Ghamasaan Review Roundup: Arshad Warsi and Pratik Gandhi Star in Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Gritty Dacoit Drama

Tigmanshu Dhulia’s latest film Ghamasaan premiered on ZEE5 on September 11, 2026, bringing together Arshad Warsi and Pratik Gandhi for a cat-and-mouse crime drama set in the ravines of Bundelkhand. The film, which marks Dhulia’s return to the dacoit genre after Paan Singh Tomar, has received mixed reviews from critics who praised the lead performances but found the storytelling uneven.

The film is loosely inspired by the life of dacoit Dadua, described as the ‘Veerappan of Bundelkhand.’ It follows Maharaj (Arshad Warsi), a feared outlaw who has ruled the region for nearly three decades, and IPS officer Aditya Singh (Pratik Gandhi), who is tasked with hunting him down.

Plot and Setting

Set against the rugged backdrop of Bundelkhand, Ghamasaan opens with a wedding that is disrupted by Maharaj’s gang. The dacoit has no photographs available to the public, making the police’s task nearly impossible. When a gang member is captured and reveals details about Maharaj, it sets off a chain of violent consequences.

Aditya Singh, an honest IPS officer, is sent to the region ahead of elections. What begins as a mission to ensure peaceful polling turns into a dangerous pursuit as Aditya goes beyond his brief to track down Maharaj.

The film runs for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. It was shot across Dholpur, Bundelkhand, and Chitrakoot in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Cast and Performances

Arshad Warsi plays Maharaj, a departure from his well-known comic roles. The Indian Express review noted that Warsi’s performance did not fully convince as a cruel man, stating that it ‘didn’t make me believe all the way that he could be a cruel man with zero compassion.’

Pratik Gandhi plays Aditya Singh, described by Times Now as a determined officer who relies on strategy and force. The review added that Gandhi ‘brings the required seriousness and intensity to the role.’

Rajpal Yadav appears in a supporting role as Kalika, an expelled gang member turned police informer. The Deccan Herald called his performance the standout, noting that he ‘prevents the movie from crumbling towards the climax.’

Ishita Dutta plays Aditya’s wife, Aparna Singh. Jatin Goswami plays Maharaj’s loyal lieutenant.

A notable detail is that Warsi and Gandhi never shot a scene together. Their characters do not meet in the film. Director Dhulia confirmed this in an interview, stating that their confrontation is limited to an exchange of words.

Critical Reception

Reviews were mixed, with several critics praising the film’s atmosphere and performances while faulting its pacing and screenplay.

The Times of India gave the film 2.5 out of 5 stars, writing that Ghamasaan ‘is not among director Tigmanshu Dhulia’s best works. While it had an interesting premise to delve into and does hold up in parts, the film is ultimately let down by its disjointed storytelling.’

The Indian Express also gave 2.5 stars. Critic Shubhra Gupta wrote that the best part of the film is ‘the authenticity of the place, and the people.’

Bollywood Hungama gave 3 out of 5 stars, calling it ‘a gritty and engaging crime drama that benefits from Tigmanshu Dhulia’s no-nonsense direction.’

Filmfare gave 3 out of 5, stating that ‘Ghamasaan is a dacoit film which brings home the often reiterated point that criminals survive because of political patronage.’

NDTV gave 2.5 stars, writing that ‘Ghamasaan doesn’t have the spark and the finesse that Dhulia is associated with.’

The Hollywood Reporter India described it as ‘a functional and grimy cop-and-dacoit drama.’

Mashable India gave a lower rating of 1.5 out of 5, calling the film ‘predictable and unfulfilling.’ News18 also gave 2.5 out of 5.

Audience Reaction

On social media platform X, audience reactions were also mixed. The Daily Jagran reported that viewers highlighted Dhulia’s ‘signature old-school approach, and authentic regional dialogue’ as positives.

However, feedback also pointed to screenplay flaws, including a slow narrative start, a repetitive middle act, and rushed supporting character arcs. Critics noted that the film ‘needed a tighter edit’ at its 2.5-hour runtime.

One user, Vipul Pandit, posted that the contrast between the two lead performances ‘is what made this portrait especially interesting to paint.’

Shah Rukh Khan Was Originally Approached

Director Tigmanshu Dhulia revealed that Shah Rukh Khan was his first choice for the role of IPS officer Aditya Singh. In an interview, Dhulia recalled that Khan listened to the script but politely declined.

Dhulia quoted Khan as saying: ‘Yaar Tishu, mein is tarah ki realistic pictures nahi karta hoon yaar’ (I don’t do realistic films like these).

Arshad Warsi, who was present during the conversation, said he understood Khan’s decision. Warsi stated that he would rather watch the superstar in larger-than-life roles, comparing his screen presence to Tom Cruise.

Dhulia and Khan have known each other for years. They previously worked together on Mani Ratnam’s Dil Se, where Dhulia served as casting director. Dhulia later appeared as Khan’s father in the 2018 film Zero.

Director’s Return to Familiar Ground

Ghamasaan marks Dhulia’s return to the dacoit genre. He was a casting director on Shekhar Kapur’s Bandit Queen (1994) and directed Paan Singh Tomar (2012), which starred Irrfan Khan.

The Hindu noted that in Ghamasaan, Dhulia ‘swirls in the riches of his past’ but that the film ‘struggles to hold itself together as a genre piece.’

Outlook India observed that the film ‘has the right atmosphere but not enough character depth,’ adding that the screenplay ‘identifies several social and historical issues without exploring any of them deeply enough.’

The film had its premiere at the 2024 MAMI Mumbai Film Festival and also screened at the Cinevesture International Film Festival and the Chicago South Asian Film Festival before its streaming debut.

Ghamasaan is currently streaming on ZEE5.