Aditya's roar and Monica's charm in an average fare.

Khilona review :

Another Scarface inspiration with a dash of the regular Bollywood love triangle thrown in good measure; Mukesh Duggal's Khilona had a dashing Aditya Panscholi playing an aggressive don who 'keeps' Monica Bedi with an intention to marry her. Enter best friend Ayub Khan who falls for Monica and then all hell breaks loose...

To be honest, I found Aditya Panscholi's character to be an extension of his Saathi (1991) also produced by Mukesh Duggal and directed by the legendary Mahesh Bhatt. Curiously, Bhatt was supposed to direct Khilona as well but later, dropped out when the film got inordinately delayed and Deepak Pawar who had helmed Platform (1993) for Duggal was onboarded. This is one of the first films signed by Monica Bedi and she looked really charming in it. Overall, not bad for a one time watch but Ayub and Monica had no market value to bring audience to theatres and thus, Khilona came a cropper at the box office. This was last movie of Mukesh Duggal who was shot dead a few months later outside his office.

I had seen Khilona at Paradise Mahim. Don't remember in its first or second weekend. By end of 1996, the theatre had become quite dilapidated and the creaky ceiling fans were not allowing us to hear the dialogues properly. The unrestrained audience was also hooting and shouting loudly for no reason!! The way they were reacting to Monica Bedi's 'Panditji Panditji' song was as if it was Madhuri Dixit's 'Choli' dance number. Crazy, I tell you!!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.

Hindi cinema, or Bollywood, is celebrated for its vibrant storytelling that blends music, colorful spectacle, action and powerful melodrama. Rooted in Indian culture, these films often feature elaborate song-and-dance sequences, charismatic stars, and themes ranging from family bonds and personal sacrifice to contemporary social issues. Bollywood has become a powerful cultural phenomenon, resonating with audiences around the world.

Sharman Joshi, Aamir Khan, and Madhavan in 3 Idiots (2009)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The romance genre features the theme of romantic relationships and emotional connections between characters. These stories focus on the development of love, desire, and intimacy between protagonists, often exploring the challenges, conflicts, and triumphs that arise in their relationships.

Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)

Rajkumar, betrayed, becomes a crime lord. Ronny's attacks fail. Rajkumar shoots, Ajay rescues him. They befriend. Rajkumar wants Kajal, Ajay's love interest, as forced bride. Ajay elopes with Kajal, angering Rajkumar who vows vengeance.

Ayub Khan, Aditya Pancholi, and Monica Bedi in Khilona (1996)

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

See which big screen releases you can watch from the comfort of your couch.

Theatrical Releases Coming to Streaming

See who dazzled on the red carpet and took home gold at the 78th Primetime Creative Emmy Awards.

Primetime Creative Arts Emmys: Photos We Love

Ranveer Singh in Dhurandhar: The Revenge (2026)

Khilona

Photos

Top Cast11

User reviews1

More like this

Related interests

Storyline

Did you know

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed