Fukrey Returns
Fukrey Returns is a 2017 Indian Hindi-language comedy film directed by Mrighdeep Singh Lamba and produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under Excel Entertainment.[1][2] It serves as a sequel to the 2013 film Fukrey and follows four friends who previously conned a crime boss, only to face her vengeful return after her release from prison.[1] The film stars Pulkit Samrat, Varun Sharma, Ali Fazal, and Manjot Singh reprising their roles as the titular "Fukras," alongside Richa Chadha as the antagonist Bholi Punjaban and Pankaj Tripathi in a supporting role.[1] Set in Delhi, the story picks up a year after the events of the original film, where the protagonists—now at a crossroads after spending their illicit gains—become entangled in Bholi Punjaban's elaborate revenge plot.[1] She forces them into a high-stakes scheme involving quick money-making to settle old scores, leading to a series of comedic mishaps and chases.[1] The screenplay, written by Vipul Vig, emphasizes themes of friendship, greed, and absurdity, with humor derived from the characters' flawed dreams and escalating troubles.[1] Released on 8 December 2017, Fukrey Returns received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its energetic performances and slapstick elements but criticized the formulaic plot and over-reliance on stereotypes, earning an 11% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on nine reviews.[2] Despite the divided critical response, it achieved commercial success, grossing ₹80.16 crore net in India and ₹112.30 crore worldwide, making it one of the profitable films of 2017.[3] The movie's soundtrack, composed by Ram Sampath.[1]Plot and cast
Plot
One year after the events of the original Fukrey, where the four friends—Hunny, Choocha, Lali, and Zafar—successfully orchestrated a scheme that led to the imprisonment of the gangster Bholi Punjaban, the group is now enjoying a comfortable life in Delhi.[4] Bholi secures her release from jail through a deal with the corrupt Minister Babulal and tracks down the friends, kidnapping them and demanding ₹10 crore within 10 days to settle the debt from their previous con, threatening severe consequences if they fail.[5][6] To generate the money quickly, the quartet establishes an illegal lottery betting company, collecting commissions from public bets based on Choocha's purported dream visions of winning numbers—a continuation of his quirky precognitive ability from the past.[4][5] The scheme initially appears promising as bets pour in, but it collapses when Bholi's ally Babulal rigs the lottery by altering the winning number, resulting in massive losses for the group and irate investors. Desperate for an alternative, Choocha experiences vivid precognitive dreams revealing visions of the future, including a hidden cache of smuggled goods linked to Babulal's money-laundering operations, prompting the friends to embark on a chaotic treasure hunt involving underground tunnels and symbolic clues like a tiger emblem. Along the way, they encounter numerous comedic mishaps, such as bungled excavations and mistaken identities, while evading chases from angry bettors and police.[4][7][6] In the climax, the friends use Choocha's insights to expose Babulal's illegal racket, leading to his arrest and allowing them to seize the treasure to pay off Bholi. With the ordeal resolved, they sell the smuggled goods cheaply to the public, reconcile with Bholi (who kisses Choocha), and the film ends on a comedic note with the group reunited.[7][6]Cast
The principal cast of Fukrey Returns features the returning core ensemble from the 2013 film Fukrey, portraying the four inseparable friends navigating new schemes and challenges. Pulkit Samrat reprises his role as Vikas "Hunny" Gulati, the ambitious and entrepreneurial leader of the group who serves as Priya's boyfriend. Varun Sharma returns as Dilip "Choocha" G. Singh, the innocent and free-spirited dreamer whose vivid visions frequently drive the group's decisions. Ali Fazal plays Zafar Khan, the street-smart and practical friend providing level-headed input to the team's plans. Manjot Singh portrays Lali Halwai, the loyal and somewhat timid member of the quartet, often caught up in the chaos. Richa Chadha reprises her antagonistic role as Bholi Punjaban, the vengeful crime don recently released from jail and plotting retribution against the protagonists. New additions include Priya Anand as Priya Sharma, Hunny's supportive girlfriend, and Vishakha Singh as Neetu Singh Raina, Choocha's romantic interest. Pankaj Tripathi appears as Narayan "Panditji" Pandit, the shrewd local bookie who aids the group in their betting endeavors. Other supporting roles feature Rajiv Gupta as the corrupt Minister Babulal Bhatia and Nalneesh Neel as the henchman Mangu.Production
Development
The sequel to the 2013 film Fukrey was officially announced on 30 January 2016 by Excel Entertainment, confirming the return of the core ensemble for another comedic adventure.[8] Mrighdeep Singh Lamba returned to direct the project, with production handled by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under their banner Excel Entertainment.[9][8] The screenplay, co-written by Lamba and Vipul Vig, built upon the original film's eccentric characters while incorporating fresh narrative layers, including an amplified focus on precognitive visions and satirical commentary on political machinations.[10][11] Planning for the film allocated an initial budget of ₹22 crore, emphasizing cost-effective production to capitalize on the franchise's established appeal.[12] The original cast, including Pulkit Samrat, Varun Sharma, Ali Fazal, Manjot Singh, and Richa Chadha, committed to reprising their roles to maintain continuity, with new additions such as Priya Anand joining as Goggle.[8]Filming
Principal photography for Fukrey Returns commenced in August 2016 in Delhi, with actress Richa Chadha arriving later in December 2016 for additional shoots amid challenging smog conditions that affected outdoor work.[13] Filming wrapped up in March 2017 to allow sufficient time for post-production ahead of the film's December release.[14] Filming took place primarily in Delhi to evoke the chaotic, vibrant urban environment central to the comedy's treasure hunt narrative, including key sequences at Tihar Jail, Nehru Place market, and other locales like Majnu Ka Tila and Kamla Nagar.[15][16] Supplementary shoots occurred in Mumbai to accommodate diverse action and comedic set pieces.[14] A major logistical hurdle involved obtaining special permissions for the Tihar Jail scenes, as Fukrey Returns became the first Bollywood film to film there since the Delhi High Court banned videography in prisons in 2015; this required coordination with jail authorities and limited shooting to specific areas without inmate disruptions.[15] Urban crowd management in Delhi proved demanding for the film's action sequences tied to the protagonists' dream-induced treasure pursuits, though the team navigated these by leveraging the city's natural bustle for authenticity.[17]Soundtrack
Track listing
The soundtrack album for Fukrey Returns features eight tracks composed by multiple artists, with a total runtime of 25 minutes and 26 seconds.[18]| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length | Composer(s) | Lyricist(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Mehbooba" | Neha Kakkar, Yasser Desai, Raftaar | 2:59 | Prem, Hardeep | Kumaar |
| 2 | "Peh Gaya Khalara" | Divya Kumar, Jasleen Royal, Akasa Singh, Akanksha Bhandari | 3:00 | Jasleen Royal | Aditya Sharma |
| 3 | "Tu Mera Bhai Nahi Hai" | Gandharv Sachdeva, Raftaar | 2:37 | Sumeet Bellary | Satya Khare |
| 4 | "Ishq De Fanniyar" (Female version) | Jyotica Tangri | 2:57 | Sharib-Toshi | Kumaar |
| 5 | "Fukrey Returns" | Siddharth Mahadevan, Shannon Donald, Gulraj Singh | 2:57 | Gulraj Singh | Kumaar |
| 6 | "Raina" | Shree D | 4:36 | Shree D, Ishq Bector | Shree D |
| 7 | "Bura Na Mano Bholi Hai" | Gandharv Sachdeva, Shahid Mallya | 3:19 | Sumeet Bellary | Satya Khare, Mrighdeep Singh Lamba, Vipul Vig |
| 8 | "Ishq De Fanniyar" (Male version) | Sharib-Toshi | 2:58 | Sharib-Toshi | Kumaar |