • Mona Singh[11] as Babli Didi
  • Faisal Malik[12] as Softy Bhaiya
  • Nana Patekar as Nana Waghmare (Special appearance)[13]
  • Mohit Tiwari as Rajan (Shyama's boyfriend)[13]

Production

Development

The film marks another collaboration between director Suresh Triveni and Amazon Prime Video, following his work on Jalsa and the series Daldal.[4] The screenplay was co-written by Triveni and Prajwal Chandrashekar.[2] Anil Kapoor described the role as a return to his action roots, noting that he took inspiration from his real-life relationships to portray the father-daughter dynamic.[12]

Filming

Principal photography began in October 2024 and was completed by December 2024.[4]

Music

The film's promotional campaign featured the "Lalla Anthem," a track featuring Anil Kapoor and former cricketer Harbhajan Singh.[14] A second promo for the anthem featured cricketer Shikhar Dhawan alongside Kapoor.[15]

Reception

Rahul Desai of The Hollywood Reporter India writes that "Suresh Triveni’s 142-minute action drama is not a smooth watch, but it thrives on the subtext of a familiar template and Anil Kapoor Sparkles as a Desi John Wick.[16] Shubhra Gupta of Indian Express gave 2.5 stars out of 5 and said that " Subedaar reminds me of the kind of old-fashioned crime thriller fronted by a hero clashing with the corrupt system, and individuals, that used to give mainstream Bollywood its heft."[17]

Anuj Kumar of The Hindu writes that "After a gripping, vividly tense buildup, director Suresh Triveni resorts to familiar tropes of larger-than-life heroism, undermining the film’s grounded promise"[18] Aishwarya Vasudevan of OTT Play rated 2.5/5 stars and said that "Anil Kapoor’s soulful performance can't save Subedaar, a gritty yet formulaic drama about a veteran fighting a sand mafia. It relies on dated tropes and a predictable screenplay."[19]

Sana Farzeen of India Today gave 2.5 stars out of 5 and writes that "Suresh Triveni-directed Subedaar doesn’t feel like a bad film as much as an overcrowded one — packed with ideas, but without the space to let any of them truly land."[20] Rishabh Suri of Hindustan Times gave 3.5 stars out of 5 and stated that "Anil Kapoor shines in action as well as acting in this massy entertainer, which promises a lot, but does not deliver it all."[21]

Deepa Gahlot of Rediff.com rated it 2.5/5 stars and observed that "What Subedaar lacks is that element of surprise that makes a film worth the viewer’s time and willingness to engage."[22] Nandini Ramnath of Scroll.in commented that "142-minute Subedaar plots itself into a corner. The overwritten script, which proceeds on two tracks and then several, can’t quite bring all its strands together."[23]

References

  1. ^ "Subedaar (15)". British Board of Film Classification. 2 March 2026. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Subedaar OTT release date: When and where to watch Anil Kapoor's action comeback online". The Economic Times. 11 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  3. ^ "Subedaar Movie Star Cast". Bollywood Hungama. 17 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  4. ^ a b c "Anil Kapoor's Subedaar gets OTT premiere date; makers unveil a riveting teaser". Cinema Express. 11 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  5. ^ "Anil Kapoor stars as a retired soldier in action-packed 'Subedaar' teaser". Livemint. 11 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  6. ^ "'Subedaar': Anil Kapoor returns to action with Prime Video's upcoming 'Fauji' drama". Deccan Herald. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Anil Kapoor Unveils Explosive Poster Of Prime Video's Subedaar". Outlook India. 6 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Subedaar teaser out: Anil Kapoor starrer to start streaming from March 5 on Prime Video". Bollywood Hungama. 11 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  9. ^ "Anil Kapoor's Subedaar coming to Prime Video on 5 March". About Amazon India. 11 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  10. ^ "Subedaar release date OUT: Here's when and where you can watch Anil Kapoor's gripping action film". News24. 11 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  11. ^ "Subedaar (2026) - Cast & Crew". MUBI. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  12. ^ a b "Anil Kapoor says wife Sunita Kapoor's contribution is 'tremendous' in his career". Hindustan Times. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  13. ^ a b "Subedaar Release Date, Reviews, Cast, and Where to Watch". Times Now. 17 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  14. ^ "Prime Video unveils 'Lalla… Taiyaar Rehna' song video from Anil Kapoor's Subedaar". Bollywood Hungama. 19 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  15. ^ "Gabbar meets Subedar: Shikhar Dhawan, Anil Kapoor drop fierce new promo". The Statesman. 19 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  16. ^ Desai, Rahul (5 March 2026). "'Subedaar' Movie Review: Anil Kapoor Elevates an Imperfect but Ambitious Hero Story". The Hollywood Reporter India.
  17. ^ Gupta, Shubhra (5 March 2026). "Subedaar movie review: Anil Kapoor leads gritty throwback to Bollywood's heroic thrillers". The Indian Express.
  18. ^ Kumar, Anuj (5 March 2026). "'Subedaar' movie review: Anil Kapoor's angsty intensity lifts this action drama above its formulaic flaws". The Hindu.
  19. ^ Vasudevan, Aishwarya (5 March 2026). "Subedaar review: A powerhouse Anil Kapoor is trapped in a dated, trope-heavy script that fails to match his ageless charisma". OTT Play.
  20. ^ farzeen, Sana (5 March 2026). "Subedaar review: Anil Kapoor delivers the punches, but story struggles to land one". India Today.
  21. ^ Suri, Rishabh (5 March 2026). "Subedaar review: Massy premise doesn't fully detonate in this actioner, but a terrific Anil Kapoor saves the show". Hindustan Times.
  22. ^ Gahlot, Deepa (5 March 2026). "Subedaar Review: Predictable". Rediff.com.
  23. ^ Ramnath, Nandini (5 March 2026). "'Subedaar' review: One random provocation after another". Scroll.in.